Paul Bartkowski School Board Candidate Forum

[paulforfcsb]

Ah, yes, and the Moms for Liberty questions. Not sure I follow re the relevance, but I don't know enough about the group to denounce or support them. Hasn't been a focus of mine.

I think someone already cleared up that the picture floating around was not me - not sure that matters much either. But it's true - not me.

[paulforfcsb]

Here's a link to the video of the debate between Robyn and me, which was put on by the Chinese American Parents Association.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzRpgGseM10

I had a telephonic hearing that went long so I don't make my appearance until about 25 minutes in. I had a supporter and fellow concerned (grand)parent fill in for me until I arrived.

[Anonymous]

paulforfcsb wrote:


There was also a question about whether I really saw questions directed to students about how many sex partners they had, etc. The answer is yes, a concerned parent gave me the list of questions that were asked in school at McLean Day last spring. It was from last school year. It is conceivable it was part of the FLE curriculum and not SEL. But I'm pretty sure it was the latter.

I know kids are being kids, etc. I disagree that that means the school should be asking these questions. Questions like the ones I saw normalize behavior that at least some parents want to discourage. Again, let's just focus on education and get this stuff out of the schools.

I appreciate anyone who runs for public office so thank you for your time. But I work in the schools and those questions were not part of a SEL survey or FLE curriculum. It may have been the county’s youth survey. I am alarmed that you don’t even know where your information came from other than “a parent at McLean Day”. I am sure you have many legitimate concerns that drove you to run but to use a prurient example without supports is concerning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that the question about rejecting "Moms for Liberty" continues to be ignored....super telling.

Also, Paul....if you want to take sex education completely out of the schools where would you like it taught? I know your answer will be in the home, and in a utopian society that would be perfect, but the reality is that Fairfax County is huge and diverse and unfortunately not all kids live in a household with open communication or support.

I was mildly intrigued by you and do not love Lady Bird but your answers so far put you so far right that I can't in good conscious vote for you. You clearly are only interested in serving upper middle class white kids from conservative Christain families....

Nowhere did the guy say he was against sex ed being taught in schools.

[Anonymous]

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paulforfcsb wrote:re homeschooling this year - just based on past experience homeschooling during the covid shutdowns. She needed some more attention and rigor - and she's getting it. We use an online program through Well Trained Mind Academy - great curriculum.

OK, so public school during Covid wasn't good enough for your kid, public school last year after Covid wasn't good enough for your kid, and now regular non-Covid 6th grade isn't good enough for your kid? When you live in one of the best public school areas in Fairfax?

Sorry, SB candidates need to put their money where their mouth is. I wouldn't vote for Karl or Melanie for similar reasons.

It does look like a great curriculum. Will FCPS pay so parents can send their child with similar needs to WTMA too?

https://www.wtmacademy.com/

I would be interested in your candidacy if you were talking more about bringing in rigorous curriculum like Well Trained Mind into FCPS, and a whole lot less about weird Republican fixations on YA books.

Yes! My whole platform is to improve the quality of education FCPS provides and stop pushing political agendas. The fixation comment works both ways - rest assured that I believe our time, and the Board's time, would be far better spent on improving the education our schools provide. If you've attended a Board meeting, there is precious little time spent on that fundamental topic and much more spent on sex and sexuality, etc. I've already said I find much of it inappropriate, the books, the discussions with the kids, etc. Again, call me old-fashioned, but I think most of those sensitive topics are better left outside the schools and the schools should focus on education. And bear in mind that all of it takes energy, class-time, and resources away from reversing the losses we've seen in English, math, science, etc.

So maybe the Republicans should stop targeting LGBTQ kids.

No one is targeting LGBTQ kids in FCPS.

False.
https://www.thenvaproject.org/blog

And if Youngkin had his way...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/08/29/virginia-schools-transgender-policies-youngkin/

Supporting parents isn’t normally considered “targeting” LBGTQ kids.

The Moms for Liberty nutters are anti-trans. (and anti-"CRT" and a bunch of other crazy)
https://twitter.com/ShellyArnoldi

This is who is pushing Paul Bartkowski.

