What do I need to know about the Fairfax County School Board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://twitter.com/RyanLMcElveen

Please look at August 27 with his welcome back to school. The only thing he really talks about is advocacy for social issues. Then look at August 26 and tell me if you would post a picture of your child that looks like this.

Was he an ice skater? Likes frozen? What's with the picture behind his professional photo?

When he started tweeting when school was cancelled about 30minutes ahead of the official announcement, the students put his head on all sorts of things relating to winter. It is one of several images they sent around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

^^^This. I am definitely not a fan of Trump...didnt vote for him. Having said that, McElveen has displayed some rather odd, sketchy behavior over the last few years. He took a female student to the prom,...and often tweeted out comments supporting students demands to close schools during inclement weather events(#closefcps). Not exactly an appropriate thing for a school board member to be doing. He acts like the cool, hip teacher who wants to be friends with all of the kids. As any school psychologist, and they'll tell you that this is a big red flag. Not a fan of Ryan.

No one is accusing Ryan of being a pervert. But, his posting of that photo does not reflect wise judgment. Not in this day and age.

But your behavior in bringing the photo's attention to a wider audience is exemplary? You're the definition of "icky."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters who get off on trolling McElveen because he’s more popular with students than they’ll ever be. They tend to be either creepy or curmudgeonly, and to think the lamentable Elizabeth Schultz is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You can have her.

Oh. No. I might not be as popular with students. Does this mean I have no shot being on the homecoming court? What will I do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

^^^This. I am definitely not a fan of Trump...didnt vote for him. Having said that, McElveen has displayed some rather odd, sketchy behavior over the last few years. He took a female student to the prom,...and often tweeted out comments supporting students demands to close schools during inclement weather events(#closefcps). Not exactly an appropriate thing for a school board member to be doing. He acts like the cool, hip teacher who wants to be friends with all of the kids. As any school psychologist, and they'll tell you that this is a big red flag. Not a fan of Ryan.

No one is accusing Ryan of being a pervert. But, his posting of that photo does not reflect wise judgment. Not in this day and age.

But your behavior in bringing the photo's attention to a wider audience is exemplary? You're the definition of "icky."

He has over 300,000 followers. Once again, poor judgment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters who get off on trolling McElveen because he’s more popular with students than they’ll ever be. They tend to be either pcreepy or curmudgeonly, and to think the lamentable Elizabeth Schultz is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You can have her.

Wow. I am a concerned parent, and for you to make the veiled accusation that myself and other concerned parents are actually jealous of Ryan McElveen because he is "more popular" with the students (our children!) makes me seriously concerned about your tenuous grip on reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters who get off on trolling McElveen because he’s more popular with students than they’ll ever be. They tend to be either pcreepy or curmudgeonly, and to think the lamentable Elizabeth Schultz is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You can have her.

Wow. I am a concerned parent, and for you to make the veiled accusation that myself and other concerned parents are actually jealous of Ryan McElveen because he is "more popular" with the students (our children!) makes me seriously concerned about your tenuous grip on reality.

I think you're full of it. Not to mention that you have an even more tenuous grip on the proper use of reflexive pronouns.

[Anonymous]

Ryan is gross. Can he go on to whatever political career he’s gunning for? Can he take Moon and a few other freakish Board members with him? Please!

[Anonymous]

What you need to know about the FCPS (Fairfax County Public Schools) School Board: the Board sets policies and oversees the administration (the Superintendent and his crew - Principals, teachers, staff etc.) who manage the day-to-day operations of the schools). The FCPS Board spends more than $3 Billion dollars each year - more than 53% of the Fairfax County Budget.

1) All meetings and minutes and documents are reported on Board Docs website here: https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto? Video is posted to YouTube and meetings are streamed real time on AppleTV (Cable channel 21)

2) The Board has Regular (public) Meetings every other Thursday evening at (Luther) Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA, at 7 p.m. There are ten slots for public comment in person (and another five for video comment submissions) - you sign up for these online at 6 a.m. on Monday morning prior to the Thursday mtg. - these go quickly if the mtg. agenda is contentious.

3) Various work sessions and committee meetings are held at Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, Room 1600 - these are open to the public - work sessions are recorderded (video) while committee meetings are recorded (audio) - you can find the audio on BoardDocs, videos are posted to YouTube as well.

4) You can FOIA (request via Freedom of Information Act) information about the schools, budgets, communications (emails on a particular subject) etc. - the coordinator is Brandynn Reaves ([e-mail]) Phrase your question very specifically and expect to wait 5 business days and a further 7 business days for the inevitable extension - charges may be imposed.

5) Many questions about the budget and operations of FCPS are asked by Board of Supervisors and FCPS Board members during the annual budget cycle - these are compiled and archived on BoardDocs see Library - Budget Questions. The Board's Calendar and Board Policies are also posted in the Library for reference.

6) The Clerk to the Board is Ilene Muhlberg ([e-mail] 571-423-1075) - her office can be very helpful in finding information and understanding process.

7) Each district has one Board member representing and in addition there are three at-large members (Mr. Moon, Ms. Keys-Gamarra, and Mr. McElveen) who represent the whole district. Each of these members can be contacted by phone and email and some (though not all) hold periodic public meetings with constituents.

8) Join the PTA. Read the Twitter/Facebook feeds of the various Board members.

