APS School Board Chair Drama

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I am not a fan of Miranda/APE and they can go to hell otherwise, but I was pleasantly surprised that she forcefully defended Mary last night.

I think they might actually be a duo that can get some stuff done if they stay united. I really had high hopes for BZS because I was familiar with her work from my time at Randolph. I hope whoever makes it on in November is really ready to try to get some positive changes happening.

I honestly can’t read BZS. From how they interacted in school board meetings, I thought they were friends. Maybe Mary did do something behind the scenes to upset the balance. I don’t know. All of this drama came out of left field. Everybody looks bad, Mary too out of association with all of this garbage around her.

I hope the rest of the board doesn’t stifle her for the next 6 months.
Same. I hope Bethany gets better. I didn’t originally believe she was part of the coup d’etat but her statement last night wasn’t supportive either. But she voted for Mary so maybe there is hope for her yet.

TY for saying what I’ve been thinking. Mary is definitely part of the problem.

I get it. It’s hard to question anything around here because of the fangirls that pop up around her. Ok, I think she’s a good board member and the few times I’ve spoken to her she’s been very gracious. But the fact that there’s heat means the kitchen is around the corner. Too much stuff just isn’t adding up. I think it’s more than the CIP.

I’d be more inclined to believe that if the board members who disliked her didn’t have a history of being terrible

Ditto

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a fan of Miranda/APE and they can go to hell otherwise, but I was pleasantly surprised that she forcefully defended Mary last night.

I think they might actually be a duo that can get some stuff done if they stay united. I really had high hopes for BZS because I was familiar with her work from my time at Randolph. I hope whoever makes it on in November is really ready to try to get some positive changes happening.

I honestly can’t read BZS. From how they interacted in school board meetings, I thought they were friends. Maybe Mary did do something behind the scenes to upset the balance. I don’t know. All of this drama came out of left field. Everybody looks bad, Mary too out of association with all of this garbage around her.

I hope the rest of the board doesn’t stifle her for the next 6 months.
Same. I hope Bethany gets better. I didn’t originally believe she was part of the coup d’etat but her statement last night wasn’t supportive either. But she voted for Mary so maybe there is hope for her yet.

TY for saying what I’ve been thinking. Mary is definitely part of the problem.

I get it. It’s hard to question anything around here because of the fangirls that pop up around her. Ok, I think she’s a good board member and the few times I’ve spoken to her she’s been very gracious. But the fact that there’s heat means the kitchen is around the corner. Too much stuff just isn’t adding up. I think it’s more than the CIP.

I’d be more inclined to believe that if the board members who disliked her didn’t have a history of being terrible

BZS is not terrible. She has been gracious to me too. But I agree that Cristina and David will not be missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a fan of Miranda/APE and they can go to hell otherwise, but I was pleasantly surprised that she forcefully defended Mary last night.

I think they might actually be a duo that can get some stuff done if they stay united. I really had high hopes for BZS because I was familiar with her work from my time at Randolph. I hope whoever makes it on in November is really ready to try to get some positive changes happening.

I second this 100x.
Miranda had a good "working" relationship with Mary before Miranda was elected; so I'm not surprised she stood up for her.
I have been utterly unimpressed and very disappointed with Bethany as well.
I'm so glad we have two new members coming on board this cycle. We desperately needed to get rid of Christina and David and their not running for re-election is the best thing they've done as members of the SB. Depending on how the two new members turn out, it will be interesting to see how it goes when it's Miranda's turn to take the chairmanship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a fan of Miranda/APE and they can go to hell otherwise, but I was pleasantly surprised that she forcefully defended Mary last night.

I think they might actually be a duo that can get some stuff done if they stay united. I really had high hopes for BZS because I was familiar with her work from my time at Randolph. I hope whoever makes it on in November is really ready to try to get some positive changes happening.

I honestly can’t read BZS. From how they interacted in school board meetings, I thought they were friends. Maybe Mary did do something behind the scenes to upset the balance. I don’t know. All of this drama came out of left field. Everybody looks bad, Mary too out of association with all of this garbage around her.

I hope the rest of the board doesn’t stifle her for the next 6 months.
Same. I hope Bethany gets better. I didn’t originally believe she was part of the coup d’etat but her statement last night wasn’t supportive either. But she voted for Mary so maybe there is hope for her yet.

