ACPS parents, what school board members get things done?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to expend some energy, write to Del. Parker-Bennett. She has sponsored some legislation related to education (https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/26175) and she is on the record for saying that Virginia's funding formula for public schools needs to be revamped because it exacerbates existing inequities (https://www.alxnow.com/2021/05/11/similar-on-policies-bennett-parker-and-levine-differ-on-style-in-45th-district-debate/). It should not take much effort to encourage her to sponsor and advocate for legislation to change the funding formula since this is an idea she already supports.

Virginia's public schools are financed through a combination of state, local and federal funds and there are private-public partnerships between the private sector and school divisions.

But the proportion of funding from localities is much higher in Virginia than in other states -
https://www.virginiamercury.com/2021/10/12/virginia-lags-many-states-in-state-education-funding-analysis-says/

ACPS does have a high per capita spend but this is a high COLA area and additional funding from the state could be used to repurpose more unused commercial office space to create more capacity.

Do you mean Elizabeth Bennett-Parker? The former city council member & Vice mayor who helped cover up a gang rape at Minnie Howard?

What she did for ACPS schools when she was on the council? While I don't think funding is the issue with the state of education in Alexandria, it seems that you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to expend some energy, write to Del. Parker-Bennett. She has sponsored some legislation related to education (https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/26175) and she is on the record for saying that Virginia's funding formula for public schools needs to be revamped because it exacerbates existing inequities (https://www.alxnow.com/2021/05/11/similar-on-policies-bennett-parker-and-levine-differ-on-style-in-45th-district-debate/). It should not take much effort to encourage her to sponsor and advocate for legislation to change the funding formula since this is an idea she already supports.

Virginia's public schools are financed through a combination of state, local and federal funds and there are private-public partnerships between the private sector and school divisions.

But the proportion of funding from localities is much higher in Virginia than in other states -
https://www.virginiamercury.com/2021/10/12/virginia-lags-many-states-in-state-education-funding-analysis-says/

ACPS does have a high per capita spend but this is a high COLA area and additional funding from the state could be used to repurpose more unused commercial office space to create more capacity.

She was on the city council before her delegate seat was purchased for her. The only time the mayor, city council, school board and super didn't agree was when they got found out on an issue and needed a scapegoat. She never took any positive action for ACPS parents and students when she was on city council. Why do you think she'd do so now as a delegate?

Her name is Bennett-Parker BTW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, back to the OP's post. Who actually has the potential to get things done on the school board? We have pta presidents on the podium at the meeting asking for assistance. We have multiple forums about school safety. We have people talking about academics. Who on the school board is going to focus on education, paying teachers competitively with other districts, recruiting staff positions like crossing guards and bus drivers, as well as teachers, not being into political statements and buzz words, but really care about our community's education? I want to know who. And also, who was the person engaged in drug use. Normally I don't care about something so petty as an edible, joint or vape. But you have my HS students coming home stating that kids are vaping in class, getting high smoking pills, etc. Not a good look. I would feel the same way about public intoxication.

I think this was answered. No one. Not one single board member.

Since doing so would involve confronting ACPS’s administration rather than fawning over them, I agree the answer is none of them although there may some actually care about these issues.

So these board members secretly care about these issues but are too scared to address them? Are they are more beholden to ACPS, Super, and other board members than their constituents?

Nah, they fawn because they agree with everything ACPS is doing. They don't care about these issues. They didn't run to actually change anything. They ran because it benefits them, their kids, their egos and because they AGREE with ACPS. And the voters are ok with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, back to the OP's post. Who actually has the potential to get things done on the school board? We have pta presidents on the podium at the meeting asking for assistance. We have multiple forums about school safety. We have people talking about academics. Who on the school board is going to focus on education, paying teachers competitively with other districts, recruiting staff positions like crossing guards and bus drivers, as well as teachers, not being into political statements and buzz words, but really care about our community's education? I want to know who. And also, who was the person engaged in drug use. Normally I don't care about something so petty as an edible, joint or vape. But you have my HS students coming home stating that kids are vaping in class, getting high smoking pills, etc. Not a good look. I would feel the same way about public intoxication.

I think this was answered. No one. Not one single board member.

Since doing so would involve confronting ACPS’s administration rather than fawning over them, I agree the answer is none of them although there may some actually care about these issues.

So these board members secretly care about these issues but are too scared to address them? Are they are more beholden to ACPS, Super, and other board members than their constituents?

Nah, they fawn because they agree with everything ACPS is doing. They don't care about these issues. They didn't run to actually change anything. They ran because it benefits them, their kids, their egos and because they AGREE with ACPS. And the voters are ok with that.