Talk about fake news. Paul is a local parent who has a lot more invested in the future state of FCPS than Robyn Lady, a FCPS retiree who is going to get her pension no matter what. We have no connection to “Moms for Liberty” but reject your phony narratives.

Nothing phony at all.

If you click on the Twitter link on their website it takes you to Shelly's twitter account.

They are pretty clearly "Moms for Liberty":


And they very clearly support Paul:
https://www.thenvaproject.org/general-4

And are very clearly anti-trans:
https://www.thenvaproject.org/post/speak-up-in-richmond

"We can't let the Soros funded LGBTQ and “transgender” activists be the only voice at the next Virginia Board of Education Meeting in two days (July 27th).

We need you to show your support for the Department of Education’s finalized version of the 2023 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools.

The LGBTQ activists are planning coordinated efforts in opposition to Governor Youngkin’s Department of Education’s finalized version of the 2023 Model Policies, which restores parental rights and prohibits schools from hiding information from parents. "

I see this often and always wonder what information the schools hide from parents.

DP, but many school districts have policies that allow the student to change their pronoun and name without notice to the parents. That's not a big deal to me personally, but the policies also allow for the student to request a meeting with staff members (teachers, admin, counselors) to develop a written plan for accommodation and supportive measures, again without notice to parents of the meeting or the plan. I don't think schools should be holding meetings like that and a parent is in the dark. I would hope my relationship with my DCs is strong enough that they would come to me and it wouldn't be an issue. But the message policies like that send to vulnerable kids is that they need to be protected from their parents. While there are obviously some parents out there who are abusive, that's not the majority.

Where is your data on that? Separately, the issue has to do with mental health, and teens are afforded confidentiality (from their parents) in this regard — it’s the law. If your child sees a mental health counselor (which includes school counselors), you (the parent) are not permitted the details. It allows the child to be open with the counselor. Parents are included if the counselor believes the parent can assist with care.

Are you joking? You believe that the majority of parents are abusive to their own kids?

And separately, school counselors aren't the same as private mental health counselors. For one thing, state law specifically gives parents the absolute right to opt their kids out of all school counseling. There's no independent right for a minor to seek school counseling as with mental health.

[Anonymous]

paulforfcsb wrote:Someone asked what I meant by the discrimination in the admissions at TJ. Recently, the Board and (past) Superintendent moved away from a purely merit-based admissions standard and toward a different standard. Discovery in a court case showed that the goal of the policies was to have fewer Asian-American students at TJ - they previously made up approximately 72% of the students there. There were even Board members joking about it. The discrimination against that group is, of course, improper. But it also had the effect of not accepting students that would have qualified on a merit-based process, which harms TJ.

I think the same person also asked about what madness I'm referring to. We have a number of examples in the chat but, as an example, the policies surrounding allowing biological males/females who say they identify as female/male on that particular day in female bathrooms and locker rooms are a good example (and we all know allowing them to play on sports teams is the next step, which is both unfair and dangerous). Madness.

Same goes for the policy not to tell parents if a child is experiencing what was, until very recently, known as gender dysphoria. I saw some debate about whether it is appropriate to not inform parents if their child declares that he or she identifies as a different gender. I disagree with the policy that prevents schools from telling parents. Common-sense position, but the issue is that the parents need to know that information. The heartbreaking story behind Sage's Law demonstrates the consequences of the school hiding this type of information from parents. Assuming abusive parents is unwarranted, as it would be unwarranted to assume mal-intent on behalf of the schools. There are already laws governing abusive parents in analogous situations.

No, that wasn’t the goal. Did you read the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling? The school board had no intention of discriminatory actions against Asian-Americans and had a valid interest in "expanding the array of student backgrounds."

You seem unfamiliar with some topics you listed on your website.

Why should voters vote for you if you are uninformed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paul - a few questions:

1. On your website, you say, "STOP THE IDEOLOGICAL MADNESS, Prioritize academic excellence over ideology."

Can you please explain what you mean by "ideology"?


2. On your website, you say, "efforts to eliminate classes designed to challenge and nurture our most gifted students in the name of equity."

Can you please explain what these "efforts" are?


