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| School board candidates Karl Frisch (Providence) and Ricardy Anderson (Mason). |
That’s particularly important for Mason District, which needs more resources to address pockets of poverty than more affluent areas.
Yet four of the Republican-endorsed candidates running for the school board denounced One Fairfax at a forum hosted by the Camelot Civic Association Sept. 17.
Andrea Bayer, the GOP-endorsed school board candidate for the Providence District, said she opposes One Fairfax because it is “ambiguous and authoritarian.”
At-large school board candidate Vincent Palathingal, also endorsed by the Republicans, called One Fairfax “disastrous for education.”
GOP-endorsed candidate Cheryl Buford, running for an at-large seat on the school board, blamed One Fairfax for encouraging school boundary changes and busing. That’s a big issue for Republicans who have unfounded fears that the school board will bus poor non-white children to schools in affluent areas.
Actually, as some of the Democratic candidates point out, One Fairfax is a declaration that all residents deserve an equitable opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race, color, sex, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or where they live.
One Fairfax was approved unanimously by the school board, noted Abrar Omeish, an at-large candidate endorsed by the Democrats. She said it’s important to make sure kids are challenged and have access to resources no matter where they live.
Palathingal also spoke against giving students free sanitary napkins, calling it “offensive” to suggest “immigrant children don’t know how to care for themselves.” Pricsilla DeStefano, the third GOP-endorsed at-large school board candidate, criticized schools for introducing too much technology, which makes it harder for parents to help their children.
Tom Pafford, who’s running for the Mason District on the school board, spoke about the sole issue he’s focused on: the need for schools to ban boys from girls’ bathrooms and ban girls from boys’ bathrooms.
Pafford, who is so extreme the Fairfax County Republican Committee refused to endorse him, continues to insist that being transgender is purely a mental condition and that, despite scientific evidence to the contrary, biological sex and gender identity are not separate things.
Pafford’s opponent, Ricardy Anderson, a former teacher, principal, and school district administrator endorsed by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, said schools with more needs need more support. “This is what One Fairfax does for kids here in Mason District,” she said. “My focus is to ensure all students have an opportunity to thrive and excel.”
As an immigrant herself, Anderson said she understands what immigrant parents are struggling with. She wants to improve access to all parents and supports needs-based staffing to “ensure schools are right-sized and balanced.”
At-large candidate Rachna Sizemore Heizer, also endorsed by the Democratic committee, said she became an advocate for special-needs students after struggling to ensure equal treatment for an autistic child. She said the school system should focus on students’ strengths – “what they can do, not what they can’t do.”
Karl Frisch, the Democratic-endorsed school board candidate for the Providence District, said too many teachers are leaving Fairfax County for other areas that pay more. “We have to do more to retain teachers, and it’s not just about pay, it’s about the respect we give them or deny them,” he said. “Teachers are the single best investment we can make in our schools.”
Frisch said the Providence and Mason school board members need to work together, especially on issues like the upcoming renovation of Falls Church High School.
Gary Aiken, the Republican candidate running against Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, spoke in favor of boundary changes – for voting precincts. He called it odd that one side of King Arthur Road is in one precinct and the other side is in another.
Aiken also said that a neighborhood affected by a redevelopment proposal, such as the Inova Center for Personalized Health, should be required to have representation on a citizen task force, even if the project is in a neighboring district.
Gross, who’s represented Mason District on the Board of Supervisors since 1996, said she is the only candidate with the experience and knowledge to do an effective job. “We’re making a lot of progress,” she said, citing her work on transportation, sidewalks and trails, education, the economy, the environment, water quality, the tree canopy, and safety.
Gross also spoke on behalf of Lee Supervisor Jeff McKay, who’s running for chairman of the board. She said “Jeff is smart; he is solid, he has the strength of his convictions, and he has experience.”
Joe Galdo, the Republican running against McKay, spoke about the burden of high taxes, while also saying he wants to address traffic and overcrowded schools.
Del. Vivian Watts (D), who is running for re-election in the 39th District, said her driving motivation in Richmond is to “get things done,” no matter who gets the credit. She spoke about the need to fix traffic congestion by providing more transportation options.