Finally, once you have learned about the Board's responsibilities, actions, and history, you can offer some informed opinions and, hopefully, inform the rest of us! Or you can run for office - the next elections for the Board seats are scheduled for 2019.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters who get off on trolling McElveen because he’s more popular with students than they’ll ever be. They tend to be either pcreepy or curmudgeonly, and to think the lamentable Elizabeth Schultz is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You can have her.

Wow. I am a concerned parent, and for you to make the veiled accusation that myself and other concerned parents are actually jealous of Ryan McElveen because he is "more popular" with the students (our children!) makes me seriously concerned about your tenuous grip on reality.

I think you're full of it. Not to mention that you have an even more tenuous grip on the proper use of reflexive pronouns.

Pardon my colloquiallism, but I think you're a grammar nazi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters who get off on trolling McElveen because he’s more popular with students than they’ll ever be. They tend to be either pcreepy or curmudgeonly, and to think the lamentable Elizabeth Schultz is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You can have her.

Wow. I am a concerned parent, and for you to make the veiled accusation that myself and other concerned parents are actually jealous of Ryan McElveen because he is "more popular" with the students (our children!) makes me seriously concerned about your tenuous grip on reality.

I think you're full of it. Not to mention that you have an even more tenuous grip on the proper use of reflexive pronouns.

Pardon my colloquiallism, but I think you're a grammar nazi.

And I think you are a fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What you need to know about the FCPS (Fairfax County Public Schools) School Board: the Board sets policies and oversees the administration (the Superintendent and his crew - Principals, teachers, staff etc.) who manage the day-to-day operations of the schools). The FCPS Board spends more than $3 Billion dollars each year - more than 53% of the Fairfax County Budget.

1) All meetings and minutes and documents are reported on Board Docs website here: https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto? Video is posted to YouTube and meetings are streamed real time on AppleTV (Cable channel 21)

2) The Board has Regular (public) Meetings every other Thursday evening at (Luther) Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA, at 7 p.m. There are ten slots for public comment in person (and another five for video comment submissions) - you sign up for these online at 6 a.m. on Monday morning prior to the Thursday mtg. - these go quickly if the mtg. agenda is contentious.

3) Various work sessions and committee meetings are held at Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, Room 1600 - these are open to the public - work sessions are recorderded (video) while committee meetings are recorded (audio) - you can find the audio on BoardDocs, videos are posted to YouTube as well.

4) You can FOIA (request via Freedom of Information Act) information about the schools, budgets, communications (emails on a particular subject) etc. - the coordinator is Brandynn Reaves ([e-mail]) Phrase your question very specifically and expect to wait 5 business days and a further 7 business days for the inevitable extension - charges may be imposed.

5) Many questions about the budget and operations of FCPS are asked by Board of Supervisors and FCPS Board members during the annual budget cycle - these are compiled and archived on BoardDocs see Library - Budget Questions. The Board's Calendar and Board Policies are also posted in the Library for reference.

6) The Clerk to the Board is Ilene Muhlberg ([e-mail] 571-423-1075) - her office can be very helpful in finding information and understanding process.

7) Each district has one Board member representing and in addition there are three at-large members (Mr. Moon, Ms. Keys-Gamarra, and Mr. McElveen) who represent the whole district. Each of these members can be contacted by phone and email and some (though not all) hold periodic public meetings with constituents.

8) Join the PTA. Read the Twitter/Facebook feeds of the various Board members.

Finally, once you have learned about the Board's responsibilities, actions, and history, you can offer some informed opinions and, hopefully, inform the rest of us! Or you can run for office - the next elections for the Board seats are scheduled for 2019.

Wow. This an excellent resource.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County is blue, and has been for a while, and the elected board reflects that. I don't know why PP expects the population who voted Dems in, to be mad that they are Dems.

Referring to changing an overtly racist school name as a "stupid liberal cause" shows pretty clearly where the R minority stands. If you wanted more money for schools, you should have voted for the restaurant tax.

And, this is the problem. The SB has become a partisan playground. Pat Hynes, earlier PP said is way, way left--just look at her tweets. McElveen and Evans are also pretty far left and concerned only with social justice and not education. Strauss is another--ironic that she is super concerned about the poor children--and, yet, protects her affluent schools at all costs. She is only concerned about the poor kids who are not in her district. Schultz is right wing--but, also has some common sense when it comes to budget issues. Some of the others also show some concern for the budget and commons sense--but, from the meetings I've watched, Schultz has the best understanding. Wilson tries to mediate and propose compromises, but the leftists on the Board shut him down almost every time.

The naming of Justice High is an example. (My personal belief is that dropping the JEB would be the best solution -and the cheapest. That it could have been done over time.) It was clear, though, that some were determined for it to be named after Justice Marshall. (The lack of common sense is rampant, when the proposers seemed to have forgotten that we already have a Marshall High.) Some other names were proposed and there was a great one of a man with Hispanic/Native American background. His kids had attended Stuart and he was not only a war hero, but an educator who had worked on Reading. This was not good enough for our leftists. They were determined that it include Justice Marshall--therefore the name "Justice High." They claimed it was named after the three names proposed. That was b.s.

Another issue is the transgender one. They brought it up before it was even a very big issue. No consideration at all for people who saw it differently. Unisex bathrooms were not an option for them.

And,McElveen's latest was the dress code. He thought there should be no difference between dress for boys and girls........
It turns out to be okay--but taking time on this was just silly.

Yikes. Sounds like most of them have their own personal agendas, not the education of the kids.