Over the course of the last several months, I have had the opportunity to meet with hundreds of Springfield District residents. In political terms, it's called campaigning. For my 5 and 6-year-old boys, it was a chance to chase your cats (I'm sorry again) and to ask you for bugs for their collection (Thank you, we still have them all.) For their daddy, it was an invaluable opportunity to talk with parents, grandparents, past and present teachers, retirees and new arrivals to our community. It was wonderful to listen and learn, and to share my own ideas for improving the school system for your children and mine.
We are all very protective of our schools — they are the focus of our communities and social activities, they define many of our neighborhoods. Of greatest importance of all, these neighborhood schools and the teachers inside are our most important partners in the task of preparing our children for future success. This is why there are so many parents who spend countless hours volunteering in their schools, so many parents serving as leaders and activists for community groups focused on issues that directly effect the education of their children.
Over the next several years, projections indicate that our student population will continue to increase, placing further stress on a school system already experiencing growing pains, a school system already consuming more than half of the entire county budget. We've all seen our tax bills increased 53 percent over four years; but, we have not seen that money in our classrooms. Many parents have already had to defend programs that were slated for elimination for budgetary reasons. How will we face the challenge of educating so many new minds? How will we keep our neighborhood schools strong?
It is time to consider reform. I have put forth two specific proposals for ensuring accountability and eliminating waste: hiring a full-time inspector general who will report to the Board of Supervisors, and implementing a central accounting and inventory system for the school system. I have also put forth specific plans that would generate significant savings that could be redirected into our children's classrooms: merging the school system's Departments of General Services, Facilities Services, part of the Departments of HR and Information Technology with the county, and licensing and selling software already developed by the Fairfax County Public School system.
These ideas have resonated well with you during our discussions. Now, as we approach Tuesday, Nov. 4, I hope that you will elect me your Springfield District School Board representative and help me implement genuine reforms that will benefit our children. As a professor at George Mason University, I teach many of the graduates of our neighborhood schools. I know the value of an excellent k-12 education, and I know where we are strong and where we need to be stronger. After next Tuesday, I hope we will be able to continue our discussions and follow them with action!
Dr. Scott M. Martin
School Board Candidate
Springfield District