3. On your website, you say:
"At-Large" School Board Candidates Who Have Similar Goals
You can vote for up to 3 "At-Large" School Board Candidates
CASSANDRA AUCOIN
MAUREEN BRODY
SAUNDRA DAVIS

Can you please explain how your goals are similar to Maureen Brody's goals? Were you also tear gassed on Jan 6th?

Waiting to hear responses to these questions.

[Anonymous]

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paulforfcsb wrote:re homeschooling this year - just based on past experience homeschooling during the covid shutdowns. She needed some more attention and rigor - and she's getting it. We use an online program through Well Trained Mind Academy - great curriculum.

OK, so public school during Covid wasn't good enough for your kid, public school last year after Covid wasn't good enough for your kid, and now regular non-Covid 6th grade isn't good enough for your kid? When you live in one of the best public school areas in Fairfax?

Sorry, SB candidates need to put their money where their mouth is. I wouldn't vote for Karl or Melanie for similar reasons.

It does look like a great curriculum. Will FCPS pay so parents can send their child with similar needs to WTMA too?

https://www.wtmacademy.com/

I would be interested in your candidacy if you were talking more about bringing in rigorous curriculum like Well Trained Mind into FCPS, and a whole lot less about weird Republican fixations on YA books.

Yes! My whole platform is to improve the quality of education FCPS provides and stop pushing political agendas. The fixation comment works both ways - rest assured that I believe our time, and the Board's time, would be far better spent on improving the education our schools provide. If you've attended a Board meeting, there is precious little time spent on that fundamental topic and much more spent on sex and sexuality, etc. I've already said I find much of it inappropriate, the books, the discussions with the kids, etc. Again, call me old-fashioned, but I think most of those sensitive topics are better left outside the schools and the schools should focus on education. And bear in mind that all of it takes energy, class-time, and resources away from reversing the losses we've seen in English, math, science, etc.

So maybe the Republicans should stop targeting LGBTQ kids.

No one is targeting LGBTQ kids in FCPS.

False.
https://www.thenvaproject.org/blog

And if Youngkin had his way...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/08/29/virginia-schools-transgender-policies-youngkin/

Supporting parents isn’t normally considered “targeting” LBGTQ kids.

The Moms for Liberty nutters are anti-trans. (and anti-"CRT" and a bunch of other crazy)
https://twitter.com/ShellyArnoldi

This is who is pushing Paul Bartkowski.

Talk about fake news. Paul is a local parent who has a lot more invested in the future state of FCPS than Robyn Lady, a FCPS retiree who is going to get her pension no matter what. We have no connection to “Moms for Liberty” but reject your phony narratives.

Nothing phony at all.

If you click on the Twitter link on their website it takes you to Shelly's twitter account.

They are pretty clearly "Moms for Liberty":


And they very clearly support Paul:
https://www.thenvaproject.org/general-4

And are very clearly anti-trans:
https://www.thenvaproject.org/post/speak-up-in-richmond

"We can't let the Soros funded LGBTQ and “transgender” activists be the only voice at the next Virginia Board of Education Meeting in two days (July 27th).

We need you to show your support for the Department of Education’s finalized version of the 2023 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools.

The LGBTQ activists are planning coordinated efforts in opposition to Governor Youngkin’s Department of Education’s finalized version of the 2023 Model Policies, which restores parental rights and prohibits schools from hiding information from parents. "

I see this often and always wonder what information the schools hide from parents.

DP, but many school districts have policies that allow the student to change their pronoun and name without notice to the parents. That's not a big deal to me personally, but the policies also allow for the student to request a meeting with staff members (teachers, admin, counselors) to develop a written plan for accommodation and supportive measures, again without notice to parents of the meeting or the plan. I don't think schools should be holding meetings like that and a parent is in the dark. I would hope my relationship with my DCs is strong enough that they would come to me and it wouldn't be an issue. But the message policies like that send to vulnerable kids is that they need to be protected from their parents. While there are obviously some parents out there who are abusive, that's not the majority.

Is that FCPS policy?

