SCHOOL BOARD TAPS WILSON AS CHAIR
Last week, school board members unanimously elected Frank Wilson to serve as chairman for the third time in his 19-year school board career. Libby Garvey will take over as vice chair for the next year.
Board member Dave Foster cast a dissenting vote, though, saying partisan politics had influenced Garvey’s nomination. In a statement to the board, Foster explained his objection. “I am not voting against Ms. Garvey,” he said. “Rather, I am voting against partisan school boards—in particular, against partisanship in school board leadership decisions.”
Foster, who is seeking reelection in November after serving one four-year term, has asked the last two years to be considered for vice chair.
“For the second straight year, however, my colleagues have made clear that I will not be considered for vice chairman,” said Foster. “There is a single reason, which is obvious to all: My campaigns for school board are not endorsed by the Democratic Party.”
On the all-Democrat County Board, for the last four years members have chosen the member seeking reelection to serve as chair, which some opposing candidates say gives an edge on election day.
But over the last three years, only one school board member has served as chair in a year when they were up for re-election. Mary Hynes, who was reelected in the November 2002 election, served as board chair from July 2001 through June 2002. Wilson and Garvey will serve through the end of next June, and both their seats will be up for election in November 2004.
Garvey denied that partisanship had anything to do with board decisions, and suggested that Foster himself raised the issue as a political tool. “Dave has a campaign to run,” said Garvey. “He chose to see this as something that was partisan.”
School board members are all elected as independents, but candidates can seek party endorsement. “I refuse to seek either party’s endorsement,” said Foster. “there is no Democratic or Republican way to educate our children. I will not change that principal to become vice chairman.”
Foster referred the Alexandria City’s school board as a model for school leadership. There, political parties stay completely out of school board races, and do not give endorsements.
“It’s helpful,” said Mark Eaton, who currently serves as chair of the Alexandria school board. “The goals of the school system generally transcend party labels,” said Eaton. “If the goal is student achievement, it seems to me there’s not a Republican or Democratic position there.”
Garvey says Arlington school board members don’t play party politics either. Garvey said Foster’s campaign could have taken time away from his ability to fulfill the responsibilities of vice chairman. “I think it’s more of a work thing rather than a partisan thing,” she said. “It’s not saying anything about Dave’s capabilities.”
But others have served as chair and vice chair during reelection campaigns.
Foster added that board members do not base education decisions on party politics. “Let us hope that with time, that nonpartisan approach will come to typify our leadership decisions,” said Foster. “Let us hope that one day, we will decide our chairman and vice chairman by the single touchstone that guides all of our other decisions—the welfare of our schools.”
COUNTY LIMITS STREET PARKING
Late last month, the County Board passed an ordinance restricting where some large vehicles can be parked in the county.
At their June 28 meeting, Board members approved the ordinance, which applies to commercial vehicles, motor homes, camping trailers, vehicles carrying hazardous materials, boats and boat trailers. Under the new limits, such vehicles cannot be parked in spaces on county streets running through residential neighborhoods.
The Board action came as a response to complaints from residents, who said that such vehicles took up more space than cars, put nearby residents at risk and blocked access to homes, especially when the vehicles were parked on streets because nearby apartment complexes did not provide parking.
Boats and boat trailers may still be parked on private property or in garages. Detailed information will be available online at www.co.arlington.va.us.
The Board also prohibited garbage trucks from parking on county streets.