Tell me more about the School Board election process

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Paul Bartkowski, who is running in Dranesville, has his web site up. Maybe this is a first stab but I'm not impressed.

https://paulforfcsb.com/

Ugh. Hard pass.

I was expecting something better than a copy of Asra Nomani's talking points.

Bartkowski could win if he toned down the MAGA "parental rights" stuff and focused on facilities issues, especially in the McLean and Marshall pyramids.

But judging from this he's going to get beaten badly.

Yeah, agree... would love a moderate alternative to Lady who focused on facilities, expanding mental health resources, and then as it pertains to equity, emphasize raising the floor in a way that doesn't simultaneously lower the ceiling. Doesn't look like either party is really capable of delivering that candidate right now.

+1. It's sad that neither candidate seems to have a clue about what matters to most families in Dranesville. But if it's going to be a contest between generic Democrat and generic Republican, there's not much question as to which one will prevail in Fairfax.

Bartkowski is not generic GOP; he's a far right and has nothing but MAGA talking points.

[Anonymous]

Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

There's nothing on his web site that makes him seem like anything other than a MAGA Republican. Nothing about where he lives, whether he has kids, whether his kids attend FCPS, how the policies of the current School Board have affected his own family, etc. No indication that he would prioritize addressing the facilities needs within the McLean pyramid, or where he stands with respect to academic challenges in the Herndon pyramid. Just a lot of Youngkin-like complaints about the current School Board having an "ideologically driven agenda." It's way too general and not nearly specific enough. It will make Jo Jo Sears, Asra Nomani, Glenn Miller, and the handful of moms in Great Falls who tried to get Elaine Tholen recalled happy, but that's about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

There's nothing on his web site that makes him seem like anything other than a MAGA Republican. Nothing about where he lives, whether he has kids, whether his kids attend FCPS, how the policies of the current School Board have affected his own family, etc. No indication that he would prioritize addressing the facilities needs within the McLean pyramid, or where he stands with respect to academic challenges in the Herndon pyramid. Just a lot of Youngkin-like complaints about the current School Board having an "ideologically driven agenda." It's way too general and not nearly specific enough. It will make Jo Jo Sears, Asra Nomani, Glenn Miller, and the handful of moms in Great Falls who tried to get Elaine Tholen recalled happy, but that's about it.

And, what does Robyn Lady have to say about all of that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

There's nothing on his web site that makes him seem like anything other than a MAGA Republican. Nothing about where he lives, whether he has kids, whether his kids attend FCPS, how the policies of the current School Board have affected his own family, etc. No indication that he would prioritize addressing the facilities needs within the McLean pyramid, or where he stands with respect to academic challenges in the Herndon pyramid. Just a lot of Youngkin-like complaints about the current School Board having an "ideologically driven agenda." It's way too general and not nearly specific enough. It will make Jo Jo Sears, Asra Nomani, Glenn Miller, and the handful of moms in Great Falls who tried to get Elaine Tholen recalled happy, but that's about it.

And, what does Robyn Lady have to say about all of that?

Doesn't matter, really. She's not the GOP-endorsed candidate in a largely Democratic county. The other guy is the one who needs to work twice as hard and not just offer up some canned MAGA talking points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

There's nothing on his web site that makes him seem like anything other than a MAGA Republican. Nothing about where he lives, whether he has kids, whether his kids attend FCPS, how the policies of the current School Board have affected his own family, etc. No indication that he would prioritize addressing the facilities needs within the McLean pyramid, or where he stands with respect to academic challenges in the Herndon pyramid. Just a lot of Youngkin-like complaints about the current School Board having an "ideologically driven agenda." It's way too general and not nearly specific enough. It will make Jo Jo Sears, Asra Nomani, Glenn Miller, and the handful of moms in Great Falls who tried to get Elaine Tholen recalled happy, but that's about it.

And, what does Robyn Lady have to say about all of that?

Robyn has been a beloved teacher and counselor for 30 years in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

You sound lovely. And we wonder why students don’t respect teachers.

[Anonymous]

I have heard nothing from Lady. Does she even care to run for the office? Guess she knows there’s no viable alternative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

There's nothing on his web site that makes him seem like anything other than a MAGA Republican. Nothing about where he lives, whether he has kids, whether his kids attend FCPS, how the policies of the current School Board have affected his own family, etc. No indication that he would prioritize addressing the facilities needs within the McLean pyramid, or where he stands with respect to academic challenges in the Herndon pyramid. Just a lot of Youngkin-like complaints about the current School Board having an "ideologically driven agenda." It's way too general and not nearly specific enough. It will make Jo Jo Sears, Asra Nomani, Glenn Miller, and the handful of moms in Great Falls who tried to get Elaine Tholen recalled happy, but that's about it.

And, what does Robyn Lady have to say about all of that?

Robyn has been a beloved teacher and counselor for 30 years in FCPS.

From what I read earlier she had as many detractors as fans while at Chantilly.

