On the second day, God made the firmament. Some anti-tax critics argued that parents wanted that, plus the moon and the stars, during the second day of school budget hearings last week.
John Grigsby, Blue Ridge district resident, supported the new Republican majority on the Board of Supervisors, saying, "I really feel for you guys. The last two days you've heard the same dribble," describing the majority who spoke in favor of fully funding the proposed school budget.
"If you go to higher taxes," Grigsby added, the board would only prove that growth creates increased spending — when it doesn't have to.
For Margi Wallo, "It's never enough. I favor ending government involvement in education," citing teaching her son at home and spending only $200 a year.
Francis Kuhlman asked that the county develop ways to encourage parents to consider private schools and home schooling as a way to save tax money.
THE MAJORITY of those speaking at the March 4 public hearing however reaffirmed how county and school services add to residents' quality of life.
Doug Dillon, a teacher for nine years, the 2004 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award winner, father of two children attending Sterling Elementary School and a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves who served in Afghanistan and received the Bronze Star, asked supervisors to consider how the U.S. Army treated his unit: They gave the best equipment including body armor. Why? "In combat, you don't get a second chance. In the classroom, I don't have a second chance for my students to make them better citizens."
Randy Collins, president of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, representing "1,300 businesses and thousands of their employees," called school funding one of the chamber's highest priorities. An excellent school system attracts business which broadens the tax base, he said.
From a social services perspective, Mark Gunderman, vice chairman of the Good Shepherd Alliance, reminded the supervisors of the public schools' mandate to educate children of homeless parents, a growing problem in the county.
"Downstate in Richmond, they say we are an affluent and arrogant community. Let us also be recognized in Richmond as a loving and merciful community," he said.
Former Planning Commissioner Jane Kirchner asked the supervisors to focus on the "bloated bureaucracies," have staff get "better utilization" of proffers, and "pare down the economic development department."
David Weintraub, Catoctin district resident, questioned some of the anti-public school sentiment and reminded supervisors of the Virginia Constitution's requirement to provide the highest quality education for all children.
Ken Hovatter, whose family has been in Loudoun since 1950, said his property assessment is up 38 percent — "a $2,500 increase next year" — but then quoted the public schools' accomplishments: 97 percent graduation rate, SAT scores above state and national averages, and 94 percent of employees are school-based compared to Fairfax County's 90 percent. "Developers are using these statistics to sell houses.
"We're getting our money's worth. If this county were a business, we'd [invest] more into it."
THE DECISION to look into the costs, benefits and drawbacks of bigger school buildings drew concerns from parents, like Carla Passarello, Blue Ridge district resident, who feared that a currently successful learning environment would be sacrificed.
"Smaller schools are safer for our children," said Charlene Masse, whose children attend Potowmack Elementary and River Bend Middle School.
Tim Smith, Blue Ridge district resident, said, "Large schools have large problems," then cited U.S. Department of Education's statistics on school sizes and "the reverse trends of building large schools."
CUTS MADE by the School Board before presenting the school budget to the supervisors drew criticism as well.
Marie DuChateau, lead librarian at Park View High School, who started her career in Loudoun in 1968 at Loudoun Valley High School and worked at Park View since it opened in 1976, opposed the elimination of one of the three librarian positions at Park View. A 43 percent minority population at Park View — "the highest in the county" — along with the highest number of foreign-born and special education students underscores the greater demands on the school's library staff.
As a "proud Park View parent," Sherri Smith questioned how the School Board could cut a library position from a library "you just built. That's absurd."
Two Loudoun Valley High School students, Charlie Schneider and Sarce Anzengruber, warned that cuts could terminate the school's agricultural program.
OTHER COUNTY PROGRAMS attracted support as well.
Bob Andrus, chairman of the Rural Economic Development Council, asked for additional staff help to assist in the council's goals to increase Loudoun's rural economy.
Marlene and Tony Barney asked supervisors to support community cable programming which Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio had labeled as "vanity" programming. Marlene Barney described community access as "good quality, family-oriented programming."
Kristen Reed of South Riding asked that the Dulles South Recreation Center be placed on next November's referendum. "Give us a chance" to decide on the expenditure.
Amy Loudenback, Alyson Romanish, Russell Turner and Lance Gearing, representing Special Olympics, testified in favor of the county's adaptive recreation programs.
James Mahood thanked the supervisors for their support of adaptive programs, reminding them of the county's 84-person waiting list for group homes for those with mental retardation like his son who cannot live independently without support. "We live in fear that we'll die before he is placed."
Stephen Krisa, Blue Ridge district resident and CPA, reminded supervisors that the ratio of one law enforcement member per 1,000 residents is "not fantasy" or the board runs the risk of a Sheriff's department's coverage that's too thin.
He also recommended that the supervisors raise the tax rate an extra amount to provide broader tax relief for the elderly and disabled.