Do Local Republicans Want to Gut or Reform FCPS?

[Anonymous]

FCPS is too big.

I don’t want vouchers. I want schools to have more flexibility and less red tape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s my question. Disgusted with the local Democrats on the School Board - flakes like Meren, idiots like Frisch and Omeish, hypocrites like Tholen.

But I also support public schools. So my question is whether the local Republicans trying to get elected this fall want to gut and privatize public education (won’t support them) or instead reform FCPS and refocus on the basics (will support them).

Anyone with real insight is welcome to post. Screeds against, say, Glenn Youngkin or Randi Weingarten are not being solicited.

Banning books? You want repukes in charge of schools

HELL NO>

Fixed it for you.

We will not have school choice in VA.

Republcians ruin schools that is a fact! What red state has good schools over all none.

Separation of Church and state will state in the State of VA. And keep Betsey DeVos and your home schooling religious crap out of the schools.

By the way CRT was never taught in one VA school not one so learn to read as well.

So much nuance. Take your meds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a GOP voter. I don't want vouchers. I just want good, solid instruction for all kids.
I want common sense.

Do you feel any of the GOP or independent candidates share your priorities? Davis is the only one who somewhat appeals to me, especially if she can keep Omeish from getting another term.

[Anonymous]

Do you think the powerful/status quo Democrats read DCUM? It’s clear that the GOP peeps trying to upend them do. Do they know how people’s unhappiness go far beyond Covid closures? In fact I don’t care about Covid closures. I care about teachers quitting, kids not being held accountable, decreasing standards. I think that any moderate Democrat who ran on these things would get the votes of people on the fence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the powerful/status quo Democrats read DCUM? It’s clear that the GOP peeps trying to upend them do. Do they know how people’s unhappiness go far beyond Covid closures? In fact I don’t care about Covid closures. I care about teachers quitting, kids not being held accountable, decreasing standards. I think that any moderate Democrat who ran on these things would get the votes of people on the fence.

I think there is a real Democratic machine in Fairfax County - basically if you want to be on the D sample ballot - you need to sell out to the party. No one has independent thoughts anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the powerful/status quo Democrats read DCUM? It’s clear that the GOP peeps trying to upend them do. Do they know how people’s unhappiness go far beyond Covid closures? In fact I don’t care about Covid closures. I care about teachers quitting, kids not being held accountable, decreasing standards. I think that any moderate Democrat who ran on these things would get the votes of people on the fence.

How many are going to want to deal with being on the Fairfax County SB for $32k a year? I know it’s “part-time”, but look at how much goes into it. It has to be stressful and time consuming. I’m a moderate Democrat and I know I wouldn’t be able to devote the time and still work (although I’m an ES teacher, so that’s a moot point anyway). I definitely couldn’t stop working to serve on the SB. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way. It narrows the field of potential candidates and maybe even results in those who see the SB as mainly a stepping stone to higher office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the powerful/status quo Democrats read DCUM? It’s clear that the GOP peeps trying to upend them do. Do they know how people’s unhappiness go far beyond Covid closures? In fact I don’t care about Covid closures. I care about teachers quitting, kids not being held accountable, decreasing standards. I think that any moderate Democrat who ran on these things would get the votes of people on the fence.

How many are going to want to deal with being on the Fairfax County SB for $32k a year? I know it’s “part-time”, but look at how much goes into it. It has to be stressful and time consuming. I’m a moderate Democrat and I know I wouldn’t be able to devote the time and still work (although I’m an ES teacher, so that’s a moot point anyway). I definitely couldn’t stop working to serve on the SB. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way. It narrows the field of potential candidates and maybe even results in those who see the SB as mainly a stepping stone to higher office.

It used to be that SB members were mostly people who had other full-time jobs. The SB exercised oversight but left more decisions to FCPS staff and had their meetings in the evening.

Now they meet constantly, often in the morning and afternoon hours for work sessions and forums, and spend a lot of time second-guessing decisions by FCPS leadership. A cynic would say they do that on purpose to create disincentives for others to run and to perpetuate their gig. You’re absolutely right that it’s a big time commitment for not much money, but the job confers status and power in certain circles and can be a springboard to higher political office.

If they wanted, they could pare back many of the meetings and function more like real board members do, but one suspects they don’t want to because it would make it easier for others to challenge them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the powerful/status quo Democrats read DCUM? It’s clear that the GOP peeps trying to upend them do. Do they know how people’s unhappiness go far beyond Covid closures? In fact I don’t care about Covid closures. I care about teachers quitting, kids not being held accountable, decreasing standards. I think that any moderate Democrat who ran on these things would get the votes of people on the fence.

They wouldn’t get past the primary. Ask Moon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Republicans are taking away women’s right to health care when pregnant.

They also want to privatize education.

I’m not willing to trust in a republican school
Board candidate yet given their past behavior.

I have voted for r and d before but will not vote r in the current climate. Their goal is to undermine government.

This is why I’m not voting D anymore - past behavior - I saw what I needed to see with the all D decision on school closures and they completely lost my trust.

