ACPS - School Board Member Resigns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know, he resigned without giving a reason. If he were really trying to make a statement, then he should have come out and said it.

To me, his silence speaks volumes. Perhaps more that any dig or putdown ever could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Odd. From the other linked article about Bailey abruptly leaving a prior meeting, it sounds like he just doesn’t have the focus and drive for it. I guess it’s better to step down that to just sit there keeping a seat warm.

Still, the whole situation seems emblematic of the persistent dysfunction of the ACPS school board and system. Will be interesting to see who steps up to run.

I took that walk out to be his frustration with the school board accomplishing nothing for students while focused on changing the make up and elections for School Board. It would be doubly frustrating since that was the focus of Booze and Baird for so long and is apparently a colossal failure.

I don't think it has anything to do with "focus and drive". That's such an insulting notion.

I mean, this was Bailey’s own quote in the article about him leaving a late-night board meeting.

“I don’t know if I want to continue with this. I don’t know about you guys, but maybe it’s because I’m old. As it gets late and we continue talking about the same stuff… It’s just me, but you all can finish up. I’m done.”

I love him for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Odd. From the other linked article about Bailey abruptly leaving a prior meeting, it sounds like he just doesn’t have the focus and drive for it. I guess it’s better to step down that to just sit there keeping a seat warm.

Still, the whole situation seems emblematic of the persistent dysfunction of the ACPS school board and system. Will be interesting to see who steps up to run.

I took that walk out to be his frustration with the school board accomplishing nothing for students while focused on changing the make up and elections for School Board. It would be doubly frustrating since that was the focus of Booze and Baird for so long and is apparently a colossal failure.

I don't think it has anything to do with "focus and drive". That's such an insulting notion.

I mean, this was Bailey’s own quote in the article about him leaving a late-night board meeting.

“I don’t know if I want to continue with this. I don’t know about you guys, but maybe it’s because I’m old. As it gets late and we continue talking about the same stuff… It’s just me, but you all can finish up. I’m done.”

Well, he was right in the end. That night he was talking about Booz and Baird's now complete failure of a campaign to change the school board elections.

[Anonymous]

Who knows about the candidates running, Tim Beaty and Gina Baum? Beaty seems handpicked by the Democrats. Never saw or heard about him until the day the election was announced. Baum is a long term city parks and rec commissioner. I have seen her give public comments at the school board meetings. I don't want someone looking to launch their political career with the supposedly non partisan school board. Is Bill Campbell also running? And these candidates have to run again next year?

[Anonymous]

I don’t know her personally, but Gina does have kids in ACPS and pretty active and engaged on school issues. I think maybe Bill Campbell was on the fence about running and didn’t end up.

I agree that the other guy on the ballot seems like the hand-picked political establishment choice. I read a quote from him that his biggest priority will be collective bargaining for ACPS employees. While I believe labor right are critical, I’m not sure that should be the main priority of the school board right now. I want someone who wants to prioritize students and learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know her personally, but Gina does have kids in ACPS and pretty active and engaged on school issues. I think maybe Bill Campbell was on the fence about running and didn’t end up.

I agree that the other guy on the ballot seems like the hand-picked political establishment choice. I read a quote from him that his biggest priority will be collective bargaining for ACPS employees. While I believe labor right are critical, I’m not sure that should be the main priority of the school board right now. I want someone who wants to prioritize students and learning.

Is she an ACPS apologist? Does she run one of the "parent" facebook pages where ACPS is zealously defended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know her personally, but Gina does have kids in ACPS and pretty active and engaged on school issues. I think maybe Bill Campbell was on the fence about running and didn’t end up.

I agree that the other guy on the ballot seems like the hand-picked political establishment choice. I read a quote from him that his biggest priority will be collective bargaining for ACPS employees. While I believe labor right are critical, I’m not sure that should be the main priority of the school board right now. I want someone who wants to prioritize students and learning.

Is she an ACPS apologist? Does she run one of the "parent" facebook pages where ACPS is zealously defended?

