Paul Bartkowski School Board Candidate Forum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn't going to be the most popular, but here goes.

If you live in the Dranesville district (I doubt 90% of the people throwing words back and forth on this forum actually do), and you want something done about McLean High School in the next 5 years, this is really our only chance. Yes, that sounds dire. But, the only way we're going to get anything done is to have a candidate who lives in the district and whose child(ren) attend or will attend McLean HS advocate directly for us.

Where's my proof? Janie Strauss. Look at what was done for Franklin Sherman ES (that school was protected for YEARS. I mean DECADES! from boundary changes) and the magical renovation and expansion of Langley HS when all the numbers showed attendance declining and the renovation unnecessary. Where did Janie's kids go to school? Franklin Sherman and Langley. And oh, look what's happening at Cooper - improvements. She was Dranesville's representative forever and it's really no secret where her kids went, the school facilities have seen the rewards.

Want something done about McLean HS? Get Paul in there, and even if he's only in there for one term, I'll bet McLean gets in that queue and something gets accomplished.

And you're not going to believe this, but I'll say it anyway. I don't know Paul personally, but I'm fed up enough as a parent of three kids in FCPS myself that we've got to get something done. Because all of this anger and frustration year after year gets nothing done at McLean HS, and voting in the same party term after term isn't going to get the change we want. And you may think you're a long way away if your kids are in elementary schools that feed into McLean (Chesterbrook, FS, KG, Haycock) but to know that even a 2nd grader stands to still attend the same building that's falling apart now is just flat out discouraging once you figure out how the CIP works and the process to get in the line. Look at what it took to move ~150 kids from McLean to ease the overcrowding.

Janie Strauss’s kids went to McLean, not Langley.

Langley got renovated because it was in the queue for a renovation and it got a big addition even though it was below capacity because Jeff Platenberg, the then-head of Facilities, decided it would be easier and more efficient to add seats at a school already being renovated than to have to manage two separate capital projects (even if the net result was that some kids living closer to McLean would end up traveling longer distances to Langley).

I agree Paul Bartkowski would do more if elected than Robyn Lady to help McLean get additional funding. Lady has made it clear she won’t be a strong advocate for the school. But I don’t think your summary of past history is accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a lot of respect for someone like Paul who is willing to put it out there so that there might possibly be some more traditional or, as he puts it, "old-fashioned" views expressed on the School Board. The progressive wing of the FCDC is absolutely brutal when it comes to tearing down anyone who doesn't embrace every aspect of their far-left agenda.

+1
And again - I see zero Democrats willing to answer questions on a forum like this. Good for him. I will definitely be voting for him.

Paul isn't really answering questions either though so...

He has answered many questions here, while refusing to spar endlessly with partisan hacks.

Personally, I’m among those who’ll vote for Paul after witnessing Elaine Tholen, a Democrat, turn out to be so weak and passive (and to break her campaign promises from 2019) when it came to addressing the facilities needs of McLean HS. Robyn Lady has made it clear she won’t be any better - the only difference between her and Tholen is that she won’t promise anything to begin with, so no one can point to broken promises later.

At least with Paul, we’ll get someone who’d be willing to speak out - Elaine has NEVER done so because it’s way more important for her to stay on good terms with her fellow Ds on the School Board (including the ones who would starve the school of any additional resources indefinitely if they could) than to fight for her constituents.

Endlessly spar? He hasn't even answered basic questions.

DP. He answered all questions - from basic to inane - in detail. You can stop trolling now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a lot of respect for someone like Paul who is willing to put it out there so that there might possibly be some more traditional or, as he puts it, "old-fashioned" views expressed on the School Board. The progressive wing of the FCDC is absolutely brutal when it comes to tearing down anyone who doesn't embrace every aspect of their far-left agenda.

+1
And again - I see zero Democrats willing to answer questions on a forum like this. Good for him. I will definitely be voting for him.

Paul isn't really answering questions either though so...

He has answered many questions here, while refusing to spar endlessly with partisan hacks.

Personally, I’m among those who’ll vote for Paul after witnessing Elaine Tholen, a Democrat, turn out to be so weak and passive (and to break her campaign promises from 2019) when it came to addressing the facilities needs of McLean HS. Robyn Lady has made it clear she won’t be any better - the only difference between her and Tholen is that she won’t promise anything to begin with, so no one can point to broken promises later.

At least with Paul, we’ll get someone who’d be willing to speak out - Elaine has NEVER done so because it’s way more important for her to stay on good terms with her fellow Ds on the School Board (including the ones who would starve the school of any additional resources indefinitely if they could) than to fight for her constituents.

Endlessly spar? He hasn't even answered basic questions.