So i disagree with you about some board members. I think some do care about these issues but as you put it are more beholden to ACPS and the other board members (ie they don’t want to be the squeaky wheel. But it in the end, they are all ineffective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, back to the OP's post. Who actually has the potential to get things done on the school board? We have pta presidents on the podium at the meeting asking for assistance. We have multiple forums about school safety. We have people talking about academics. Who on the school board is going to focus on education, paying teachers competitively with other districts, recruiting staff positions like crossing guards and bus drivers, as well as teachers, not being into political statements and buzz words, but really care about our community's education? I want to know who. And also, who was the person engaged in drug use. Normally I don't care about something so petty as an edible, joint or vape. But you have my HS students coming home stating that kids are vaping in class, getting high smoking pills, etc. Not a good look. I would feel the same way about public intoxication.

I think this was answered. No one. Not one single board member.

Since doing so would involve confronting ACPS’s administration rather than fawning over them, I agree the answer is none of them although there may some actually care about these issues.

So these board members secretly care about these issues but are too scared to address them? Are they are more beholden to ACPS, Super, and other board members than their constituents?

Nah, they fawn because they agree with everything ACPS is doing. They don't care about these issues. They didn't run to actually change anything. They ran because it benefits them, their kids, their egos and because they AGREE with ACPS. And the voters are ok with that.

So i disagree with you about some board members. I think some do care about these issues but as you put it are more beholden to ACPS and the other board members (ie they don’t want to be the squeaky wheel. But it in the end, they are all ineffective.

That makes them cowards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, back to the OP's post. Who actually has the potential to get things done on the school board? We have pta presidents on the podium at the meeting asking for assistance. We have multiple forums about school safety. We have people talking about academics. Who on the school board is going to focus on education, paying teachers competitively with other districts, recruiting staff positions like crossing guards and bus drivers, as well as teachers, not being into political statements and buzz words, but really care about our community's education? I want to know who. And also, who was the person engaged in drug use. Normally I don't care about something so petty as an edible, joint or vape. But you have my HS students coming home stating that kids are vaping in class, getting high smoking pills, etc. Not a good look. I would feel the same way about public intoxication.

I think this was answered. No one. Not one single board member.

Since doing so would involve confronting ACPS’s administration rather than fawning over them, I agree the answer is none of them although there may some actually care about these issues.

So these board members secretly care about these issues but are too scared to address them? Are they are more beholden to ACPS, Super, and other board members than their constituents?

Nah, they fawn because they agree with everything ACPS is doing. They don't care about these issues. They didn't run to actually change anything. They ran because it benefits them, their kids, their egos and because they AGREE with ACPS. And the voters are ok with that.

So i disagree with you about some board members. I think some do care about these issues but as you put it are more beholden to ACPS and the other board members (ie they don’t want to be the squeaky wheel. But it in the end, they are all ineffective.

That makes them cowards.

Sure. To be clear, I think Rief, Baird, Booz (maybe?), Elnoubi seem to care but won’t rock the boat.

Alderton, Greene, Bailey, Ignacio, and Harris (probably) don’t care and are likely lost causes.

[Anonymous]

I think Hutchins was great. The amazing turnaround in graduation rates alone was exceptional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Hutchins was great. The amazing turnaround in graduation rates alone was exceptional.

I thought “Greg” would spell his own last name correctly.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I only think Baird and Elnoubi care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I only think Baird and Elnoubi care.

What issues do you think they care about? What have they said/done (post election) about those issues? What action have they taken while on the school board? What progress have they made on the issues that they care about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Hutchins was great. The amazing turnaround in graduation rates alone was exceptional.

I agree. If only he had done in ACPS what he advises other districts to do in his book. Get the police out of the schools completely. Get rid of TAG, honors etc. only have general education so that the segregation in the schools is finally eliminated. I wish he'd tried to do the things he lays out in his book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Hutchins was great. The amazing turnaround in graduation rates alone was exceptional.

I thought “Greg” would spell his own last name correctly.

He could always just sign it with his proper title: TC Williams Prom King Greg Hutchings

[Anonymous]

The graduation rates are not exceptional. They let everyone graduate because of the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The graduation rates are not exceptional. They let everyone graduate because of the pandemic.

I think the pandemic allowed students to simultaneous drop out/miss school excessively and magically graduate. Frightening!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The graduation rates are not exceptional. They let everyone graduate because of the pandemic.

I think the pandemic allowed students to simultaneous drop out/miss school excessively and magically graduate. Frightening!

I think you are both right.