Paul Bartkowski School Board Candidate Forum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:I need to figure out how to reply to specific messages.

Regarding the staff as an interest group, the staff is certainly integral to the fundamental goal of the Board (at least as I see it): providing the children an excellent education. We need to cut staff members that do not advance that goal and reward those that do. That includes paying teachers more, with appropriate incentives for excellence, to attract and retain quality teachers.

How would that be determined?

Do you have no answer regarding collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining harms tax payers and has no reason to be in govt jobs

States with strong teachers unions have strong schools. Giving teachers a voice helps kids.

I notice has has so far avoided that question.

[Anonymous]

paulforfcsb wrote:

Sure - I've seen SEL questionnaires where ~8th grade students (I believe it was eighth but my answer would be the same for older students)were asked, for example, how many sexual partners they've had.

Paul, I think you mean the Fairfax County Youth Survey which I remember taking 15 years ago that asked youth about their sex and drugs knowledge/experiences. The SEL screeners are new. For the Youth Survey, you’d need to run for Board of Supervisors. But if you did, when would you want the County to address these issues with youth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi Paul!

I was so impressed with your informed and knowledgeable responses during the debate the other night. My family usually votes only for our party, but your attention to local details and greater knowledge about FCPS in Dranesville won me over. Thanks -

You have my vote!

This is so fake.

DP. You can't handle this?

There was a debate between the School Board candidates earlier this week. It was packed, with several hundred people in attendance. It stands to figure some are aware of this forum.

What PP mentioned - Paul's greater attention to "local details and greater knowledge about FCPS in Dranesville" rings true to me. Robyn Lady has a lot of experience with a school - Chantilly - that's in the Springfield District and primarily pulls from the Sully District. She also knows a lot about the types of issues that matter to school administrators, and that's not to be discounted. But she was also somewhat detached and dismissive when it comes to other issues relevant to Dranesville families, such as the McLean HS overcrowding and the prospects of hundreds more kids at each of McLean and Marshall due to the ongoing growth in Tysons, etc. Robyn had a lot to say about FCPS's financial constraints, but Paul spoke directly to the fact that FCPS has dropped the ball for years when it's come to sound facilities management and that McLean HS hasn't received its equitable share of FCPS resources. Robyn will never admit that, because it calls into question the oversight of Facilities by the current School Board, which is composed entirely of folks from the same political party as hers.

[Anonymous]

SEL Screener questions are here, and none are about sexual partners:

https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener/grades-3-12

[Anonymous]

I’ll vote for you if you stop our kids names and SEL answers being shared with corporations. There is no reason they cannot anonymize. I refuse SEL participation because of this when I actually am fine with the questions/content and see the benefit for the schools But why does fcps need to sell our kids names and answers? Anonymity should be mandated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi Paul!

I was so impressed with your informed and knowledgeable responses during the debate the other night. My family usually votes only for our party, but your attention to local details and greater knowledge about FCPS in Dranesville won me over. Thanks -

You have my vote!

This is so fake.

Um - excuse me??

I am a parent of 2 teens in McLean, and I attended the debate because I care about what happens to FCPS. And I vote.

Who are you, PP? Do you even live in FFX county??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi Paul!

I was so impressed with your informed and knowledgeable responses during the debate the other night. My family usually votes only for our party, but your attention to local details and greater knowledge about FCPS in Dranesville won me over. Thanks -

You have my vote!

This is so fake.

Um - excuse me??

I am a parent of 2 teens in McLean, and I attended the debate because I care about what happens to FCPS. And I vote.

Who are you, PP? Do you even live in FFX county??

+1. Though I'd ask if PP even lives in Dranesville. Paul is running for the Dranesville seat and to represent people in our district.

[paulforfcsb]

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On your website regarding the SB you cite, “… a disturbing effort to introduce age-inappropriate sexual concepts and ideas to our youngest students”. Could you give some examples?

Sure - I've seen SEL questionnaires where ~8th grade students (I believe it was eighth but my answer would be the same for older students)were asked, for example, how many sexual partners they've had. Here's a senator reading books that FCPS (and many other school districts) insists must stay in our school libraries:

https://youtu.be/KBhy_vlgKS4

No place for that in any school library - and it does disturb me that adults are so eager to make those books available to our kids. Call me old-fashioned!

So would you act based on your opinions in books rather than defer to the school librarians who are professional educators?

Not the school board candidate here, just a random parent.

Just a side note on how FCPS selects books for the library. A FCPS English teacher/librarian type employee explained this to me once.

The librarians don't usually read all the books they select.