I think you’re proving the point.

Meanwhile Robyn Lady has run about as lackluster and non-committal a campaign as one could imagine.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn't going to be the most popular, but here goes.

If you live in the Dranesville district (I doubt 90% of the people throwing words back and forth on this forum actually do), and you want something done about McLean High School in the next 5 years, this is really our only chance. Yes, that sounds dire. But, the only way we're going to get anything done is to have a candidate who lives in the district and whose child(ren) attend or will attend McLean HS advocate directly for us.

Where's my proof? Janie Strauss. Look at what was done for Franklin Sherman ES (that school was protected for YEARS. I mean DECADES! from boundary changes) and the magical renovation and expansion of Langley HS when all the numbers showed attendance declining and the renovation unnecessary. Where did Janie's kids go to school? Franklin Sherman and Langley. And oh, look what's happening at Cooper - improvements. She was Dranesville's representative forever and it's really no secret where her kids went, the school facilities have seen the rewards.

Want something done about McLean HS? Get Paul in there, and even if he's only in there for one term, I'll bet McLean gets in that queue and something gets accomplished.

And you're not going to believe this, but I'll say it anyway. I don't know Paul personally, but I'm fed up enough as a parent of three kids in FCPS myself that we've got to get something done. Because all of this anger and frustration year after year gets nothing done at McLean HS, and voting in the same party term after term isn't going to get the change we want. And you may think you're a long way away if your kids are in elementary schools that feed into McLean (Chesterbrook, FS, KG, Haycock) but to know that even a 2nd grader stands to still attend the same building that's falling apart now is just flat out discouraging once you figure out how the CIP works and the process to get in the line. Look at what it took to move ~150 kids from McLean to ease the overcrowding.

Janie Strauss’s kids went to McLean, not Langley.

Langley got renovated because it was in the queue for a renovation and it got a big addition even though it was below capacity because Jeff Platenberg, the then-head of Facilities, decided it would be easier and more efficient to add seats at a school already being renovated than to have to manage two separate capital projects (even if the net result was that some kids living closer to McLean would end up traveling longer distances to Langley).

I agree Paul Bartkowski would do more if elected than Robyn Lady to help McLean get additional funding. Lady has made it clear she won’t be a strong advocate for the school. But I don’t think your summary of past history is accurate.

DP. Thank you. So many inaccuracies in the PP's post, especially the part about Langley getting a "magical" renovation and expansion. Give me a break. The school was in queue and waited patiently for its turn to be renovated. Same with Cooper. The PP just has a major axe to grind.

With that said, I will be voting for Paul Bartkowski, but people like the PP and their revisionist history really look ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a lot of respect for someone like Paul who is willing to put it out there so that there might possibly be some more traditional or, as he puts it, "old-fashioned" views expressed on the School Board. The progressive wing of the FCDC is absolutely brutal when it comes to tearing down anyone who doesn't embrace every aspect of their far-left agenda.

+1
And again - I see zero Democrats willing to answer questions on a forum like this. Good for him. I will definitely be voting for him.

Paul isn't really answering questions either though so...

He has answered many questions here, while refusing to spar endlessly with partisan hacks.

Personally, I’m among those who’ll vote for Paul after witnessing Elaine Tholen, a Democrat, turn out to be so weak and passive (and to break her campaign promises from 2019) when it came to addressing the facilities needs of McLean HS. Robyn Lady has made it clear she won’t be any better - the only difference between her and Tholen is that she won’t promise anything to begin with, so no one can point to broken promises later.

At least with Paul, we’ll get someone who’d be willing to speak out - Elaine has NEVER done so because it’s way more important for her to stay on good terms with her fellow Ds on the School Board (including the ones who would starve the school of any additional resources indefinitely if they could) than to fight for her constituents.

Endlessly spar? He hasn't even answered basic questions.

DP. He answered all questions - from basic to inane - in detail. You can stop trolling now.

This is so obviously untrue. Why lie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you please explain why you believe that schools are "causing the gender-fluidity phenomenon"?

Can you please explain what pornography you believe is being provided to Kindergarteners? And how are teachers "promoting race hatred"? Do you believe that transgenderism is "gender pseudoscience"?

Why do you think that the common home sex ed book "It's Perfectly Normal" is "pornography"?

Have you actually read the book? It's not "pornography".
https://www.amazon.com/Its-Perfectly-Normal-Changing-Growing/

These are all tweets/retweets on your campaign Twitter account.

Waiting on answers to these questions about Paul’s Twitter account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your position on vouchers?

Waiting on an answer to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your position on vouchers?

Waiting on an answer to this.

DP.