Yes, the language used is always students OR parents. From the regulation:

When a school is made aware of a student’s gender-expansive or transgender status,
the school shall offer to convene a support team for the student or the parents. The
support team shall be a multidisciplinary team that may consist of the student, parents
if the student is willing, classroom teacher(s), administrator, school counselor, school
psychologist, school social worker, and/or other staff members as appropriate for this
collaboration. The student or the student’s parents may have input into the
composition of the team and also may invite any representatives of their choosing to
include physical and mental health professionals or advocates.

[Anonymous]

paulforfcsb wrote:Ah, yes, and the Moms for Liberty questions. Not sure I follow re the relevance, but I don't know enough about the group to denounce or support them. Hasn't been a focus of mine.

I think someone already cleared up that the picture floating around was not me - not sure that matters much either. But it's true - not me.

Is this claim below true? If so, it seems like you are familiar with Moms for Liberty.
Paul Bartkowski, running for Fairfax County School Board, has retweeted Moms for Liberty, as well as the right-wing group Gays Against Groomers, who tweeted that anyone who opposes book bans “want pornography in schools” and “are perverts that want to sexualize children.”
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/virginia-school-board-extremist-candidates-1234829927/amp/

You think these books are “pornography”? Have you actually read any of them? Because they aren’t pornography:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/pornography

It also looks like you’ve also reposted on Facebook a few posts from Parents Defending Education. What is your relationship with that group?
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092468241125

And on FB you claim that TJHSST’s ranking dropped because of “FCPS’s purposeful diminution of quality” at TJ. You do realize that the data used for this ranking occurred before the admissions change, right?

And you encourage people to vote for Maureen Brody. Did you know that she was an Insurrectionist?

[Anonymous]

paulforfcsb wrote:Here's a link to the video of the debate between Robyn and me, which was put on by the Chinese American Parents Association.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzRpgGseM10

I had a telephonic hearing that went long so I don't make my appearance until about 25 minutes in. I had a supporter and fellow concerned (grand)parent fill in for me until I arrived.

How will you balance your work commitments with your school board commitments should you be elected?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:Here's a link to the video of the debate between Robyn and me, which was put on by the Chinese American Parents Association.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzRpgGseM10

I had a telephonic hearing that went long so I don't make my appearance until about 25 minutes in. I had a supporter and fellow concerned (grand)parent fill in for me until I arrived.

How will you balance your work commitments with your school board commitments should you be elected?

Same question for Robyn Lady, who touted her private college counseling business at the beginning of last week’s debate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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paulforfcsb wrote:re homeschooling this year - just based on past experience homeschooling during the covid shutdowns. She needed some more attention and rigor - and she's getting it. We use an online program through Well Trained Mind Academy - great curriculum.

OK, so public school during Covid wasn't good enough for your kid, public school last year after Covid wasn't good enough for your kid, and now regular non-Covid 6th grade isn't good enough for your kid? When you live in one of the best public school areas in Fairfax?

Sorry, SB candidates need to put their money where their mouth is. I wouldn't vote for Karl or Melanie for similar reasons.

It does look like a great curriculum. Will FCPS pay so parents can send their child with similar needs to WTMA too?

https://www.wtmacademy.com/

I would be interested in your candidacy if you were talking more about bringing in rigorous curriculum like Well Trained Mind into FCPS, and a whole lot less about weird Republican fixations on YA books.

Yes! My whole platform is to improve the quality of education FCPS provides and stop pushing political agendas. The fixation comment works both ways - rest assured that I believe our time, and the Board's time, would be far better spent on improving the education our schools provide. If you've attended a Board meeting, there is precious little time spent on that fundamental topic and much more spent on sex and sexuality, etc. I've already said I find much of it inappropriate, the books, the discussions with the kids, etc. Again, call me old-fashioned, but I think most of those sensitive topics are better left outside the schools and the schools should focus on education. And bear in mind that all of it takes energy, class-time, and resources away from reversing the losses we've seen in English, math, science, etc.

So maybe the Republicans should stop targeting LGBTQ kids.

No one is targeting LGBTQ kids in FCPS.