TY for saying what I’ve been thinking. Mary is definitely part of the problem.

I get it. It’s hard to question anything around here because of the fangirls that pop up around her. Ok, I think she’s a good board member and the few times I’ve spoken to her she’s been very gracious. But the fact that there’s heat means the kitchen is around the corner. Too much stuff just isn’t adding up. I think it’s more than the CIP.

I’d be more inclined to believe that if the board members who disliked her didn’t have a history of being terrible

BZS is not terrible. She has been gracious to me too. But I agree that Cristina and David will not be missed.

She isn't good, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a fan of Miranda/APE and they can go to hell otherwise, but I was pleasantly surprised that she forcefully defended Mary last night.

I think they might actually be a duo that can get some stuff done if they stay united. I really had high hopes for BZS because I was familiar with her work from my time at Randolph. I hope whoever makes it on in November is really ready to try to get some positive changes happening.

I honestly can’t read BZS. From how they interacted in school board meetings, I thought they were friends. Maybe Mary did do something behind the scenes to upset the balance. I don’t know. All of this drama came out of left field. Everybody looks bad, Mary too out of association with all of this garbage around her.

I hope the rest of the board doesn’t stifle her for the next 6 months.
Same. I hope Bethany gets better. I didn’t originally believe she was part of the coup d’etat but her statement last night wasn’t supportive either. But she voted for Mary so maybe there is hope for her yet.

TY for saying what I’ve been thinking. Mary is definitely part of the problem.

I get it. It’s hard to question anything around here because of the fangirls that pop up around her. Ok, I think she’s a good board member and the few times I’ve spoken to her she’s been very gracious. But the fact that there’s heat means the kitchen is around the corner. Too much stuff just isn’t adding up. I think it’s more than the CIP.

It may be more than the CIP per se; but it's still about the same stuff: Mary asks questions. She's knowledgeable. CDT and DP are both ignorant. CDT is not the educational expert she tried to proclaim she was when she ran and she is more Arlington Dem than independent board member. DP was her little puppet because he doesn't have an original thought in his head and can't develop his own position on anything. When you're CDT or DP, Mary is a problem.

[Anonymous]

Bethany is fine. Everybody is just upset that she did not support Mary as vigorously as you would have expected. Again, I believe there’s more going on behind the scenes. They need to learn how to keep their drama behind closed doors like every other Board of Anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bethany is fine. Everybody is just upset that she did not support Mary as vigorously as you would have expected. Again, I believe there’s more going on behind the scenes. They need to learn how to keep their drama behind closed doors like every other Board of Anything.

+1 and it’s Mary’s responsibility. It’s noteworthy that their issue with her was leadership. Miranda didn’t speak to it at all. She just said Mary was nice to her during the election. Pretty non-transparent.

[Anonymous]

The problem was that Priddy and Cristina accused her of a laundry list of policy violations and offered not a single example or fact. It’s not right to make public accusations like that and then not explain what she specifically did that violated policy. The policy to not publicly criticize staff seems weird. Does it mean not by name or not ever? By name, I get. But their plans and work product should be freely criticized if it’s presented to the Board. Pretty hard to be an effective board member if you can’t offer criticism. Seems to me that someone is finally not showering all of APS and the rest of the Board with rainbows and glitter and they don’t like when she asks questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem was that Priddy and Cristina accused her of a laundry list of policy violations and offered not a single example or fact. It’s not right to make public accusations like that and then not explain what she specifically did that violated policy. The policy to not publicly criticize staff seems weird. Does it mean not by name or not ever? By name, I get. But their plans and work product should be freely criticized if it’s presented to the Board. Pretty hard to be an effective board member if you can’t offer criticism. Seems to me that someone is finally not showering all of APS and the rest of the Board with rainbows and glitter and they don’t like when she asks questions.

+1

Mary criticized policy, while CDT and Priddy criticized her personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem was that Priddy and Cristina accused her of a laundry list of policy violations and offered not a single example or fact. It’s not right to make public accusations like that and then not explain what she specifically did that violated policy. The policy to not publicly criticize staff seems weird. Does it mean not by name or not ever? By name, I get. But their plans and work product should be freely criticized if it’s presented to the Board. Pretty hard to be an effective board member if you can’t offer criticism. Seems to me that someone is finally not showering all of APS and the rest of the Board with rainbows and glitter and they don’t like when she asks questions.

