APS - Who is running for School Board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Steven,

Thanks for chiming in. If moving Key moved your child, but fewer children in the County overall, shouldn't that be your priority?

Sincerely,
All other APS parents

There is a whole other thread on this topic. But we don't know how many kids are getting moved in any scenario, which Lisa Stengel has repeatedly said in every meeting. There may be other reasons to use the Key building as a neighborhood site, but we won't know how many kids are actually getting moved until APS draws the boundaries and figures out where they are going to put the Pre-K seats.

I trust them (APS staff) more than the personally vested parents who continually obfuscate to suit their personal agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Steven Krieger. I'm glad to see this discussion about the school board candidates. As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, I am running for School Board. Here's my campaign site: http://stevenforschoolboard.com/

In my experience, most people who get involved in a public service campaign have an "activist moment" -- something that impacts them personally and motivates them to try to make a difference in their community. For me, it was the APS effort to move Key that began over two years ago. My son just started 1st grade at Key and I didn't want him to have to start over at another school.

While I'm relatively new to the education arena, I have plenty of public interest experience. After college, I moved to DC to work for environmental NGOs. I went to UCLA law school because I was accepted into their public interest law and policy program. While at UCLA, I started a UCLA chapter of the CA Innocence Project. After law school, I volunteered at the Arlington Public Defender's office and after seeing how difficult it is for middle class people to find affordable legal counsel, I opened my own law firm where I could set the legal fees. Once my law firm was up and running, I started a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to match middle class people with affordable lawyers.

Plus, over the years, I've published several law review/journal articles on public interest issues (and the Georgetown Poverty Law Journal is publishing another article this spring) that you may download and read for free: https://www.stevenkriegerlaw.com/publications.html

My school board campaign is about more than just Key School. On a macro-level, when you look at the responsibilities of a School Board member, you have to divide them into two main categories:
(1) substantive education policy (how do we best educate all of our students); and (2) How do we ensure that APS operates efficiently as an organization?

I have a business degree and my background is in running businesses. The School Board has to ensure that APS is operating efficiently and using your tax dollars effectively.

Example: Instead of canceling the summer enrichment program, APS should have simply increased fees and/or implement a sliding scale fee schedule based on family income. Canceling the program makes life difficult for the parents who were relying on the program (not to mention the parents who cannot afford market rate summer programs) and takes money away from the teachers and staff who run the summer program.

Another brief example: APS recently approved $421,000 in site studies for 14 different sites. We absolutely need to address the capacity issues, but before approving almost half a million dollars in reports, I would have preferred to see that list of 14 trimmed down significantly more. In the short-term, there's almost no chance APS renovates or remodels on 7 sites -- let alone 14. In the long-term, the site studies may be obsolete.

I read many of the concerns that people expressed about the candidates and perhaps the only consensus I saw was that there are not two perfect candidates, but many are keeping an open mind and looking to gather additional information before the vote in May, which is great.

I have the youngest children of any candidate or current member, so while I don't have the educational policy background that some other candidates have, I am absolutely invested in the long-term success of APS.

I hope you give me an opportunity to earn your vote.

Please feel free to reach out to me at [e-mail] and I'd be happy to hear from you.

Steven

Steven, the Key move will occur well before the election or before the board members take office. You seem to be a well intentioned guy but with no qualifications to lead the school board. This race is about more than just you and I would encourage you to really consider what your path to victory will be and what educational experience you have that would motivate voters to vote for you. Your file is too thin at this point.

[Anonymous]

Steven = "Oh no, my kid will be moved and I don't like it so I guess I will run for the School Board!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm on a committee with Symone. She just joined it and doesn't always show up.

How many meetings is this committee having? How could she has "just joined" and "not always show up"?

Joined at the beginning of this school year but touts it as part of her qualifications.

But even if she'd made it to all the meetings, wouldn't that be, like, four so far? So missing two -- which seems like it could happen to someone who has other commitments -- would mean she'd missed half.

Joined a committee at the beginning of this school year and then doesn't regularly attend and then puts it out there as part of her qualifications for SB = not impressive to me.

Many others actually put in work on these committees. She has not.

I’m not a Symone supporter but don’t believe everything you read. PP tell us what this committee is and the we can compare with the committee minutes to see if she’s showing us. Otherwise we should all assume PP is an opponent.

You seem very invested. I will assume that YOU are a supporter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Steven = "Oh no, my kid will be moved and I don't like it so I guess I will run for the School Board!"

