APS - Kadera not running again

[Anonymous]

Man I was bummed to wake up and read this. I have spoken to her before, and she was always so gracious and sincere. Who do you think the Dems will nominate? Paul?

https://www.arlnow.com/2025/01/09/morning-notes-for-january-9-2025/

[Anonymous]

Calling out the haters, thumbs up!

[Anonymous]

Does it really matter?

[Anonymous]

I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

There is no world in which I would put CCPTA and APE in the same bucket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

There is no world in which I would put CCPTA and APE in the same bucket.

They are both activist organizations with leaders who lobby and assert APS can do far, far, far better from their activist perch. That is my point, not that they have similar aims.

[Anonymous]

What is her point on the caucus? Is she saying that they need to do away with it so more democrats have a chance of running or is she actually open minded enough to *gasp in horror* think a non democrat if elected would not be the end of APS as we know it?

Personally I think it is terrible and has no place in a school board election which by state law is non partisan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

There is no world in which I would put CCPTA and APE in the same bucket.

They are both activist organizations with leaders who lobby and assert APS can do far, far, far better from their activist perch. That is my point, not that they have similar aims.

no they are not similar at all. One is a PTA, the other is a parents rights astro turf lobbying group that hides its funding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

There is no world in which I would put CCPTA and APE in the same bucket.

They are both activist organizations with leaders who lobby and assert APS can do far, far, far better from their activist perch. That is my point, not that they have similar aims.

no they are not similar at all. One is a PTA, the other is a parents rights astro turf lobbying group that hides its funding

CCPTA is not PTA. At all. PTAs from your local school are the real thing, while CCPTA is an activist org with its own agenda. Do you know that the head of CCPTA last year advocated as part of a group looking to close a neighborhood ES that has a PTA in her organization? Certainly not what that one PTA advocated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

There is no world in which I would put CCPTA and APE in the same bucket.

They are both activist organizations with leaders who lobby and assert APS can do far, far, far better from their activist perch. That is my point, not that they have similar aims.

no they are not similar at all. One is a PTA, the other is a parents rights astro turf lobbying group that hides its funding

CCPTA is not PTA. At all. PTAs from your local school are the real thing, while CCPTA is an activist org with its own agenda. Do you know that the head of CCPTA last year advocated as part of a group looking to close a neighborhood ES that has a PTA in her organization? Certainly not what that one PTA advocated.

CCPTA advocates on the bigger picture.

[Anonymous]

CCPTA sounds like APE now with their emails yelling about student test scores and the budget. Maybe APE took them over too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

ALL school activist groups in Arlington seem to expect everything to be done, just raise the budget allocation from the County. Do everything - the money will appear!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

There is no world in which I would put CCPTA and APE in the same bucket.

They are both activist organizations with leaders who lobby and assert APS can do far, far, far better from their activist perch. That is my point, not that they have similar aims.

no they are not similar at all. One is a PTA, the other is a parents rights astro turf lobbying group that hides its funding

CCPTA is not PTA. At all. PTAs from your local school are the real thing, while CCPTA is an activist org with its own agenda. Do you know that the head of CCPTA last year advocated as part of a group looking to close a neighborhood ES that has a PTA in her organization? Certainly not what that one PTA advocated.

nope, sorry, CCPTA serves as the collective representative voice for all APS PTAs/PTSAs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

There is no world in which I would put CCPTA and APE in the same bucket.

They are both activist organizations with leaders who lobby and assert APS can do far, far, far better from their activist perch. That is my point, not that they have similar aims.

no they are not similar at all. One is a PTA, the other is a parents rights astro turf lobbying group that hides its funding

CCPTA is not PTA. At all. PTAs from your local school are the real thing, while CCPTA is an activist org with its own agenda. Do you know that the head of CCPTA last year advocated as part of a group looking to close a neighborhood ES that has a PTA in her organization? Certainly not what that one PTA advocated.

nope, sorry, CCPTA serves as the collective representative voice for all APS PTAs/PTSAs

This is correct, CCPTA collectively represents all of the individual member PTAs and is an affiliate of the state and national PTA. Your Arlington school's individual PTA has delegates on the CCPTA. Look at the Virginia PTA's uniform bylaws for more on the connection between individual PTAs and the County Council, state, and national organizations. Specific to Arlington, its CCPTA has always been heavy on the advocacy, and yes does stray at times from the wishes of individual PTAs. Not all PTA leaders are comfortable with the CCPTA's advocacy, and not all PTAs are as active in the CCPTA. Some years the CCPTA is driven by one or two loud voices with a specific agenda and other years not as much. I would not, however, lump the CCPTA and APE into the same bucket as to resources, support, or beliefs. Kadera was on the CCPTA prior to running for school board.

However, whatever Kadera's allegiances were pre-school board, she was incredibly responsive on the board. She was hard working and thoughtful, even when she disagreed. It's hard to say that about many of the members. If by so heavily relying upon the caucus we are losing members who actually DO THE WORK, then the caucus should be reconsidered (along with all the other reasons it should be reconsidered). The only member who is as responsive right now is Turner, who coincidentally was seen as "Team APE" vs. Kadera's "Team CCPTA."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

There is no world in which I would put CCPTA and APE in the same bucket.

They are both activist organizations with leaders who lobby and assert APS can do far, far, far better from their activist perch. That is my point, not that they have similar aims.

no they are not similar at all. One is a PTA, the other is a parents rights astro turf lobbying group that hides its funding

CCPTA is not PTA. At all. PTAs from your local school are the real thing, while CCPTA is an activist org with its own agenda. Do you know that the head of CCPTA last year advocated as part of a group looking to close a neighborhood ES that has a PTA in her organization? Certainly not what that one PTA advocated.

nope, sorry, CCPTA serves as the collective representative voice for all APS PTAs/PTSAs

This is correct, CCPTA collectively represents all of the individual member PTAs and is an affiliate of the state and national PTA. Your Arlington school's individual PTA has delegates on the CCPTA. Look at the Virginia PTA's uniform bylaws for more on the connection between individual PTAs and the County Council, state, and national organizations. Specific to Arlington, its CCPTA has always been heavy on the advocacy, and yes does stray at times from the wishes of individual PTAs. Not all PTA leaders are comfortable with the CCPTA's advocacy, and not all PTAs are as active in the CCPTA. Some years the CCPTA is driven by one or two loud voices with a specific agenda and other years not as much. I would not, however, lump the CCPTA and APE into the same bucket as to resources, support, or beliefs. Kadera was on the CCPTA prior to running for school board.

However, whatever Kadera's allegiances were pre-school board, she was incredibly responsive on the board. She was hard working and thoughtful, even when she disagreed. It's hard to say that about many of the members. If by so heavily relying upon the caucus we are losing members who actually DO THE WORK, then the caucus should be reconsidered (along with all the other reasons it should be reconsidered). The only member who is as responsive right now is Turner, who coincidentally was seen as "Team APE" vs. Kadera's "Team CCPTA."

This is exactly the problem with CCPTA - individual PTAs and their officers and members are forced to be "represented" by a lobby group that can claim to speak for them and yet throw them under the bus. At least with APE, you join individually and you know what you are signing up for and can withdraw at any time. Not so with CCPTA. For example: Nottingham PTA wants to work on Nottingham stuff, so they have their PTA to do so - but then someone from this umbrella org comes along and says "we know better" and without even internal votes starts to advocate for Nottingham's closure...and in the name of representing Nottingham? There are whole schools in our system that do NOT have PTAs in part to stay out of that kind of situation, and yet the CCPTA claims to speak for them too. Bonkers.