I would definitely *not* categorize her as an ACPS apologist. I’ve seen and heard her demand accountability from them on various issues in recent years. Here’s a copy and paste of one of her social media posts regarding closed door, inaccessible ACPS board meetings:

“Someone needs to explain to me, how on earth ACPS gets away with this. First, there was a school board “retreat” on Monday, no location posted, no live feed. Then, there was a school board meeting last night that looked like this 👇🏼.

Having served on two boards myself, we were not allowed to communicate as a group via email, let alone meet in person without the public being able to attend…. I gladly would have publicly posted email discussions about trash in parks and mowing cycles and yet….this body gets to have all the private meetings they choose via a “retreat?” and now school board meetings too? Even the Park & Rec Comm retreats were public forums.

Is anyone going to hold anyone accountable here?”

[Anonymous]

A little more info about the candidates.

https://www.alxnow.com/2023/12/07/alexandria-school-board-special-election-candidates-focusing-on-teacher-retention-and-board-transparency/?fbclid=IwAR2A0r9z6sqM1rXvr3TJMBcDVDvJSlu01zTgr-NEPJlpMLMaQ7YDf8Rrx0g_aem_Aau-Snhn9nPcf8eZn4eVgcDMlyR7xPAPGJliDw7lOlj6k3-O6_Shr7JVM-KE-HCK4H4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know her personally, but Gina does have kids in ACPS and pretty active and engaged on school issues. I think maybe Bill Campbell was on the fence about running and didn’t end up.

I agree that the other guy on the ballot seems like the hand-picked political establishment choice. I read a quote from him that his biggest priority will be collective bargaining for ACPS employees. While I believe labor right are critical, I’m not sure that should be the main priority of the school board right now. I want someone who wants to prioritize students and learning.

Is she an ACPS apologist? Does she run one of the "parent" facebook pages where ACPS is zealously defended?

I would definitely *not* categorize her as an ACPS apologist. I’ve seen and heard her demand accountability from them on various issues in recent years. Here’s a copy and paste of one of her social media posts regarding closed door, inaccessible ACPS board meetings:

“Someone needs to explain to me, how on earth ACPS gets away with this. First, there was a school board “retreat” on Monday, no location posted, no live feed. Then, there was a school board meeting last night that looked like this 👇🏼.

Having served on two boards myself, we were not allowed to communicate as a group via email, let alone meet in person without the public being able to attend…. I gladly would have publicly posted email discussions about trash in parks and mowing cycles and yet….this body gets to have all the private meetings they choose via a “retreat?” and now school board meetings too? Even the Park & Rec Comm retreats were public forums.

Is anyone going to hold anyone accountable here?”

Her resume reads like a typical Alexandrian Dem Establishment candidate. I find the "how on earth ACPS gets away with this" from people entrenched in the establishment completely disingenuous.

[Anonymous]

At least she’s shown involvement with our schools and has a current understanding of ACPS. Retired Teamsters dude is coming out of the woodwork.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least she’s shown involvement with our schools and has a current understanding of ACPS. Retired Teamsters dude is coming out of the woodwork.

He's not establishment so he's the best candidate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least she’s shown involvement with our schools and has a current understanding of ACPS. Retired Teamsters dude is coming out of the woodwork.

He's not establishment so he's the best candidate.

But, he's a white male republican.

[Anonymous]

Because the teamsters tend to skew Republican in their hiring? Umm, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Because the teamsters tend to skew Republican in their hiring? Umm, no.

Yes seems unlikely. Cannot believe he will be an agent for the change ACPS needs.

Baum at least is running on the idea that Board members need to be vocal (and not just cheerleaders for ACPS and the central office)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least she’s shown involvement with our schools and has a current understanding of ACPS. Retired Teamsters dude is coming out of the woodwork.

+1. She has been vocal with questions and criticisms of ACPS and, as a PP said, had or has kids in the system recently. I don't always agree with her views, but I appreciate that she expresses them and stays involved. I'm finding it harder to care about ACPS and looking for an escape hatch.