So I know him outside of this context. I think his post came off badly. He first became interested in school related issues when the issue with moving key came up in spring of 2018 (2 years ago). I think he understands why running for the school board now would have no effect on that decision (since theoretically boundaries will be decided by then). He's been extremely involved in the Key community since then (and before), but he hasn't been one of the people fighting moving the school. I think the whole enrollments and transfer change, which precipitated the first attempt to move key, which then precipitated the swap, which then precipitated this current attempt to move key. From an outside looking in perspective, this entire thing has been such a waste of time and energy and money -- APS staff obviously thinks that Key needs to move but the school board keeps squelching any attempt to do so. If the school board really feels so strongly, they should point blank tell APS staff that they should stop spending time trying to move it. Either that or revisit some earlier decisions, like the enrollments and transfers policy that turned Key into a pure option school. Or make Reed into an option school, I'm sure ATS would love to move there. Strong leadership means being ok with admitting past decisions were wrong, and standing up to angry parents when they are not seeing the bigger picture. We lack that on the current school board. I can't say that Steve would do this because I've only interacted with him in non-confrontational contexts, but I don't think characterizing him as a "grudge candidate" is accurate.

He's a really nice guy, and honestly it would be nice to have someone from the north eastern part of the county on the school board. We have gotten screwed. There was a priority to build a new school along the R-B corridor over six years ago, that somehow turned into building Reed. I love Hamm, but it would have made more sense to keep HB where it was, and put a middle school somewhere in Rosslyn (if for no other reason than it offers a little more flexibility since it doesn't have an overlapping walk zone with Williamsburg). The Yorktown island is a historically bad decision, that we keep perpetuating because its easy.

[Anonymous]

I wish I was excited about any one of the six candidates. Sadly, I'm just not.

[Anonymous]

I'm excited about Dave Priddy.

He's not flashy, but he's solid, thoughtful, connected, and a good leader. He also has time to really devote himself to this job, which is a plus for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm excited about Dave Priddy.

He's not flashy, but he's solid, thoughtful, connected, and a good leader. He also has time to really devote himself to this job, which is a plus for me.

Can you tell me more? I would like more information about him. How is he a good leader? What has he done a good job with leading?

[Anonymous]

I'm a TJ parent and there are a few things I've asked him about. He knows where to point you to get things done, and he's surprised me a few times with how much insider info he has. He's learned how to work the system without burning bridges, which I think will help him to get things done.

Symone is probably my second favorite, I like her energy -- but she is a bit of a bridge-burner, so I see her as more of a wildcard.

I know the two of them are friends, which is interesting, because they have such different styles.

But right now, that's probably my 1-2.

[Anonymous]

Edited, maybe not friends, but at least friendly, they get along and can work together

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Steven = "Oh no, my kid will be moved and I don't like it so I guess I will run for the School Board!"

So I know him outside of this context. I think his post came off badly. He first became interested in school related issues when the issue with moving key came up in spring of 2018 (2 years ago). I think he understands why running for the school board now would have no effect on that decision (since theoretically boundaries will be decided by then). He's been extremely involved in the Key community since then (and before), but he hasn't been one of the people fighting moving the school. I think the whole enrollments and transfer change, which precipitated the first attempt to move key, which then precipitated the swap, which then precipitated this current attempt to move key. From an outside looking in perspective, this entire thing has been such a waste of time and energy and money -- APS staff obviously thinks that Key needs to move but the school board keeps squelching any attempt to do so. If the school board really feels so strongly, they should point blank tell APS staff that they should stop spending time trying to move it. Either that or revisit some earlier decisions, like the enrollments and transfers policy that turned Key into a pure option school. Or make Reed into an option school, I'm sure ATS would love to move there. Strong leadership means being ok with admitting past decisions were wrong, and standing up to angry parents when they are not seeing the bigger picture. We lack that on the current school board. I can't say that Steve would do this because I've only interacted with him in non-confrontational contexts, but I don't think characterizing him as a "grudge candidate" is accurate.

He's a really nice guy, and honestly it would be nice to have someone from the north eastern part of the county on the school board. We have gotten screwed. There was a priority to build a new school along the R-B corridor over six years ago, that somehow turned into building Reed. I love Hamm, but it would have made more sense to keep HB where it was, and put a middle school somewhere in Rosslyn (if for no other reason than it offers a little more flexibility since it doesn't have an overlapping walk zone with Williamsburg). The Yorktown island is a historically bad decision, that we keep perpetuating because its easy.

Any screwing the NE has received has been its own doing. The community insisted upon a "walkable middle school." Others fought the HB Woodlawn move; but the NE neighborhood walkers won out. As for not getting a new school in the RB corridor and it going to Reed instead - that's because there was no readily available site to build another school in NE and Reed is already APS-owned and available. It should have been built years ago, and it should have been left open to being neighborhood or option depending on the best use when it opens. That's poor planning; but not screwing NE.

