Anonymous wrote:[

But, quite honestly, neither candidate appeals to me. Kendall is too Tea Party Republican for my taste (don't agree with her views of teaching creationism and dislike her assertion that FCPS only redistricts to raise test scores at flagging schools) and I don't know what Mancheno-Smoak really stands for (her written responses to questions are poorly written and unclear). Will probably vote for Stuban, McElveen and Brown-Kaplan.

Excellent points and I pretty much agree with you. (I won't vote for Brown-Kaplan though as I've seen her in action.) Stuban definitely has my vote, though.

Anonymous wrote:
To paraphrase the sound that's all over Kendall's website: "Whoa!"
I didn't even know this about her.

Some of this stuff is just -- wow . . .

http://lindai.webs.com/issues.htm

DATA-based planning: non-political, standardized measures
STANDARDIZE THE PLANNING PROCESS & USE TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE IT. Baseless school closures and frequent boundary changes are costly and fracture communities. School boundaries should be driven by quantitative and hard data not political considerations or social experimentation.


School Renovations
Let’s put an end to the baseless school closures. We pay enough taxes for brick and mortar schools, not trailers! Procure a transparent account of CIP dollars. Currently school bonds do NOT necessarily bind the money to the school or project it's originally placed on the ballot for.

Boundary Studies and Changes
Let’s redefine school planning standards and end expensive, frequent boundary changes that fracture our communities. In the information era, decisions on school boundaries should be based on quantifiable data and metrics, such as building capacity and

Reducing Costs, Increasing Transparency
Many Fairfax County residents question the educational value they get for their money. Some of us also object to the fact that funds secured through bond issues aren't necessarily spent as originally intended. The current County budget allocates close to 54% of revenue to a school system which services only 25% of the population. The FCSB is accountable to NO ONE, and it is critical that the unbridled spending and lack of control be stopped. We need a more transparent system that accounts effectively for our tax dollars, with a School Board that acts in the interest of the citizens that elected them, rather than the school system they are obligated to govern.

INCREMENTS
Enrollment
165,016 students vs 175,296 students= 6.2% growth
(that's an increment of only 10,000 students, compared to the 30,000+ that came into the school system between 1992 & 2001)

Teachers & Staff
20730 staff vs 22150 staff = 6.85% growth
2176 more teachers…
759 LESS support staff

Budget
$1.5 Billion vs $2.2Billion = 46.6% growth wow!!!
Cost per Pupil
$8,553 vs $12,593 = 47.2% growth wow!!!

Budget Presentation
20 vs 198 = 10 times more pages

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Two of the at-large candidates that come from a "let's do the analysis to reduce transportation costs/time and increase efficiency" background have recommended large county-wide studies. (Lin-Dai Kendall and Lolita Mancheno-Smoak)

Interesting. I saw the comments each submitted to Fairfax CAPS on boundaries, and they would not suggest that either favored a large county-wide study.

Great example of why it helps to read multiple sources for information about candidates. Start with the campaign websites, watch the video coverage of debates, read multiple survey responses, etc.

Time is limited. It tells me something if Kendall and Mancheno-Smoak don't address this directly when corresponding with a group that's known for its anti-redistricting stance.

But, quite honestly, neither candidate appeals to me. Kendall is too Tea Party Republican for my taste (don't agree with her views of teaching creationism and dislike her assertion that FCPS only redistricts to raise test scores at flagging schools) and I don't know what Mancheno-Smoak really stands for (her written responses to questions are poorly written and unclear). Will probably vote for Stuban, McElveen and Brown-Kaplan.

To paraphrase the sound that's all over Kendall's website: "Whoa!"
I didn't even know this about her.
I think she is totally unqualified for another reason: the numbers she cites on her website regarding FCPS's budget excesses aren't adjusted for inflation. If you adjust her budget figures for a 28% national rate of inflation over the decade, the actual budget is only 15% higher in real terms than it was a decade ago. And I don't have the numbers handy but I'd be willing to bet inflation was much higher in this area due to the runaway housing boom than it was in the country at large, which would mean a lower increase.
To the extent there is a real increase at all, it's easy to sound indignant without having examined the reasons behind the increase: could it be unfunded mandates like NCLB? More strenuous requirements under IDEA? Or a myriad other factors.
I also find her assertion that the county spends half of its budget on only 25% of its population (meaning children, who are 27%, by the way, at last count) somewhat disingenuous. The only reason some of us chose to live in FFX county is the school system (not the endless exurb feel, not the traffic or the pollution) and I consider the portion of my tax money spent on schools money well spent, and money spent on my family as a whole, not just on my kids at my expense.
She comes across to me as the slash and burn candidate, out to reduce her tax bill by destroying the school system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Two of the at-large candidates that come from a "let's do the analysis to reduce transportation costs/time and increase efficiency" background have recommended large county-wide studies. (Lin-Dai Kendall and Lolita Mancheno-Smoak)

Interesting. I saw the comments each submitted to Fairfax CAPS on boundaries, and they would not suggest that either favored a large county-wide study.

Great example of why it helps to read multiple sources for information about candidates. Start with the campaign websites, watch the video coverage of debates, read multiple survey responses, etc.

Time is limited. It tells me something if Kendall and Mancheno-Smoak don't address this directly when corresponding with a group that's known for its anti-redistricting stance.

But, quite honestly, neither candidate appeals to me. Kendall is too Tea Party Republican for my taste (don't agree with her views of teaching creationism and dislike her assertion that FCPS only redistricts to raise test scores at flagging schools) and I don't know what Mancheno-Smoak really stands for (her written responses to questions are poorly written and unclear). Will probably vote for Stuban, McElveen and Brown-Kaplan.