Supporting ACPS in the voting booth

[Anonymous]

Trying to get smart on the upcoming election. I want to elect a mayor and city council that strongly supports ACPS. Any help on whom I should vote for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to get smart on the upcoming election. I want to elect a mayor and city council that strongly supports ACPS. Any help on whom I should vote for?

Define "supports" please. Do you mean "shoveling money unchecked into the system to reward the incompetent, incestuous central office culture that encourages mediocrity by cycling their friends in and out of positions, recruiting failed administrators from other districts instead of the best and brightest, and setting the good teachers up to fail?" Because that's want most Alexandria pols mean by "support."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to get smart on the upcoming election. I want to elect a mayor and city council that strongly supports ACPS. Any help on whom I should vote for?

Define "supports" please. Do you mean "shoveling money unchecked into the system to reward the incompetent, incestuous central office culture that encourages mediocrity by cycling their friends in and out of positions, recruiting failed administrators from other districts instead of the best and brightest, and setting the good teachers up to fail?" Because that's want most Alexandria pols mean by "support."

Great, so, can you recommend any candidate who you think will put a stop to the cycle you’re complaining about, or are you here just to be an unhelpful jackass?

[Anonymous]

OP's question is fair, but so is PP's criticism. ACPS has a lot to offer, and some of the criticism is not fair, but the school board overall has done a simply terrible job.

The new Beauregard elementary school/office building was not planned adequately, is being implemented badly, and the school board's choices basically tell those kids and families that they just don't matter. The principal selection process was a series of idiotic errors. The school board's maintenance of facilities has been a disaster, and the school board's funding excuses simply don't cut it. And with among the highest per-student expenditures in the region, there simply should be a better educational result for everybody. Complaining about capacity crises and planning the expensive re-segregation of the city's high school kicks up a lot of dust and diverts attention away from the school board's complete ineffectiveness.

In some respects it doesn't matter who is on Alexandria council. It just doesn't. Council completely defers to the school board, which then makes an incredible mess every single time. Every member of council wants to avoid becoming a political target of the school board and parent groups, so council defers to every single thing that school board wants, without any deviation.

A few members of council try to at least make the school board respond on basic financial and efficiency issues (Smedberg, for example), and a few candidates (Bennett-Parker, Aguirre) can be counted on to support ACPS but not treat the school board with the same kid gloves that has been habit for years. Other candidates (Pepper) are likely to continue to rubber-stamp anything that comes from the school board, and then point the finger someplace else when everything, predictably, keeps going wrong. A few seem to get that the school board, not ACPS, is Alexandria's school problem (maybe Bailey and Chapman), but they are unwilling to move to the next level and actually start demanding that the school board simplify processes, avoid distraction, and improve results. The mayor isn't engaged, and the vice mayor is captive to the school board and has always rubber-stamped every single thing that school board wants, period. So there really is no adult supervision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP's question is fair, but so is PP's criticism. ACPS has a lot to offer, and some of the criticism is not fair, but the school board overall has done a simply terrible job.

The new Beauregard elementary school/office building was not planned adequately, is being implemented badly, and the school board's choices basically tell those kids and families that they just don't matter. The principal selection process was a series of idiotic errors. The school board's maintenance of facilities has been a disaster, and the school board's funding excuses simply don't cut it. And with among the highest per-student expenditures in the region, there simply should be a better educational result for everybody. Complaining about capacity crises and planning the expensive re-segregation of the city's high school kicks up a lot of dust and diverts attention away from the school board's complete ineffectiveness.

In some respects it doesn't matter who is on Alexandria council. It just doesn't. Council completely defers to the school board, which then makes an incredible mess every single time. Every member of council wants to avoid becoming a political target of the school board and parent groups, so council defers to every single thing that school board wants, without any deviation.

A few members of council try to at least make the school board respond on basic financial and efficiency issues (Smedberg, for example), and a few candidates (Bennett-Parker, Aguirre) can be counted on to support ACPS but not treat the school board with the same kid gloves that has been habit for years. Other candidates (Pepper) are likely to continue to rubber-stamp anything that comes from the school board, and then point the finger someplace else when everything, predictably, keeps going wrong. A few seem to get that the school board, not ACPS, is Alexandria's school problem (maybe Bailey and Chapman), but they are unwilling to move to the next level and actually start demanding that the school board simplify processes, avoid distraction, and improve results. The mayor isn't engaged, and the vice mayor is captive to the school board and has always rubber-stamped every single thing that school board wants, period. So there really is no adult supervision.