I agree about the waste of time and money. AGain, if NE hadn't fought moving immersion, and then fought the swap, we wouldn't have wasted so much time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a TJ parent and there are a few things I've asked him about. He knows where to point you to get things done, and he's surprised me a few times with how much insider info he has. He's learned how to work the system without burning bridges, which I think will help him to get things done.

Symone is probably my second favorite, I like her energy -- but she is a bit of a bridge-burner, so I see her as more of a wildcard.

I know the two of them are friends, which is interesting, because they have such different styles.

But right now, that's probably my 1-2.

Symone seems so narrowly focused on black kids with reading problems. David seems a little more open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Steven = "Oh no, my kid will be moved and I don't like it so I guess I will run for the School Board!"

So I know him outside of this context. I think his post came off badly. He first became interested in school related issues when the issue with moving key came up in spring of 2018 (2 years ago). I think he understands why running for the school board now would have no effect on that decision (since theoretically boundaries will be decided by then). He's been extremely involved in the Key community since then (and before), but he hasn't been one of the people fighting moving the school. I think the whole enrollments and transfer change, which precipitated the first attempt to move key, which then precipitated the swap, which then precipitated this current attempt to move key. From an outside looking in perspective, this entire thing has been such a waste of time and energy and money -- APS staff obviously thinks that Key needs to move but the school board keeps squelching any attempt to do so. If the school board really feels so strongly, they should point blank tell APS staff that they should stop spending time trying to move it. Either that or revisit some earlier decisions, like the enrollments and transfers policy that turned Key into a pure option school. Or make Reed into an option school, I'm sure ATS would love to move there. Strong leadership means being ok with admitting past decisions were wrong, and standing up to angry parents when they are not seeing the bigger picture. We lack that on the current school board. I can't say that Steve would do this because I've only interacted with him in non-confrontational contexts, but I don't think characterizing him as a "grudge candidate" is accurate.

He's a really nice guy, and honestly it would be nice to have someone from the north eastern part of the county on the school board. We have gotten screwed. There was a priority to build a new school along the R-B corridor over six years ago, that somehow turned into building Reed. I love Hamm, but it would have made more sense to keep HB where it was, and put a middle school somewhere in Rosslyn (if for no other reason than it offers a little more flexibility since it doesn't have an overlapping walk zone with Williamsburg). The Yorktown island is a historically bad decision, that we keep perpetuating because its easy.

Any screwing the NE has received has been its own doing. The community insisted upon a "walkable middle school." Others fought the HB Woodlawn move; but the NE neighborhood walkers won out. As for not getting a new school in the RB corridor and it going to Reed instead - that's because there was no readily available site to build another school in NE and Reed is already APS-owned and available. It should have been built years ago, and it should have been left open to being neighborhood or option depending on the best use when it opens. That's poor planning; but not screwing NE.

I agree about the waste of time and money. AGain, if NE hadn't fought moving immersion, and then fought the swap, we wouldn't have wasted so much time.

This is besides the point, but any screwing was done by the NW. Why would the NE (Rosslyn-Clarendon) insist on Hamm which is decidedly not walkable from anywhere East of Kirkwood. That was the folks around Taylor -- NW arlington -- who didn't want their kids going to an urban school. The enrollments and transfers came out of issues in South Arlington. Fighting the swap came from the neighborhood around ASFS (again not the NE, I'm not sure if Ballston/VA square/Cherrydale is in the eastern end of the county), and Key advocates from the NW (the stop the swap signs in Cherrydale and over by Jamestown).
So many bad decisions over the years.

[Anonymous]

“So many bad decisions over the years.”

Ahh... a statement we can all agree with... except Cristina, because she just moved in yesterday and thought she was was running for ACPS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm on a committee with Symone. She just joined it and doesn't always show up.

How many meetings is this committee having? How could she has "just joined" and "not always show up"?

Joined at the beginning of this school year but touts it as part of her qualifications.

But even if she'd made it to all the meetings, wouldn't that be, like, four so far? So missing two -- which seems like it could happen to someone who has other commitments -- would mean she'd missed half.

Joined a committee at the beginning of this school year and then doesn't regularly attend and then puts it out there as part of her qualifications for SB = not impressive to me.

Many others actually put in work on these committees. She has not.

I’m not a Symone supporter but don’t believe everything you read. PP tell us what this committee is and the we can compare with the committee minutes to see if she’s showing us. Otherwise we should all assume PP is an opponent.

You seem very invested. I will assume that YOU are a supporter.

PP “don’t believe everything you read” here. I’m actually not her supporter—like others have said her AEM posts are off-putting to me. That said, anyone can get on here and spread lies. That’s all.