Anonymous wrote:^^Because we rich white Langley republicans don't want all students to succeed? Because that what you keep going on and on about.

Until the Republicans can come up with stronger candidates and a better message, that is indeed the inference everyone else draws about you. There is no acknowledgment of the challenges other schools face, only complaints about Langley unfairly being asked to subsidize others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely want to scream in frustration with all of the holier than thou limousine liberals that think that just because Langley district parents want to ALSO get some benefit from their high property taxes (relative to the remainder of FCPS) they are incessantly demonized for that sentiment. I am fine with a meals tax or whatever it will take to help schools out of this budget crisis hole but to keep saying that Cluster 1 schools should suffer with the highest class sizes because Janie thinks we are all "wealthy" and can cover any gaps with our children's education. Despicable.

Totally agree. All these people on DCUM whose kids probably attend beautifully renovated high schools and have smaller classes whining about how Langley shouldn't be getting a renovation of its own... cry me a river. Our property taxes are higher than the rest of FxCo, yet we don't see any of that money benefit our own school.

No one has said Langley should not get renovated.

I wonder why you'd suggest otherwise when that's not the case. It must be the same instinct to lie and think only of yourselves that's led to the Republicans nominating a series of losing School Board candidates in Dranesville whose "the rich deserve more" campaigns get traction only in Langley neighborhoods.

Actually, if you look at the person who ran against Janie Strauss, Pete Kurtzenhauser-his slogan was "Fair share" not "the Langley district should get more than the rest of FCPS". Unfortunately he did not do a great job of campaigning and spreading his message-why the powers the be didn't fight blood, tooth and nail to defeat the horrendous Janie Strauss this go round is beyond me.

Oh, they fought tooth and nail alright, and not always fairly. Kurzenhauser's supporters went on one forum and started posts suggesting that Strauss had just turned 80 (when she's actually in her late 60s). The problem was that voters didn't agree with the tired Republican message that more has to be spent in the wealthier areas and that it can all be paid for by cutting a few FCPS administrative jobs.

^^Because we rich white Langley republicans don't want all students to succeed? Because that what you keep going on and on about.

If you look at Kurzenhauser's web site, he wasn't just advocating for smaller class sizes. He was complaining about resources being "diverted" from Dranesville and the need to get "our fair share" and thinking this message would resonate in Dranesville.

And the election results proved him wrong. Only Langley precincts supported him. All the other precincts, zoned for Herndon, McLean, Marshall and Westfield HS, rejected the Mitt Romney-like effort to divide the county into "givers" and "takers."

This is the same message that Louise Epstein tried unsuccessfully to sell in 2011, yet the Republicans learned nothing from her loss. Perhaps by 2019 the wealthy Republicans in Langley will finally realize that we are all in this together and that the goal has always been, and remains, to help all our students succeed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely want to scream in frustration with all of the holier than thou limousine liberals that think that just because Langley district parents want to ALSO get some benefit from their high property taxes (relative to the remainder of FCPS) they are incessantly demonized for that sentiment. I am fine with a meals tax or whatever it will take to help schools out of this budget crisis hole but to keep saying that Cluster 1 schools should suffer with the highest class sizes because Janie thinks we are all "wealthy" and can cover any gaps with our children's education. Despicable.

Totally agree. All these people on DCUM whose kids probably attend beautifully renovated high schools and have smaller classes whining about how Langley shouldn't be getting a renovation of its own... cry me a river. Our property taxes are higher than the rest of FxCo, yet we don't see any of that money benefit our own school.

No one has said Langley should not get renovated.

I wonder why you'd suggest otherwise when that's not the case. It must be the same instinct to lie and think only of yourselves that's led to the Republicans nominating a series of losing School Board candidates in Dranesville whose "the rich deserve more" campaigns get traction only in Langley neighborhoods.

