New Chair Assignments Questioned
<bt>The Republican-endorsed members of the Fairfax County School Board opposed the selection of the new committee chairs Thursday, July 11, saying the most important committees — Finance and Budget, Facilities and Instruction — have gone to Democratically endorsed members since 1997. The Finance and Budget Committee, for example, said Republican-endorsed Christian Braunlich (Lee) has been led by only two members during that time period — current board chair Stuart Gibson (Hunter Mill) and Jane Strauss (Dranesville). Democrats make up the majority on the nonpartisan-elected board by an 8-4 margin.
By a 7-4 vote, with Braunlich, Mychele Brickner (At large), Rita Thompson (At large) and Tessie Wilson (Braddock) opposed and At-large member Robert Frye abstaining, the three top committees once again went to the majority.
Strauss will remain as the Finance and Budget chair. Ernestine Heastie (Providence) assumes the Facilities chairmanship, and Kathy Smith (Sully) takes over Instruction.
The other chairmanships include Brickner, Administrative and General Services; Isis Castro (Mount Vernon), Audit; Kaye Kory (Mason), Human Resources; Catherine Belter (Springfield), Legislation; Frye, Policy Review; Thompson, Strategic Planning and Evaluation; Wilson, Student Services; and Braunlich, Technology.
The committee chairmanships are nominated by the board chair and voted on by the board annually.
<sh>Boundary Discussions
<bt>Boundaries top the agenda of the Fairfax County School Board work session Thursday, July 18, beginning at 9 a.m., at the Burkholder Center, 10700 Page Ave., Fairfax.
The School Board will get a demonstration of the new automated system that allows residents to access school boundary information 24 hours a day.
In addition, the School Board will review the school system's boundary and program assignments policy.
After the facilities work session, the School Board will take a closer look at the FY ‘03 program budget for the facilities services, general services and financial services departments.
Work sessions are open to the public but are for information only. No public comment is accepted, and no official Board action will be taken.
<sh>Multilingual Survey Results Available
<bt>The results of a survey on alcohol and drug use among Fairfax County Public Schools students is available in print and online in four languages: English, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese.
"Everyone's Child" summarizes the findings of the Communities That Care Youth Survey given to nearly 12,000 middle- and high-school students in January and February 2001. Approximately 40 percent responded.
The survey includes information on the physical and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol; warning signs of children at risk for suicide; characteristics and effects of harassed students; reasons for and consequences of gang violence; and risk and protective factors for children at school, home and in the community. "Everyone's Child" also includes a list of resources to find help.
"Everyone's Child" is available on the school system's Web site at http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/DSSSE/SDFY/EveryonesChild.htm. The complete survey results are available at http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/comm/demogrph/pdf/YouthReport.PDF.
<sh>Schools Events Calendar
<bt>Thursday, July 18, 9 a.m.
Fairfax County School Board work session, facilities; finance and budget. Burkholder Center, 10700 Page Ave., Fairfax.
Saturday, July 20
Chantilly High School, Class of 1992, 10-year reunion, Waterford at Fair Oaks, Fairfax; Falls Church High School, Class of 1977, 25-year reunion, Hilton Garden Inn, Fairfax;
Madison High School, Class of 1987, 15-year reunion, Sheraton Premiere, Tysons Corner. For more information, call First-Class Reunions at 888-327-1984 or visit the Web at www.fcreunions.com.
Thursday, July 25, 7:30 p.m.
Fairfax County School Board regular meeting. Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Saturday, July 27
Oakton High School, Class of 1982, 20-year reunion. Sheraton Premiere, Tysons Corner. For more information, call First-Class Reunions at 888-327-1984 or visit the Web at www.fcreunions.com.
Saturday, Aug. 3
Annandale High School, Class of 1982, 20-year reunion, Sheraton Premiere, Tysons Corner; Marshall High School, Class of 1972, 30-year reunion, Double Tree Hotel, Tysons Corner. For more information, call First-Class Reunions at 888-327-1984 or visit the Web at www.fcreunions.com.