So schools are now providing the daycare you wanted- the current behavior is to have in person public schools. Not sure I see your point. It is more like you are voting out of anger than current behavior. For me republicans are still demonstrating the same behavior but for you the dems in charge are holding in person school and have been for the last 2 years so you are basing your vote on anger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Republicans are taking away women’s right to health care when pregnant.

They also want to privatize education.

I’m not willing to trust in a republican school
Board candidate yet given their past behavior.

I have voted for r and d before but will not vote r in the current climate. Their goal is to undermine government.

This is why I’m not voting D anymore - past behavior - I saw what I needed to see with the all D decision on school closures and they completely lost my trust.

So schools are now providing the daycare you wanted- the current behavior is to have in person public schools. Not sure I see your point. It is more like you are voting out of anger than current behavior. For me republicans are still demonstrating the same behavior but for you the dems in charge are holding in person school and have been for the last 2 years so you are basing your vote on anger.

Turns out I was right all along and kids learn better in person, and it's not just about the babysitting. Who would have thunk it?!?!?!??!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Republicans are taking away women’s right to health care when pregnant.

They also want to privatize education.

I’m not willing to trust in a republican school
Board candidate yet given their past behavior.

I have voted for r and d before but will not vote r in the current climate. Their goal is to undermine government.

This is why I’m not voting D anymore - past behavior - I saw what I needed to see with the all D decision on school closures and they completely lost my trust.

So schools are now providing the daycare you wanted- the current behavior is to have in person public schools. Not sure I see your point. It is more like you are voting out of anger than current behavior. For me republicans are still demonstrating the same behavior but for you the dems in charge are holding in person school and have been for the last 2 years so you are basing your vote on anger.

Turns out I was right all along and kids learn better in person, and it's not just about the babysitting. Who would have thunk it?!?!?!??!

And to be clear - I am voting on intelligence. If you didn't know it wasn't developmentally appropriate for K-3 and special ed to be online for a full year - you don't know enough about education for me to support you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Republicans are taking away women’s right to health care when pregnant.

They also want to privatize education.

I’m not willing to trust in a republican school
Board candidate yet given their past behavior.

I have voted for r and d before but will not vote r in the current climate. Their goal is to undermine government.

This is why I’m not voting D anymore - past behavior - I saw what I needed to see with the all D decision on school closures and they completely lost my trust.

So schools are now providing the daycare you wanted- the current behavior is to have in person public schools. Not sure I see your point. It is more like you are voting out of anger than current behavior. For me republicans are still demonstrating the same behavior but for you the dems in charge are holding in person school and have been for the last 2 years so you are basing your vote on anger.

Hard to follow your post but I think some of the concern is whether an all-D school board would repeat their past behavior if there is another situation in the future where a teacher’s organization/union demands that FCPS close schools. It’s hard to see them having any backbone to insist that schools stay open. And as it is they have also embraced a calendar where the number of four-day weeks is staggering.

[Anonymous]

The candidates that are running support.

1. An appropriate school calendar without as many disruptions, which are harmful to children. Fairfax County has the least amount of 5-day school weeks than any other school district in the nation.
2. The use of actual textbooks, and not laptops, in early education.
3. Allocating resources for more robust vocational education opportunities.
4. Reforming Special Education
5. Professionalizing the Principal Pipeline, and have recruitment and vetting handled by Human Relations, and not an outside firm.
6. Increase pay to teachers
7. Supporting teachers with discipline issues they encounter in the classroom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Republicans are taking away women’s right to health care when pregnant.

They also want to privatize education.

I’m not willing to trust in a republican school
Board candidate yet given their past behavior.

I have voted for r and d before but will not vote r in the current climate. Their goal is to undermine government.

This is why I’m not voting D anymore - past behavior - I saw what I needed to see with the all D decision on school closures and they completely lost my trust.

So schools are now providing the daycare you wanted- the current behavior is to have in person public schools. Not sure I see your point. It is more like you are voting out of anger than current behavior. For me republicans are still demonstrating the same behavior but for you the dems in charge are holding in person school and have been for the last 2 years so you are basing your vote on anger.

Turns out I was right all along and kids learn better in person, and it's not just about the babysitting. Who would have thunk it?!?!?!??!

Get over it. Yes it sucked big time. It was disruptive. But we were dealing with a pandemic. Stop pretending you would have dealt with the stress of making the decisions any better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The candidates that are running support.

1. An appropriate school calendar without as many disruptions, which are harmful to children. Fairfax County has the least amount of 5-day school weeks than any other school district in the nation.
2. The use of actual textbooks, and not laptops, in early education.
3. Allocating resources for more robust vocational education opportunities.
4. Reforming Special Education
5. Professionalizing the Principal Pipeline, and have recruitment and vetting handled by Human Relations, and not an outside firm.
6. Increase pay to teachers
7. Supporting teachers with discipline issues they encounter in the classroom

This is all great but do you really think the SB has that much power? I’m not being snarky. I actually don’t think they can change much and a lot of the issues people have with the SB come down to policy issues. Not just at the local level but also state and federal.