[Anonymous]

Please vote for Paul Thomas for Hunter Mill!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

MAGA is in the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

There's nothing on his web site that makes him seem like anything other than a MAGA Republican. Nothing about where he lives, whether he has kids, whether his kids attend FCPS, how the policies of the current School Board have affected his own family, etc. No indication that he would prioritize addressing the facilities needs within the McLean pyramid, or where he stands with respect to academic challenges in the Herndon pyramid. Just a lot of Youngkin-like complaints about the current School Board having an "ideologically driven agenda." It's way too general and not nearly specific enough. It will make Jo Jo Sears, Asra Nomani, Glenn Miller, and the handful of moms in Great Falls who tried to get Elaine Tholen recalled happy, but that's about it.

And, what does Robyn Lady have to say about all of that?

Robyn has been a beloved teacher and counselor for 30 years in FCPS.

She looks great to me on paper at least. I'm not in her district, but I'd vote for her no matter what party she is in. We really need more people who know how our schools actually work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please vote for Paul Thomas for Hunter Mill!

+1! Even apart from her positions, Meren doesn’t do the work. She skips a lot of meetings and at the last meeting, she said she couldn’t work 7 hours in a row. It doesn’t seem like she is up to the job,

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Has anyone announced that they are running against Anderson, Meren, or Frisch yet? Either as a Democrat trying to get the D endorsement (seems unlikely without a primary) or as a R or I.

They all have opponents:

https://www.vpap.org/localities/fairfax-county-va/elections/

Thank you! Also how in God’s green earth has Karl Frisch raised nearly $200k?? WHO likes this guy that much??!?

His funds come from out of state.

Mostly west coast/California.

He also gets financial support from nqtional donors.

He has very lottle support from fcps parents and local families.

No one cares what I think but I feel like you should only be able to fundraise from your own constituency. I feel like people who live out of state don’t know about our local issues by not sharing our lived experience here & I really don’t think their funding should be able to influence our election.

I don't care who donates to them as long as they're responsive, and Karl Frisch always has been.

So, you wanted the dog park instead of a school. Got it.

Honestly yes. My kids went to Shrevewood and it was so overcrowded - this new school in Dunn Loring will finally ease overcrowding in the nearby schools as Tysons and West Falls Church develop. I don't care about the dog park, but I like this new school site better than Oakton.

Key Word - "WAS" overcrowded - it no longer is overcrowded and neither are the schools that are around it. This project is a $60 Million waste of money that Karl Frisch is fully responsible for. Elected officials should be good stewards of tay payer money. I wonder if any school board member in history has wasted more money than Karl.

Think of the addition that McLean High or Chantilly high could have had with this money.

The issue was that the money was originally earmarked in a bond for a "Fairfax/Oakton elementary school." I'm sure Frisch had John Foster jump through some hoops to make the case that an elementary school in Dunn Loring was still a "Fairfax" elementary school.

In comparing, while re-allocating the money to McLean and Chantilly (assuming there is no need to build another ES in Fairfax/Oakton, though Mosaic sure is awfully big for an ES) would have made far more sense, it probably would have required more work on the part of county staff to justify. And they'd rather throw $60M in taxpayer money at a school that isn't needed at that site than actually work through how to adjust their plans and build more sensibly.

This is primarily on Frisch, but every other Board member who went along with his nonsense deserves to be voted out as well. These people are total nitwits and anything but good stewards of county resources.

Yes, this. And all of you just glossing over where the *new* site was chosen... there were PLENTY of families in Fairfax who are displeased because the school was NOT built on the "dog park." My child attends Mosaic and it's huge. Way too huge for an elementary school. It's not just about the physical building, which they are renovating (although, interestingly, not increasing the capacity, just making better use of space). It's about having a school so huge -- and the challenges that creates in terms of creating a sense of community, in terms of logistics for things. Every school wide event is an enormous challenge, with no parking, so many families that they need security, no elbow room, etc. Most Elementaries don't have that, so they end up with a LOT more PTA Bingo nights, ice cream nights, fun family nights, etc. But Karl wouldn't know or care about that since he isn't a parent and apparently cares more about dogs and / or their loudmouth nimby owners than our children.

Meh, Mosaic is on the bigger side, but it's not some huge outlier, there's 115 FCPS ES with a smaller design capacity, but there's also 26 with a larger design capacity. The average FCPS ES has a design capacity of ~900, Mosaic at 1,038 is ~15% bigger than your average ES. *shrug*

Well, I’m glad you can just shrug it off. Clearly you don’t have children at Mosaic. If the average ES is 900 children, then that’s yet another FCPS problem. I’ve lived all over the country and no where else has that been considered acceptable in terms of school size for tiny children as young as 5. There are all sorts of complications that it causes, not to mention being very overwhelming for small children.

And we were all told enrollment would be declining, but now there are several large residential developments in the works, so even worse. But you all got your dog park, so you win!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moderate Democrat here. I think I’m gonna give Paul a shot. He’s a dad and I know he is beloved within the McLean Little League community. Currently, there are no fathers on the school board and I think that’s problematic. Especially if you believe in diversity and equity. Moreover, I would rather have a non-education major on the school board. Everyone knows education majors have the lowest SAT scores and were not the bright bulbs in college.

You sound lovely. And we wonder why students don’t respect teachers.

I love when people lead with "I'm a moderate dem" and then out out MAGA talking points. Talk about being a dim bulb.