Whether PP's criticism is fair or not is irrelevant; it doesn't answer OP's question. If PP wants to complain about the school board, then I suggest she start her own thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP's question is fair, but so is PP's criticism. ACPS has a lot to offer, and some of the criticism is not fair, but the school board overall has done a simply terrible job.

The new Beauregard elementary school/office building was not planned adequately, is being implemented badly, and the school board's choices basically tell those kids and families that they just don't matter. The principal selection process was a series of idiotic errors. The school board's maintenance of facilities has been a disaster, and the school board's funding excuses simply don't cut it. And with among the highest per-student expenditures in the region, there simply should be a better educational result for everybody. Complaining about capacity crises and planning the expensive re-segregation of the city's high school kicks up a lot of dust and diverts attention away from the school board's complete ineffectiveness.

In some respects it doesn't matter who is on Alexandria council. It just doesn't. Council completely defers to the school board, which then makes an incredible mess every single time. Every member of council wants to avoid becoming a political target of the school board and parent groups, so council defers to every single thing that school board wants, without any deviation.

A few members of council try to at least make the school board respond on basic financial and efficiency issues (Smedberg, for example), and a few candidates (Bennett-Parker, Aguirre) can be counted on to support ACPS but not treat the school board with the same kid gloves that has been habit for years. Other candidates (Pepper) are likely to continue to rubber-stamp anything that comes from the school board, and then point the finger someplace else when everything, predictably, keeps going wrong. A few seem to get that the school board, not ACPS, is Alexandria's school problem (maybe Bailey and Chapman), but they are unwilling to move to the next level and actually start demanding that the school board simplify processes, avoid distraction, and improve results. The mayor isn't engaged, and the vice mayor is captive to the school board and has always rubber-stamped every single thing that school board wants, period. So there really is no adult supervision.

Do any of the candidates have the courage to stand up to the school board and recommend needed changes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to get smart on the upcoming election. I want to elect a mayor and city council that strongly supports ACPS. Any help on whom I should vote for?

I listened to their debate on education issues that they held a few weeks ago and they all pretty much all the same, no real ideas were expressed just a lot of lip service to "closing the achievement gap" but no real concrete ideas. Amy Jackson seemed to be the only candidate who was willing to offer any kind of concrete ideas when questions were asked.

A few years ago, the entire school board turned over and did so on the promise of doing things differently and so on. But they really can't and won't. They are all democrats and there is a real group think of how things should be done. Without ever bringing in opposing viewpoints, there is just stagnation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP's question is fair, but so is PP's criticism. ACPS has a lot to offer, and some of the criticism is not fair, but the school board overall has done a simply terrible job.

The new Beauregard elementary school/office building was not planned adequately, is being implemented badly, and the school board's choices basically tell those kids and families that they just don't matter. The principal selection process was a series of idiotic errors. The school board's maintenance of facilities has been a disaster, and the school board's funding excuses simply don't cut it. And with among the highest per-student expenditures in the region, there simply should be a better educational result for everybody. Complaining about capacity crises and planning the expensive re-segregation of the city's high school kicks up a lot of dust and diverts attention away from the school board's complete ineffectiveness.

In some respects it doesn't matter who is on Alexandria council. It just doesn't. Council completely defers to the school board, which then makes an incredible mess every single time. Every member of council wants to avoid becoming a political target of the school board and parent groups, so council defers to every single thing that school board wants, without any deviation.

A few members of council try to at least make the school board respond on basic financial and efficiency issues (Smedberg, for example), and a few candidates (Bennett-Parker, Aguirre) can be counted on to support ACPS but not treat the school board with the same kid gloves that has been habit for years. Other candidates (Pepper) are likely to continue to rubber-stamp anything that comes from the school board, and then point the finger someplace else when everything, predictably, keeps going wrong. A few seem to get that the school board, not ACPS, is Alexandria's school problem (maybe Bailey and Chapman), but they are unwilling to move to the next level and actually start demanding that the school board simplify processes, avoid distraction, and improve results. The mayor isn't engaged, and the vice mayor is captive to the school board and has always rubber-stamped every single thing that school board wants, period. So there really is no adult supervision.