The publishers send "theme" type book packages, with a bunch of titles that fit the overall theme. For example (and this might be a little broad) there is a civil rights package or an early American history or a military battles package. The librarian/dept head/subject team picks the entire package, without necessarily reading the entire book collection, then the books from the list goes into the libraries/class libraries.

Reading through the entire book collection is, for at least the teachers, not paid time and something they are expected to do on their own time.

Often, the departments will just skim the summaries, spot check books, and approve the book list in its entirety.

Other times, the department or a group of teachers will try to split up the titles so they can get through the entire list collectively. But it is a lot of reading, and of course, everyone's standards are a little different on what one deems appropriate for a school library. So an experienced teacher might be horrified by a book such as Gender Queer in a middle school library, while a fresh out of college teacher might see it as important identity advocacy.

Occassionally, you might get one gem of the teacher who has the time and desire to read through the entire collection on their own time, with no pay, before putting down their name as approving the list. But that is a lot of reading, so I suspect that this rarely happens.

You are assuming that having book objections means that you are undermining the librarian. But the librarians might not have actually read the book in question. They might just have approved the "finding your identity" themed book list from the publisher, but not the dozens or more individual books in that collection. There are thousands of books in the library. I doubt any librarian has actually read through all of them. I am a voracious reader, and it still takes me a few days to get through one title, reading several hours per night. There are simply not enough hours for one librarian or a team of teachers to read through every book schools offer.

At least at the high school level, the districts need 2 parents to read and approve books offered in classes or for class readings. I believe this is something new from the Youngkin administration, and is a very positive thing. I volunteered for this committee and ended up approving all of the books I have read so far. You can make comments (such as for 16+, or too much profanity/misogyny/violence/insert controversy). If you reject a book, you can explain why. (Perhaps this is required, but a
I haven't rejected a book yet so I am not 100% certain.) If an official reviewer says no, the book gets pulled for further review, including reviewing the reasons why it was rejected. I know several parents from our high school who have reviewed books. The only book I know of that was rejected had very good reasons for the rejection.


For Paul:

Perhaps the new school board could set up a parent volunteer reading committee district wide to get through new library collections before approval, similar to what our FCPS high school does. Some of the parents might discover that most of the books are not as controversial as they seem. Others might find that even though they thought all the books are fine, there are actually books that have little redeeming qualities and are completely inappropriate for school. This could then be addressed before the questionable books get to the students and cause controversy.

We can't show more than PG rated movies on our high school bus trips. Why should books in middle schools be any different?

This is thoughtful but do recall that the parents objected to at least one of the books the senator was reading and the school board insisted that they remain. In other words, it's not negligence - they really want this material available to the kids for some reason. Langley HS had a special table with books that they knew parents found inappropriate for the kids. https://www.newsweek.com/school-apologizes-display-showing-books-adults-dont-want-you-read-1679670

I wish it were mere negligence, but it seems to be more than that.

FCPS has a whole regulation on how library collections are built and another multi-step process for challenges to books in libraries. Parents are informed of reading lists for classes and are given the option of asking for substitute books. I agree with these processes and am not interested in board members taking books out of the libraries on their own whims, without the process. Paul, will you follow these processes or will you substitute your opinions for these processes?

I also don’t love that you represented the plaintiffs in the mask challenge case. It makes me think you are into culture wars rather than academics. Please comment.

I would love your answers because I really don’t want to vote for Lady. I am tired of school board members fealty to a political agenda. I want someone who will focus on academics, provide efficient oversight of the budget, question initiatives that seem political, and actually pay some attention to facilities, 8ncluding getting McLean renovated and getting proffers given to schools in the Dranesville district actually used to address the crowding in the Dranesville district, not diverted to other areas.

Fair comments - let me try to respond. Re the books, I'm troubled by (1) the inappropriate sexual content of those books and the (to me) odd desire to make that content available to our kids; and (2) those inappropriate books taking shelf space from books that have legitimate educational content. If the "process" is geared towards those books - I am seeking to change that process. We need to focus, only and always, on academics and learning. If you like what you heard on the video that I shared, then we may disagree on that particular issue.

Re the mask case - I am running to get the culture war fights OUT of schools. Let's teach these kids reading, writing, math, science, and history, and leave the political infighting to the DCUM blog . With respect to the lawsuit, it came at a time when (1) Governor Youngkin ordered school districts to cease the mandates, so as a legal matter, they were obligated to comply (my case was mooted but the issue was decided against the Loudoun County School Board on the exact same facts); (2) the data was crystal clear that the mask mandates didn't work and were impairing learning. The issue was very tribal at that point, as evidenced by the fact that the Board had no answer to why they insisted that the mandate continue.

I agree about reticence that any candidate from the political party that holds all 12 board seats will truly challenge the status quo. It's why I'm running.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:I need to figure out how to reply to specific messages.