Actually, if you look at the person who ran against Janie Strauss, Pete Kurtzenhauser-his slogan was "Fair share" not "the Langley district should get more than the rest of FCPS". Unfortunately he did not do a great job of campaigning and spreading his message-why the powers the be didn't fight blood, tooth and nail to defeat the horrendous Janie Strauss this go round is beyond me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely want to scream in frustration with all of the holier than thou limousine liberals that think that just because Langley district parents want to ALSO get some benefit from their high property taxes (relative to the remainder of FCPS) they are incessantly demonized for that sentiment. I am fine with a meals tax or whatever it will take to help schools out of this budget crisis hole but to keep saying that Cluster 1 schools should suffer with the highest class sizes because Janie thinks we are all "wealthy" and can cover any gaps with our children's education. Despicable.

If schools have classes over the state limit or just below then it is a problem. Ever check the state standard for English classes ? Ever have 34 in grade 2? School is children's work. Anyone pay attention to a change where if a school has a lower number than expected the school can lose a staff member?

The state limit pertains to average class size, not individual class sizes. So, for every smaller class in one school,there can be a larger class in another and they average below the state limits.

But it is a bit disingenuous to say your property taxes are higher. Everyone pays the exact same tax rate in the county. Yes, straight dollars, you pay more because your property is worth more. That is how property taxes work. But you are not paying a higher percentage than anyone else. There isn't some super special Langley tax that only you pay.

I don't live in Langley--but I do question your statement. What part of "more" don't you understand? As far as percentage, Dranesville probably does pay a higher percentage of Fairfax taxes than other areas.

I don't think the people from Langley are asking for "more" than the other parts of the FCPS system--I think they are just pointing out that they are paying more and getting far LESS in county funds. When you have class sizes of 35, you get a little resentful.

My personal opinion is that the lower income schools should get more--but there should be a base line for all schools. 35 kids in a class should not be the base line.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely want to scream in frustration with all of the holier than thou limousine liberals that think that just because Langley district parents want to ALSO get some benefit from their high property taxes (relative to the remainder of FCPS) they are incessantly demonized for that sentiment. I am fine with a meals tax or whatever it will take to help schools out of this budget crisis hole but to keep saying that Cluster 1 schools should suffer with the highest class sizes because Janie thinks we are all "wealthy" and can cover any gaps with our children's education. Despicable.

Totally agree. All these people on DCUM whose kids probably attend beautifully renovated high schools and have smaller classes whining about how Langley shouldn't be getting a renovation of its own... cry me a river. Our property taxes are higher than the rest of FxCo, yet we don't see any of that money benefit our own school.

I think the class sizes are terrible and if a building is in bad shape, it needs fixing.

But it is a bit disingenuous to say your property taxes are higher. Everyone pays the exact same tax rate in the county. Yes, straight dollars, you pay more because your property is worth more. That is how property taxes work. But you are not paying a higher percentage than anyone else. There isn't some super special Langley tax that only you pay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely want to scream in frustration with all of the holier than thou limousine liberals that think that just because Langley district parents want to ALSO get some benefit from their high property taxes (relative to the remainder of FCPS) they are incessantly demonized for that sentiment. I am fine with a meals tax or whatever it will take to help schools out of this budget crisis hole but to keep saying that Cluster 1 schools should suffer with the highest class sizes because Janie thinks we are all "wealthy" and can cover any gaps with our children's education. Despicable.

Totally agree. All these people on DCUM whose kids probably attend beautifully renovated high schools and have smaller classes whining about how Langley shouldn't be getting a renovation of its own... cry me a river. Our property taxes are higher than the rest of FxCo, yet we don't see any of that money benefit our own school.

No one has said Langley should not get renovated.

I wonder why you'd suggest otherwise when that's not the case. It must be the same instinct to lie and think only of yourselves that's led to the Republicans nominating a series of losing School Board candidates in Dranesville whose "the rich deserve more" campaigns get traction only in Langley neighborhoods.