False.
https://www.thenvaproject.org/blog

And if Youngkin had his way...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/08/29/virginia-schools-transgender-policies-youngkin/

Supporting parents isn’t normally considered “targeting” LBGTQ kids.

The Moms for Liberty nutters are anti-trans. (and anti-"CRT" and a bunch of other crazy)
https://twitter.com/ShellyArnoldi

This is who is pushing Paul Bartkowski.

Talk about fake news. Paul is a local parent who has a lot more invested in the future state of FCPS than Robyn Lady, a FCPS retiree who is going to get her pension no matter what. We have no connection to “Moms for Liberty” but reject your phony narratives.

Nothing phony at all.

If you click on the Twitter link on their website it takes you to Shelly's twitter account.

They are pretty clearly "Moms for Liberty":


And they very clearly support Paul:
https://www.thenvaproject.org/general-4

And are very clearly anti-trans:
https://www.thenvaproject.org/post/speak-up-in-richmond

"We can't let the Soros funded LGBTQ and “transgender” activists be the only voice at the next Virginia Board of Education Meeting in two days (July 27th).

We need you to show your support for the Department of Education’s finalized version of the 2023 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools.

The LGBTQ activists are planning coordinated efforts in opposition to Governor Youngkin’s Department of Education’s finalized version of the 2023 Model Policies, which restores parental rights and prohibits schools from hiding information from parents. "

I see this often and always wonder what information the schools hide from parents.

DP, but many school districts have policies that allow the student to change their pronoun and name without notice to the parents. That's not a big deal to me personally, but the policies also allow for the student to request a meeting with staff members (teachers, admin, counselors) to develop a written plan for accommodation and supportive measures, again without notice to parents of the meeting or the plan. I don't think schools should be holding meetings like that and a parent is in the dark. I would hope my relationship with my DCs is strong enough that they would come to me and it wouldn't be an issue. But the message policies like that send to vulnerable kids is that they need to be protected from their parents. While there are obviously some parents out there who are abusive, that's not the majority.

I do feel as if the current school leadership in FCPS is actually LESS transparent than in prior years, despite all the Board’s and superintendent’s flashy language.

In short, they have done many things to shake my confidence in their leadership. Seems like who we have now is not working out.

[Anonymous]

Will Robyn Lady be willing to take a fresh look at the unnecessary plan to spend $60M on an elementary school that isn’t needed in Dunn Loring, or will she refuse to challenge her ally Karl Frisch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:Ah, yes, and the Moms for Liberty questions. Not sure I follow re the relevance, but I don't know enough about the group to denounce or support them. Hasn't been a focus of mine.

I think someone already cleared up that the picture floating around was not me - not sure that matters much either. But it's true - not me.

Is this claim below true? If so, it seems like you are familiar with Moms for Liberty.
Paul Bartkowski, running for Fairfax County School Board, has retweeted Moms for Liberty, as well as the right-wing group Gays Against Groomers, who tweeted that anyone who opposes book bans “want pornography in schools” and “are perverts that want to sexualize children.”
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/virginia-school-board-extremist-candidates-1234829927/amp/

You think these books are “pornography”? Have you actually read any of them? Because they aren’t pornography:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/pornography

It also looks like you’ve also reposted on Facebook a few posts from Parents Defending Education. What is your relationship with that group?
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092468241125

And on FB you claim that TJHSST’s ranking dropped because of “FCPS’s purposeful diminution of quality” at TJ. You do realize that the data used for this ranking occurred before the admissions change, right?

And you encourage people to vote for Maureen Brody. Did you know that she was an Insurrectionist?

This last post looks suspiciously like it was written by Karl Frisch, or maybe Karl Frisch’s spouse or a campaign worker.

PP: I have to ask you directly - are you Karl Frisch, a member of his family, or a campaign worker of his?

Paul has been transparent enough to openly tell us he is posting, and he is answering questions. Unless you support dirty politics PP, at least be honest about who you really are.

[Anonymous]

Question for Paul Bartkowski:


Here is one example of how FCPS is being less transparent than they used to be:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/1161207.page

(the current Board and Superintendent hide SAT scores from parents)

Paul: will you be more transparent with the data FCPS collects?