Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

School board candidate focuses solely on denying rights to transgender students

Tom Pafford Tom Pafford, a candidate to represent Mason District on the Fairfax County School Board, is laser-focused on one issue: He wants the school board to back away from promoting pro-transgender policies, such as allowing students to use the bathroom according to their gender identity. At a recent meeting with the Annandale blogger, Pafford … Continued

School board candidates discuss school boundary policy

School board candidates Karen Keys-Gamarra and Ricardy Anderson speak to Mason District residents. Mason District School Board candidate Ricardy Anderson and at-large school board candidate Karen Keys-Gamarra, who’s running for re-election, charge that critics of the board’s plan to re-examine its policy on school boundary changes are misguided and misinformed. Anderson and Keys-Gamarra discussed the issue … Continued

School calendar adopted for 2020-21

The Fairfax County School Board has adopted a calendar for the 2020-21 school year, Fairfax County Public Schools reports. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, Aug. 25. The last day is Friday, June 11. Here are the highlights: There will be a three-day break for Thanksgiving – Nov. 25-27.  Winter break … Continued

Boundary adjustment process starts for Glen Forest

Glen Forest Elmentary School. Parents of children at Glen Forest Elementary School and community members are invited to a meeting to discuss a boundary adjustment that could possibly move some students to Bailey’s Primary, Bailey’s Upper, and Parklawn elementary schools. The meeting is June 10, 7 p.m., in the school cafeteria, 5829 Glen Forest Drive, Bailey’s … Continued

Two Republicans in the running for Mason District school board member

Pafford’s campaign message. The Mason District Republican Committee will select at its May 11 meeting a candidate to endorse for the Mason District position on the Fairfax County School Board. Two people are vying for the endorsement: Linda Pelligrino (already reported on here) and Tom Pafford. The candidate endorsed by the Fairfax County Republican Committee … Continued

Pelligrino enters Mason school board race

Pelligrino Bailey’s Crossroads resident Linda Pelligrino plans to run as a Republican for the Mason District seat on the Fairfax County School Board Pelligrino would face Democratic candidate Ricardy Anderson on the November ballot. It’s Pelligrino’s preference to run as an independent, but she is seeking endorsement from the Fairfax County Republican Committee because, “without … Continued

School board candidate Jessica Swanson focuses on equity, early childhood education

Jessica Swanson (left) speaks at a candidate forum hosted by the Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners Revitalization Corporation March 18. Jessica Swanson, who is seeking the Democratic endorsement for the Mason seat on the Fairfax County School Board, says her top priorities are early childhood education, supporting teachers, and ensuring schools with the neediest students get extra … Continued

Gross, Aiken clash on redevelopment issues at candidate forum

From the left: Del. Kaye Kory, Sen. Dick Saslaw, Gary Aiken, Jessica Swanson, Supervisor Penny Gross, Andres Jimenez, and Ricardy Anderson. Mason Supervisor Penny Gross and her Republican challenger, Gary Aiken, clashed over how to revitalize aging commercial centers, the East County Office Building, and Bailey’s Upper Elementary School at a candidate forum March 18 … Continued

Large number of candidates running for local offices

This group is mostly Democratic elected officials in Northern Virginia. Democratic politicians and candidates turned in force for Rep. Gerry Connolly’s St. Patrick’s Day Fete March 15. Rep. Gerry Connolly Connolly calls the annual event, held for the first time at the Ernst Center on the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College, “the holiest … Continued