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely want to scream in frustration with all of the holier than thou limousine liberals that think that just because Langley district parents want to ALSO get some benefit from their high property taxes (relative to the remainder of FCPS) they are incessantly demonized for that sentiment. I am fine with a meals tax or whatever it will take to help schools out of this budget crisis hole but to keep saying that Cluster 1 schools should suffer with the highest class sizes because Janie thinks we are all "wealthy" and can cover any gaps with our children's education. Despicable.

Totally agree. All these people on DCUM whose kids probably attend beautifully renovated high schools and have smaller classes whining about how Langley shouldn't be getting a renovation of its own... cry me a river. Our property taxes are higher than the rest of FxCo, yet we don't see any of that money benefit our own school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is McLean HS in such awful shape? Will it be getting a renovation? I went there for the first time recently and was quite surprised at its condition.

McLean HS was recently renovated and looked great alast time I saw it.

n

Really!? My bad, then. I was just struck by how old the bathrooms look. And the auditorium seems tiny and there is no leg space between rows -- most high schoolers are taller than I am. Marshall's auditorium is gorgeous.

Poorer schools get more than their fair share. That way it's fair.

McLean is about 10 years old than Marshall and Langley and was renovated in 2005. It looks pretty good, but the recent high school renovations seem to be more extensive, whether it's Marshall, Woodson or Edison. Langley will look just as good as Marshall, and better than McLean, when they are done.

Langley has never been renovated. Never. They put on an addition a few years ago, but there's been no renovation of the main building. So glad we'll finally have a new building.

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely want to scream in frustration with all of the holier than thou limousine liberals that think that just because Langley district parents want to ALSO get some benefit from their high property taxes (relative to the remainder of FCPS) they are incessantly demonized for that sentiment. I am fine with a meals tax or whatever it will take to help schools out of this budget crisis hole but to keep saying that Cluster 1 schools should suffer with the highest class sizes because Janie thinks we are all "wealthy" and can cover any gaps with our children's education. Despicable.

If schools have classes over the state limit or just below then it is a problem. Ever check the state standard for English classes ? Ever have 34 in grade 2? School is children's work. Anyone pay attention to a change where if a school has a lower number than expected the school can lose a staff member?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely want to scream in frustration with all of the holier than thou limousine liberals that think that just because Langley district parents want to ALSO get some benefit from their high property taxes (relative to the remainder of FCPS) they are incessantly demonized for that sentiment. I am fine with a meals tax or whatever it will take to help schools out of this budget crisis hole but to keep saying that Cluster 1 schools should suffer with the highest class sizes because Janie thinks we are all "wealthy" and can cover any gaps with our children's education. Despicable.

Feel free to vent, but recognize that it is not just "limousine liberals" who are tired of listening to the wealthy Langley parents whine and try to portray themselves as victims.

Tire all you want but it's not whine: they're facts. Simple statements of fact.

Actually, they are mere opinions, disputed by voters who rejected the last two "Langley candidates" for the Dranesville seat on the School Board.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely want to scream in frustration with all of the holier than thou limousine liberals that think that just because Langley district parents want to ALSO get some benefit from their high property taxes (relative to the remainder of FCPS) they are incessantly demonized for that sentiment. I am fine with a meals tax or whatever it will take to help schools out of this budget crisis hole but to keep saying that Cluster 1 schools should suffer with the highest class sizes because Janie thinks we are all "wealthy" and can cover any gaps with our children's education. Despicable.

Feel free to vent, but recognize that it is not just "limousine liberals" who are tired of listening to the wealthy Langley parents whine and try to portray themselves as victims.

Tire all you want but it's not whine: they're facts. Simple statements of fact.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is McLean HS in such awful shape? Will it be getting a renovation? I went there for the first time recently and was quite surprised at its condition.

McLean HS was recently renovated and looked great alast time I saw it.

n

Really!? My bad, then. I was just struck by how old the bathrooms look. And the auditorium seems tiny and there is no leg space between rows -- most high schoolers are taller than I am. Marshall's auditorium is gorgeous.

It has been ten years and the newer renovations do looks nicer.