+1

Mary criticized policy, while CDT and Priddy criticized her personally.

I don't think anyone gaf about CDT or Priddy. They work for the system. Never for the community. The thing is, they should have worked for both.

Maybe the problem with Mary is that she listens way too much to the community, but she has to support the system too. It's a balance. I'm just guessing here though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem was that Priddy and Cristina accused her of a laundry list of policy violations and offered not a single example or fact. It’s not right to make public accusations like that and then not explain what she specifically did that violated policy. The policy to not publicly criticize staff seems weird. Does it mean not by name or not ever? By name, I get. But their plans and work product should be freely criticized if it’s presented to the Board. Pretty hard to be an effective board member if you can’t offer criticism. Seems to me that someone is finally not showering all of APS and the rest of the Board with rainbows and glitter and they don’t like when she asks questions.

+1

Mary criticized policy, while CDT and Priddy criticized her personally.

I don't think anyone gaf about CDT or Priddy. They work for the system. Never for the community. The thing is, they should have worked for both.

Maybe the problem with Mary is that she listens way too much to the community, but she has to support the system too. It's a balance. I'm just guessing here though.

Mary goes around Syphax directly to parents and teachers. And they go to her. She doesn't just rely on whatever Lake Woebegone bullsh*t presentation they give at meetings. It's a problem for school board members who don't even read the bullsh*t presentations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bethany is fine. Everybody is just upset that she did not support Mary as vigorously as you would have expected. Again, I believe there’s more going on behind the scenes. They need to learn how to keep their drama behind closed doors like every other Board of Anything.

Bethany is "fine" but still disappointing. Expected more from her.
I don't know why people think it's more complicated and that there must be a lot of behind-the-scenes dirt. All it takes in Arlington is to question or not vote in block to put you out of step and out of favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethany is fine. Everybody is just upset that she did not support Mary as vigorously as you would have expected. Again, I believe there’s more going on behind the scenes. They need to learn how to keep their drama behind closed doors like every other Board of Anything.

Bethany is "fine" but still disappointing. Expected more from her.
I don't know why people think it's more complicated and that there must be a lot of behind-the-scenes dirt. All it takes in Arlington is to question or not vote in block to put you out of step and out of favor.

Every Board has behind the scenes drama. Every 👏 single 👏 one. This one decided to air their dirty laundry in public. It’s not a great look.

There have been renegades on the sb before. Reid Goldstein voted against many Syphax-backed proposals. But nothing like putting a woman in her place.

It was gross. But I do think there’s more there. There has to be. Both CDT and DP wouldn’t have outted themselves to the community otherwise. They’re smarter than that. Even Bethany and Francisco childed her, but their words were more temperate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethany is fine. Everybody is just upset that she did not support Mary as vigorously as you would have expected. Again, I believe there’s more going on behind the scenes. They need to learn how to keep their drama behind closed doors like every other Board of Anything.

Bethany is "fine" but still disappointing. Expected more from her.
I don't know why people think it's more complicated and that there must be a lot of behind-the-scenes dirt. All it takes in Arlington is to question or not vote in block to put you out of step and out of favor.

Every Board has behind the scenes drama. Every 👏 single 👏 one. This one decided to air their dirty laundry in public. It’s not a great look.

There have been renegades on the sb before. Reid Goldstein voted against many Syphax-backed proposals. But nothing like putting a woman in her place.

It was gross. But I do think there’s more there. There has to be. Both CDT and DP wouldn’t have outted themselves to the community otherwise. They’re smarter than that. Even Bethany and Francisco childed her, but their words were more temperate.

I agree with this.

[Anonymous]

I went and listened to the remarks after reading this. I thought Priddy and Diaz Toro sounded awful. They were super scathing towards Mary but actually didn't give any specifics. They also have a pretty specific interpretation of school board policy that appears to be don't criticize anything at APS publicly and don't listen to individuals or advocate for them. I don't necessarily think there is anything more to it- Mary is not one of them, she is not a ACDC insider, and she passionately cares about the school system.
I agree Bethany has been a disappointment. I had high hopes for her after working with her a little bit on ACI- but she largely seems like a non-entity.