Regarding the staff as an interest group, the staff is certainly integral to the fundamental goal of the Board (at least as I see it): providing the children an excellent education. We need to cut staff members that do not advance that goal and reward those that do. That includes paying teachers more, with appropriate incentives for excellence, to attract and retain quality teachers.

How would that be determined?

Do you have no answer regarding collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining harms tax payers and has no reason to be in govt jobs

States with strong teachers unions have strong schools. Giving teachers a voice helps kids.

You have never been to California.

Strongest unions and worst schools in the country.

New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania all have strong schools and strong unions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:

Sure - I've seen SEL questionnaires where ~8th grade students (I believe it was eighth but my answer would be the same for older students)were asked, for example, how many sexual partners they've had.

Paul, I think you mean the Fairfax County Youth Survey which I remember taking 15 years ago that asked youth about their sex and drugs knowledge/experiences. The SEL screeners are new. For the Youth Survey, you’d need to run for Board of Supervisors. But if you did, when would you want the County to address these issues with youth?

And sadly that isn’t an inappropriate question as there are 8th graders having sex

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:I need to figure out how to reply to specific messages.

Regarding the staff as an interest group, the staff is certainly integral to the fundamental goal of the Board (at least as I see it): providing the children an excellent education. We need to cut staff members that do not advance that goal and reward those that do. That includes paying teachers more, with appropriate incentives for excellence, to attract and retain quality teachers.

How would that be determined?

Do you have no answer regarding collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining harms tax payers and has no reason to be in govt jobs

States with strong teachers unions have strong schools. Giving teachers a voice helps kids.

You have never been to California.

Strongest unions and worst schools in the country.

New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania all have strong schools and strong unions.

Where is your state-by-state comparison showing that the above states have the strong schools, rather than the weak schools?

[Anonymous]

I can’t vote for someone who bans books. Parental choice should be not allowing YOUR child to read something you deem as inappropriate not telling someone else’s child that they can not just because you find it offensive.

Change your stance on this and I would actually consider voting for you as your stance on other issues makes sense to me

[Anonymous]

paulforfcsb wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On your website regarding the SB you cite, “… a disturbing effort to introduce age-inappropriate sexual concepts and ideas to our youngest students”. Could you give some examples?

Sure - I've seen SEL questionnaires where ~8th grade students (I believe it was eighth but my answer would be the same for older students)were asked, for example, how many sexual partners they've had. Here's a senator reading books that FCPS (and many other school districts) insists must stay in our school libraries:

https://youtu.be/KBhy_vlgKS4

No place for that in any school library - and it does disturb me that adults are so eager to make those books available to our kids. Call me old-fashioned!

So would you act based on your opinions in books rather than defer to the school librarians who are professional educators?

Not the school board candidate here, just a random parent.

Just a side note on how FCPS selects books for the library. A FCPS English teacher/librarian type employee explained this to me once.

The librarians don't usually read all the books they select.

The publishers send "theme" type book packages, with a bunch of titles that fit the overall theme. For example (and this might be a little broad) there is a civil rights package or an early American history or a military battles package. The librarian/dept head/subject team picks the entire package, without necessarily reading the entire book collection, then the books from the list goes into the libraries/class libraries.

Reading through the entire book collection is, for at least the teachers, not paid time and something they are expected to do on their own time.

Often, the departments will just skim the summaries, spot check books, and approve the book list in its entirety.

Other times, the department or a group of teachers will try to split up the titles so they can get through the entire list collectively. But it is a lot of reading, and of course, everyone's standards are a little different on what one deems appropriate for a school library. So an experienced teacher might be horrified by a book such as Gender Queer in a middle school library, while a fresh out of college teacher might see it as important identity advocacy.

Occassionally, you might get one gem of the teacher who has the time and desire to read through the entire collection on their own time, with no pay, before putting down their name as approving the list. But that is a lot of reading, so I suspect that this rarely happens.

You are assuming that having book objections means that you are undermining the librarian. But the librarians might not have actually read the book in question. They might just have approved the "finding your identity" themed book list from the publisher, but not the dozens or more individual books in that collection. There are thousands of books in the library. I doubt any librarian has actually read through all of them. I am a voracious reader, and it still takes me a few days to get through one title, reading several hours per night. There are simply not enough hours for one librarian or a team of teachers to read through every book schools offer.

At least at the high school level, the districts need 2 parents to read and approve books offered in classes or for class readings. I believe this is something new from the Youngkin administration, and is a very positive thing. I volunteered for this committee and ended up approving all of the books I have read so far. You can make comments (such as for 16+, or too much profanity/misogyny/violence/insert controversy). If you reject a book, you can explain why. (Perhaps this is required, but a
I haven't rejected a book yet so I am not 100% certain.) If an official reviewer says no, the book gets pulled for further review, including reviewing the reasons why it was rejected. I know several parents from our high school who have reviewed books. The only book I know of that was rejected had very good reasons for the rejection.


