Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Even split for tenured, new members on 12-person board; Democrat-endorsed candidates sweep races
Facing the largest turnover its had in years, the Fairfax County School Board held on to many of its incumbents Tuesday night despite an election season marked by loud cries for change. Six of the board's 12 members did not seek re-election, leaving half the board open for newcomers to step into place. But four of those seats went to incumbents Janie Strauss (Dranesville), Dan Storck (Mt. Vernon), Kathy Smith (Sully) and Illryong Moon (At-large), candidates who were sometimes cast into a group of "rubber stampers" throughout this election season by voters dissatisfied with school system. On Tuesday night, however, they won, in some cases with substantial margins, over the self-labeled "reformers" who challenged them. Two more incumbents — …
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Mount Vernon District Board member is up for reelection on Nov. 8; he’s being challenged by Michele Nellenbach
Dan Storck has represented the Mount Vernon District as a member of the Fairfax County School Board since 2004. He’s running again this year, against challenger Michele Nellenbach. Patch caught up with Storck, a father of three and Fort Hunt resident, recently at the Hollin Hall Pastry Shop, where we discussed education and other issues. Patch: Why are you running again? Storck: “I have unfinished things we need to accomplish for Mount Vernon students, children and the community… You need seven votes to do anything. Those seven votes are the difference between rhetoric and action. The difference for me is I’ve gotten things done. Some of the barriers, some of the things I haven’t been able to get done, are the function of the existing …
Monday, September 19, 2011
Velkoff says teacher compensation, ensuring students taught life skills are priorities
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Discipline reform has become a key issue in this school board race. See how the candidates stack up
Patch has asked the candidates running for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board a series of questions on discipline policy reform - a topic fast becoming a key issue in this race. 1. Do you think the recent reforms passed by the school board changing the discipline policy were appropriate? I do not believe that the current measures and policy changes are appropriate for a simple reason: They come across as a knee jerk reaction to totally called-for pressure from parents and community for a more comprehensive disciplinary reform. What I mean by this is that it appears to be a cosmetic change and it fails to address some of the "structural fissures" in the system. Personally, being the parent of two teenagers, I can't …
Friday, July 22, 2011
Discipline reform has become a key issue in this school board race. See how the candidates stack up
Patch has asked the candidates running for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board a series of questions on discipline policy reform - a topic fast becoming a key issue in this race. 1. Do you think the recent reforms passed by the school board changing the discipline policy were appropriate? I don’t believe the school board went far enough in making these long overdue changes to FCPS discipline policy. To be honest, the school board made the changes it did only because parents and advocacy groups pushed hard for them. For all the improvements the school board made to its discipline policies, including lessening involuntary school transfers of students, the most critical component of the “Student’s Rights and Responsibilities…
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Discipline reform has become a key issue in this school board race. See how the candidates stack up.
Ten candidates are vying for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board. Patch has asked each of them a series of questions on discipline policy reform - a topic fast becoming a key issue in this crowded race. 1. Do you think the recent reforms passed by the school board changing the discipline policy were appropriate? In overall, it was a good first positive step. I wanted to go a little further on parental notification. However, my amendment did not pass. I will wait and see, as the school system collects data, to determine what other actions, if any, we need to take to further improve the discipline system. 2. How would you have voted on this issue? How I voted is a matter of public record. (Editor's Note: Ilryong Moon is an…
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Discipline reform has become a key issue in this school board race. See how the candidates stack up.
Ten candidates are vying for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board. Patch has asked each of them a series of questions on discipline policy reform - a topic fast becoming a key issue in this crowded race. 1. Do you think the recent reforms passed by the school board changing the discipline policy were appropriate? The June 9 discipline policy reforms were both much needed and long overdue. They improve the Hearing Office’s accountability to families and to the public, and they improve the flexibility of school personnel in handling the infractions of individual students at the local school level. 2. How would you have voted on this issue? I am in favor of all of the reforms enacted on June 9 and would have voted for them…
Monday, July 18, 2011
Steve Stuban was inspired to run for office after his son, Nick Stuban, died in January.
What good can come of this? Steve Stuban, one of 10 candidates running for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board, can trace his desire to seek the office back to this simple question. In late January, Stuban and his family were reeling from personal tragedy. His son, Nick Stuban, 15, committed suicide on Jan. 20. Seeking public office was the furthest thing from this father's mind. Seven months later, Stuban still needs a few deep breaths to brace himself before speaking of the loss. "After we had buried Nick, my entire family was here — my side of the family, my wife’s side of the family," Stuban said. "When we talked as a family and tried to replay the last several months of Nick’s life and tried to figure out what could …
Will Radle
8:03 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Every politician elected is mandated to keep their commitments to voters for we will hold them accountable. Won't we? A. Will Radle, Jr. Creating a Culture of Listening more ›