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

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

Parent, teacher advocacy groups form coalition to push for more FCPS accountability

Leaders of parent advocacy groups, teacher organizations, and community groups announced the formation of the Fairfax Education Coalition (FEC) Jan. 20 “to advocate for improved accountability, transparency, and community participation in the Fairfax County Public Schools’ decision-making process.” Coalition members include representatives from the Fairfax Coalition of Advocates for Public Schools (FairfaxCAPS), the Fairfax County … Continued

Sandy Evans: ‘I will not be a rubber stamp’

School board candidate Sandy Evans (center) told voters Jan. 16, “I will not be a rubber stamp” for Fairfax County Superintendent Jack Dale. Noting that the Fairfax County Public Schools budget is in “terrible shape,” Evans vowed to protect class and look for more efficient ways of doing things so any funding cuts that need … Continued

Proposed budget cuts would decimate Fairfax County Public Schools

Faced with a “dismal” budget picture, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Dale is calling for gut-wrenching cuts in key programs, a one-student increase in class sizes, and new fees for participating in sports and taking advanced tests. Dale announced his budget proposals at the Jan. 7 school board meeting. The proposed $2.3 billion budget … Continued

Applications accepted for FCPS immersion programs

Online registration for Fairfax County Public Schools’ two-way and partial immersion elementary school foreign language programs opened Jan. 5. Current kindergarten students may apply for the partial-immersion world language program for the 2010-11 school year, which is offered at 12 elementary schools, including Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences in Bailey’s Crossroads. Students … Continued

Samantha Rucker running for school board

The Fairfax County Republican Committee has endorsed former Virginia Assistant Attorney General Samantha Vanterpool Rucker as a candidate for the Mason seat on the Fairfax County school board. Rucker has been a substitute teacher and instructional assistant at Weyanoke Elementary School in Annandale, a Head Start volunteer, a member of the FCPS Minority Student Achievement … Continued

More details emerge on new Lacey school

Fairfax County school officials offered new details of the elementary school to be built on the Lacey site at a Dec. 12 meeting sponsored by the Broyhill Crest Community Association. The Lacey school administration building will be torn down, and construction of the new school is expected to be completed in February 2012, which will … Continued

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 … Continued

Herb Smith runs for school board

Former special education teacher and political activist Herb Smith has announced his candidacy for the Mason District seat on the Fairfax County school board held by Kaye Kory, who was recently elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. It has not yet been determined when that special election will occur. Smith was a field organizer with … Continued

Major cuts in school funding considered

Brace yourselves for some major cuts in basic school services. The Fairfax County Public Schools budget has a revenue shortfall requiring cuts totaling $162 million and the elimination of more than 1,700 positions. The problem stems from an enrollment increase of more than 7,000 students, a decline in state revenue for the school district, and … Continued

The Lacey School: It’s really happening

If you’re curious about what the new elementary school in the Broyhill Crest neighborhood will look like, see the photo of the brand-new Laurel Hill school in Lorton. The new Annandale school on the Lacey site, scheduled to open for the start of the 2012 school year, will have a similar design as the Laurel … Continued