For Paul:

Perhaps the new school board could set up a parent volunteer reading committee district wide to get through new library collections before approval, similar to what our FCPS high school does. Some of the parents might discover that most of the books are not as controversial as they seem. Others might find that even though they thought all the books are fine, there are actually books that have little redeeming qualities and are completely inappropriate for school. This could then be addressed before the questionable books get to the students and cause controversy.

We can't show more than PG rated movies on our high school bus trips. Why should books in middle schools be any different?

This is thoughtful but do recall that the parents objected to at least one of the books the senator was reading and the school board insisted that they remain. In other words, it's not negligence - they really want this material available to the kids for some reason. Langley HS had a special table with books that they knew parents found inappropriate for the kids. https://www.newsweek.com/school-apologizes-display-showing-books-adults-dont-want-you-read-1679670

I wish it were mere negligence, but it seems to be more than that.

FCPS has a whole regulation on how library collections are built and another multi-step process for challenges to books in libraries. Parents are informed of reading lists for classes and are given the option of asking for substitute books. I agree with these processes and am not interested in board members taking books out of the libraries on their own whims, without the process. Paul, will you follow these processes or will you substitute your opinions for these processes?

I also don’t love that you represented the plaintiffs in the mask challenge case. It makes me think you are into culture wars rather than academics. Please comment.

I would love your answers because I really don’t want to vote for Lady. I am tired of school board members fealty to a political agenda. I want someone who will focus on academics, provide efficient oversight of the budget, question initiatives that seem political, and actually pay some attention to facilities, 8ncluding getting McLean renovated and getting proffers given to schools in the Dranesville district actually used to address the crowding in the Dranesville district, not diverted to other areas.

Fair comments - let me try to respond. Re the books, I'm troubled by (1) the inappropriate sexual content of those books and the (to me) odd desire to make that content available to our kids; and (2) those inappropriate books taking shelf space from books that have legitimate educational content. If the "process" is geared towards those books - I am seeking to change that process. We need to focus, only and always, on academics and learning. If you like what you heard on the video that I shared, then we may disagree on that particular issue.

Re the mask case - I am running to get the culture war fights OUT of schools. Let's teach these kids reading, writing, math, science, and history, and leave the political infighting to the DCUM blog . With respect to the lawsuit, it came at a time when (1) Governor Youngkin ordered school districts to cease the mandates, so as a legal matter, they were obligated to comply (my case was mooted but the issue was decided against the Loudoun County School Board on the exact same facts); (2) the data was crystal clear that the mask mandates didn't work and were impairing learning. The issue was very tribal at that point, as evidenced by the fact that the Board had no answer to why they insisted that the mandate continue.

I agree about reticence that any candidate from the political party that holds all 12 board seats will truly challenge the status quo. It's why I'm running.

If you seriously think that strict masking didn't contribute to preventing the spread of COVID, you are existing in an alternate reality.

Also, your implication that there is some kind of school librarian agenda to promote sexual content is really disturbing. You have clearly spent WAY more time reading social media than you have spent in a school library. Have you ever actually talked to an FCPS school librarian or spent time in an FCPS school library? Parroting Moms of Liberty talking points is really disappointing and troubling from someone running in Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

paulforfcsb wrote:I need to figure out how to reply to specific messages.

Regarding the staff as an interest group, the staff is certainly integral to the fundamental goal of the Board (at least as I see it): providing the children an excellent education. We need to cut staff members that do not advance that goal and reward those that do. That includes paying teachers more, with appropriate incentives for excellence, to attract and retain quality teachers.

How would that be determined?

Do you have no answer regarding collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining harms tax payers and has no reason to be in govt jobs

States with strong teachers unions have strong schools. Giving teachers a voice helps kids.

You have never been to California.

Strongest unions and worst schools in the country.

New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania all have strong schools and strong unions.

Where is your state-by-state comparison showing that the above states have the strong schools, rather than the weak schools?

Crickets. Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t vote for someone who bans books. Parental choice should be not allowing YOUR child to read something you deem as inappropriate not telling someone else’s child that they can not just because you find it offensive.

Change your stance on this and I would actually consider voting for you as your stance on other issues makes sense to me

Schools ban things all the time that some parents find perfectly ok.

Why is removing explicit graphic novels any different than banning R rated movies in high school/junior high, or PG rated movies in elementary school.

Deciding that graphic sex novels are inappropriate for the minor students is not "banning books"