Louise Epstein v Jane Strauss for FCPS school board

[Anonymous]

This election is in the Dranesville District of Fairfax County which includes Mclean, Great Falls, Herndon. Louise is one of the people who worked as an advocate for Fairgrade which got the grading scale changed in Fairfax County [extra points on the GPA for AP, IB]. There was controversy about the involvement of the incumbent , Jane Strauss, as an advocate among her fellow board members. Here is a link to emails on this issue:
http://redapplemom.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/fg-official-emails4.pdf

[Anonymous]

So much unnecessary drama.

[Anonymous]

I really think this is stooping to a new low to post other people's emails. While I like Louise, I'm not impressed with her friends who think this is an appropriate way of supporting their candidate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really think this is stooping to a new low to post other people's emails. While I like Louise, I'm not impressed with her friends who think this is an appropriate way of supporting their candidate.

I agree. I think Louise is an outstanding candidate for School Board and, if elected, would do an outstanding job representing the district. However, the "known by the company you keep" adage plays as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I agree. I think Louise is an outstanding candidate for School Board and, if elected, would do an outstanding job representing the district. However, the "known by the company you keep" adage plays as well.

That's how I feel as well. I'd like to support Louise Epstein because I think she's smart and has worked hard for local parents, and that any School Board member tends to become a captive of the FCPS Staff over time.

However, I really dislike a large number of Epstein's most vocal supporters intensely. I don't think I'll decide who to vote for until the day of the election, and even then I may just close my eyes and hit a button.

[Anonymous]

I am trying to learn more about Epstein as a candidate in this race because unfortunately I am familiar with Jane Strauss and cannot stand the thought of her being re-elected in this position.

Like I said I know nothing of Louise Epstein at the moment but I would like to think that she could do a better job. Jane Strauss as a board member of a private preschool ignored major issue's and when addressed by parents she pretended not to hear them to protect herself politically- IMHO she is way out of touch!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think this is stooping to a new low to post other people's emails. While I like Louise, I'm not impressed with her friends who think this is an appropriate way of supporting their candidate.

I agree. I think Louise is an outstanding candidate for School Board and, if elected, would do an outstanding job representing the district. However, the "known by the company you keep" adage plays as well.

I think that if Janie Strauss is falsely taking credit for something that she did not in fact support until she deemed it politically expedient, then why not post emails that prove that point? The emails posted were those of school board members, whose accounts are subject to FOIA anyway (didn't we learn as much from the Liz Bradsher debacle?) I guess I don't see the big deal. I'd much rather know how it really went down with Fairgrade -- especially if one candidate isn't being truthful about her involvement -- before I get into a voting booth next month.

In my opinion, there are many more reasons why Strauss should finally be defeated. This attempt to take credit for something she had little to do with (besides being 'allowed' by her fellow board members to make the motion) is just icing on the cake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that if Janie Strauss is falsely taking credit for something that she did not in fact support until she deemed it politically expedient, then why not post emails that prove that point? The emails posted were those of school board members, whose accounts are subject to FOIA anyway (didn't we learn as much from the Liz Bradsher debacle?) I guess I don't see the big deal.

I see it as a big deal.

I would hope that a School Board member could be a role model for children/students in FCPS. The school system talks about the importance of community service and civic duty, and then antics such as those displayed by such supporters are hardly what I would term model behavior. I would hope that a candidate for School Board seeing such behavior would suggest to such supporters to back off.

It seems to me that there is a great opportunity for a write-in campaign in several districts, including the Dranesville district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think that if Janie Strauss is falsely taking credit for something that she did not in fact support until she deemed it politically expedient, then why not post emails that prove that point? The emails posted were those of school board members, whose accounts are subject to FOIA anyway (didn't we learn as much from the Liz Bradsher debacle?) I guess I don't see the big deal. I'd much rather know how it really went down with Fairgrade -- especially if one candidate isn't being truthful about her involvement -- before I get into a voting booth next month.

In my opinion, there are many more reasons why Strauss should finally be defeated. This attempt to take credit for something she had little to do with (besides being 'allowed' by her fellow board members to make the motion) is just icing on the cake.

13:15 here. I remain confused. Strauss did support FairGrade and she never claimed that she was FairGrade's best friend at every step of the process. So how is she "falsely taking credit" for anything? If her opponents want to attack her because she wasn't enthusiastic enough about all their favored initiatives - of which FairGrade is but one - that's one thing, but it's not much different from complaining that the current crop of School Board challengers favored the grading change because they viewed it "politically expedient."

In addition, the e-mails that were released don't show that Strauss was only prepared to support a change in the voting policy if she was allowed to make the motion for a change at a School Board meeting - which is what Epstein and her supporters previously contended. Now it seems they just want to argue that Strauss shouldn't get any credit because she wasn't gung-ho enough.

As I said, I'd like to support Epstein, but her supporters are so committed to spinning every aspect of every issue in Epstein's favor that it's very hard to do so. They seem like a "take no prisoners" bunch who won't listen to anyone who doesn't always agree with them.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, someone who previously said that they weren't sure which way they would vote suddenly becomes supportive when they read which way the winds are blowing and THEN want to be the one to offer the motion? And bringing up only the parts that make them look good now b/c it's an election year?

That smacks of falsely taking credit for support something that they were not in fact fully in support of.

[Anonymous]

Article on Lorenze in the Post is getting a lot of attention. Many of her candidates are going out of their way to distance themselves from her, but Epstein isn't among them. Seems that if you vote for Epstein, what you'll really get is a package deal with Lorenze, too.

Thanks, but no thanks. The woman managed to get herself expelled from the PTA, for God's sake. It must take a special talent to be that obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Article on Lorenze in the Post is getting a lot of attention. Many of her candidates are going out of their way to distance themselves from her, but Epstein isn't among them. Seems that if you vote for Epstein, what you'll really get is a package deal with Lorenze, too.

Thanks, but no thanks. The woman managed to get herself expelled from the PTA, for God's sake. It must take a special talent to be that obnoxious.

I had no idea she was backing Steve Stuban, too. And I was going to vote for him.

[Anonymous]

I agree that Epstein's supporters are obnoxious and the self-professed kingmaker, Lorenze, seems a little to Lady Macbeth and all spin and no substance. Epstein herself seems very confrontational and downright angry. She seems to think we need a sea change but I feel that FCPS is a terrific system. I'd hate to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[Anonymous]

After reading that article, I'm avoiding Sheree, Lolita, Stuben and Epstein like the plague.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After reading that article, I'm avoiding Sheree, Lolita, Stuben and Epstein like the plague.

Stuban is OK.