Democrats endorse Evans for school board

The Mason District Committee of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee endorsed Sandy Evans for the Mason seat on the Fairfax County school board Dec. 7. Evans is a longtime school volunteer and activist who has been a leader on several school system and parent advocacy organizations.

Herb Smith, a special education teacher, who was also vying for the Democratic party endorsement, withdrew his candidacy. Both candidates had previously agreed that whomever was not endorsed would drop out. Many of the Mason District Committee members thought both Evans and Smith would make effective school board members but that Evans had more experience and was more likely to beat the Republican candidate.

The Republicans haven’t officially nominated a candidate yet, but are expected to name Samantha Rucker, the former Mason District chair of the Fairfax County Republican Committee. A committee spokesperson says an official announcement has been put off until the current school board member, Kaye Kory, resigns. Kory was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in November and doesn’t have to resign from the school board until immediately before the swearing-in ceremony Jan. 16. A date for the school board election hasn’t been set yet.

Kory is among a long list of local leaders who have endorsed Evans, along with Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross; school board members Tina Hone, Dan Storck, Illryong Moon, and Brad Center; Fairfax County Federation of Teachers President Mark Glaser; and FAIRGRADE President Megan McLaughlin.

With the Fairfax County Public Schools facing a budget crisis, Evans told the Mason District Democrats that her top priority will be to “protect the needs-based funding formula” that provides additional resources to schools, including many in the Mason District, that have large proportions of lower-income students and English language learners. Evans also vowed to avoid budget cuts to the classroom, and instead look for ways to trim administration costs.