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

Three Mason District schools to receive additional resources

A new Fairfax County Public Schools program will target additional funds to about 30 underperforming elementary and middle schools to help them raise student achievement over the next three years. Schools in the Mason District expected to part of the Priority Schools program are Beech Tree Elementary School and Poe and Glasgow middle schools. Each … Continued

Firefighters might hold training exercise at Lacey Center

If you see a bunch of firefighters and police officers swarming all over the Lacey Center this summer, don’t freak out; it’s probably just a training exercise. Before the Lacey Center is demolished—in preparation for building a new elementary school on that site—the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy might want to use the building … Continued

Mason District elects Evans to FCPS school board

Mason District voters elected Sandy Evans to the Fairfax County school board March 2. Evans received 2,633 votes, while her opponent, Samantha Rucker received 2,069. While FCPS school board elections are considered non-partisan, Evans was endorsed by the Democratic Party, and Rucker was endorsed by the Republicans. Turnout was light, as this was the only … Continued

FCPS Superintendent drops proposal for longer school days

Fairfax County Superintendent Jack Dale recommends that FCPS stick with its original calendar, which calls for April 12 and June 23, 24, and 25 to be used as make-up days for the school days lost to the heavy snowfall earlier this month. Dale had earlier proposed two other options that called for the school day … Continued

FCPS weighs plans for making up snow days

If you have a children in Fairfax County Public Schools, how do you think the school system should make up the four school days lost due to snow? It’s already been determined that a teacher workday on April 12 would become a full day of school for all students, and schools using a modified calendar … Continued

School board candidates outline priorities

The dismal state of the school budget is dominating the race for the Mason District seat on the Fairfax County school board. At a forum sponsored by the Broyhill Crest Community Association in Annandale Tuesday evening, candidates Samantha Rucker and Sandy Evans agreed that funding cuts should target the central administrative staff, not the classroom. … Continued

FCPS schools expected to reopen Tuesday

With Fairfax County public schools closed again on Monday, Beech Tree Elementary School and Poe Middle School are calling upon community volunteers to help clear snow off the sidewalks around the school and bus stops. Other schools in the Annandale area have the same needs. So if you’re not tired of shoveling—or even if you … Continued

School board votes to restore some funding cuts

The Fairfax County school board has voted Feb. 4 to adopt an “advertised budget” of $2.3 billion for fiscal year 2011 that restores some of the programs proposed for elimination by Superintendent Jack Dale. The advertised budget would maintain class size at current levels; restore the elementary school foreign language program; save indoor track and … Continued

Del. Kory to hold Town Hall Saturday morning

Annandale residents are encouraged to come to the first Town Hall meeting sponsored by our representative in the state House of Delegates, Kaye Kory. The meeting will be Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Belvedere Elementary School on Columbia Pike. The session features special guest, Dick Saslaw, the majority Leader in the state Senate. … Continued

Attend the school board candidates forum Feb. 3

The first candidates forum for the Mason District seat on the Fairfax County School Board will be Wednesday, Feb. 3, 6:45-8 p.m. at Bren Mar Park Elementary School, 6344 Beryl Road in Alexandria. A special election for the school board will be held March 2. The candidates are Sandy Evans, a longtime school advocate, and … Continued