Who cares? Vouchers are not happening in Virginia; everyone knows that.

They certainly are not coming to FCPS, so Paul would not have a say in them anyway.

PP, please stop bringing up completely irrelevant topics on this thread; you are only embarrassing yourself.

You sound like those people who said not to worry about reproductive rights.

Paul follows a “school choice” advocate on Twitter. It’s a relevant question.

[Anonymous]

Paul why did you blow off the Special Education PTA questionnaire? Does Special Education not matter to you?

https://fairfaxcountysepta.org/2023-septa-voter-guide/

There’s a pattern of the Republican candidates either not responding to basic questions or, when they do respond, they give empty platitudes and vague nothing answers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your position on vouchers?

Waiting on an answer to this.

DP.

Who cares? Vouchers are not happening in Virginia; everyone knows that.

They certainly are not coming to FCPS, so Paul would not have a say in them anyway.

PP, please stop bringing up completely irrelevant topics on this thread; you are only embarrassing yourself.

You sound like those people who said not to worry about reproductive rights.

Paul follows a “school choice” advocate on Twitter. It’s a relevant question.

No, it is not relevant whatsoever, PP.

In case you had not noticed, Paul is running for a spot on the FCPS School Board. Even if it flipped fully republican (which will never happen), the Board would have zero authority to implement vouchers.

Vouchers are irrelevant. So is bringing up reproductive choice (which is also not an issue the FCPS Board votes on).

PP, you are only embarrassing yourself further with these ridiculous, “boogeyman” arguments you keep trying to make in this thread. Do you even live in FCPS ?

Only a Republican trying to deflect would say that taking a position on public school vouchers is irrelevant for a candidate to govern the public school system.

Paul supports vouchers, as does every Republican, but he can’t say that because they’re deeply unpopular.

Why can’t republicans just be honest?

[Anonymous]

Paul — You live in the McLean pyramid, which like Langley is far more affluent than Herndon overall. Our Dranesville representatives seem to view the world through a more affluent lens. To be sure there are some very well off families in Herndon, but over the past decade the demographics there have changed with a more diverse set of needs. Many kids are getting left behind not just special ed, ESL and AAP kids. The general ed kids are struggling as well having no special attribution. I feel for teachers who spend so much time on 504 and IEP meetings and dealing with an unusually large number of different student challenges that it’s hard to meet the needs of any.

Our last SB rep for Dranesville seemed very out of touch with the Herndon pyramid and seemed to close off McLean (and Langley) lest they catch cooties from Herndon and parts of Tysons. I hope you do not follow in her footsteps.

What needs do you see in the Herndon pyramid and how do you plan to address in them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paul why did you blow off the Special Education PTA questionnaire? Does Special Education not matter to you?

https://fairfaxcountysepta.org/2023-septa-voter-guide/

There’s a pattern of the Republican candidates either not responding to basic questions or, when they do respond, they give empty platitudes and vague nothing answers.

Special Education students will continue to have a strong advocate on the School Board in Rachna Sizemore Heizer, who stands to win the Braddock seat. Debra Tisler, who is running in Springfield, has also made Special Education (and FAPE) one of her top priorities.

On the other hand, the McLean pyramid with many thousands of students has had no advocate. Several schools are overcrowded and the HS is crumbling. Paul would try and change that. Robyn Lady would not; rather, her platform is little more than “if you don’t like it, move.” Rather than promise to be an advocate for the pyramid, during her campaign she has been an apologist for the neglect of her predecessors.

[Anonymous]

This is a thread for *Paul* to answer questions. Very telling that the PPs don’t trust him to answer for himself. They think he needs protection from the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Paul why did you blow off the Special Education PTA questionnaire? Does Special Education not matter to you?

https://fairfaxcountysepta.org/2023-septa-voter-guide/

There’s a pattern of the Republican candidates either not responding to basic questions or, when they do respond, they give empty platitudes and vague nothing answers.

Special Education students will continue to have a strong advocate on the School Board in Rachna Sizemore Heizer, who stands to win the Braddock seat. Debra Tisler, who is running in Springfield, has also made Special Education (and FAPE) one of her top priorities.

On the other hand, the McLean pyramid with many thousands of students has had no advocate. Several schools are overcrowded and the HS is crumbling. Paul would try and change that. Robyn Lady would not; rather, her platform is little more than “if you don’t like it, move.” Rather than promise to be an advocate for the pyramid, during her campaign she has been an apologist for the neglect of her predecessors.

In other words Paul is a one trick pony who doesn’t care about anything aside from helping his wealthy neighbors get a renovation. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Agree a bit. Was hoping Paul could respond to my question about the Herndon pyramid in the Dranesville district.