Do any of the candidates have the courage to stand up to the school board and recommend needed changes?

Maybe Smedberg, Bennett-Parker, and Aguirre; Jackson is a possibility as well. It won't make them popular, but they'll likely try.

Real change at the school board can only come from within the school board; the council conducted a referendum over 20 years ago to wash its hands of the school board (council used to appoint the school board, but intentionally sought to avoid the hassle), and school board functions with absolute independence and zero accountability. There are several interesting non-incumbent candidates, at least one good one in each of the three districts. Voting against every school board incumbent, and voting only for challengers, is one approach to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: A few seem to get that the school board, not ACPS, is Alexandria's school problem

Hard disagree. The school board is a problem, but not the problem. You could replace the entire school board tomorrow and both central office and school-level administration would continue to teem with people who care about anything except educating children. Frankly, I think ACPS may be an unfixable product at this point. Hopefully they can stop the bleeding and keep it from getting worse, but I don't see how it gets better without a massive housecleaning, both in Braddock Place and at the schools themselves. Trouble is, ACPS being ACPS, they'd end up getting rid of the dedicated and successful teachers while keeping the people who think that just because they've worked at ACPS central office for 20 years they're entitled to enshrinement at Mt Rushmore, then wonder why things didn't improve.

[Anonymous]

Agree on the names above. The issue is really the school board. Hoping there are some good NEW candidates. Lot of issues with the current board and some weak incumbents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree on the names above. The issue is really the school board. Hoping there are some good NEW candidates. Lot of issues with the current board and some weak incumbents.

Exactly. Entire current school board needs to go, period.

[Anonymous]

I'd vote for any candidate who would agree to follow the City of Fairfax's lead and just enter a contract with FCPS to run our schools for us as part of the FCPS system.

City of Alexandria doesn't need to operate a stand-alone school district. We get no economies of scale and therefore waste untold millions. We have too many central office administrators who have nothing better to do than constantly tinker and meddle in our small system.

And when a school system is that small, board members are tempted to micromanage. No decent administrators want to work in that sort of environment.

End it, don't mend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: A few seem to get that the school board, not ACPS, is Alexandria's school problem

Hard disagree. The school board is a problem, but not the problem. You could replace the entire school board tomorrow and both central office and school-level administration would continue to teem with people who care about anything except educating children. Frankly, I think ACPS may be an unfixable product at this point. Hopefully they can stop the bleeding and keep it from getting worse, but I don't see how it gets better without a massive housecleaning, both in Braddock Place and at the schools themselves. Trouble is, ACPS being ACPS, they'd end up getting rid of the dedicated and successful teachers while keeping the people who think that just because they've worked at ACPS central office for 20 years they're entitled to enshrinement at Mt Rushmore, then wonder why things didn't improve.

This, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd vote for any candidate who would agree to follow the City of Fairfax's lead and just enter a contract with FCPS to run our schools for us as part of the FCPS system.

City of Alexandria doesn't need to operate a stand-alone school district. We get no economies of scale and therefore waste untold millions. We have too many central office administrators who have nothing better to do than constantly tinker and meddle in our small system.

And when a school system is that small, board members are tempted to micromanage. No decent administrators want to work in that sort of environment.

End it, don't mend it.

This is a very interesting suggestion. I had not heard that Fairfax City was doing this. From an Alexandria City perspective it is win-win. I'm not sure why FCPS would want to do it but for us there would be a lot of benefits.

[Anonymous]

Responding to OP's question: I thought the strongest performances at the PTAC debate focused on schools were Canek Aguierre, Dak Hardwick, and John Chapman. I think Elizabeth Bennett-Parker would also be good on schools - I've seen her since that debate (it was sometime in mid-May) and have been impressed by her. There was not a lot of talk about schools at last night's debate, unfortunately. I'm definitely voting for those 4 because of schools (and because they are otherwise good candidates). Not sure whether I'll use my remaining two votes or not.