It has been a privilege and honor representing the Mount Vernon District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors these past 12 months. We have achieved much together, but also have a great deal more to do. To start, please join us this Saturday for the 30th Annual Town Meeting at Mount Vernon High School, so you can see for yourself what has been accomplished in 2016, our challenges and plans for 2017, and new this year, take a “Virtual Flying Tour” of the Mount Vernon District.
One of my highest 2016 priorities was to end the decade-long reduction in per student school funding which is essential for keeping the best teachers and schools, protecting our high quality national reputation, and the higher property valuations they help create. The increased school funding I fought for and won is essential to our community’s students. With our larger needy population, additional resources provide lower student-teacher ratios and advanced classes and specialized support, which leads to greater learning and opportunities for all our students. Other important 2016 accomplishments include:
Building a responsive, diverse Mount Vernon District Team with Saturday and evening office hours, weekly electronic updates, reminders and newsletters, Facebook interactions and increased outreach
Initiating District County Boards, Authorities and Commissions appointee standards and annual meeting
Increasing Police communications, transparency and civilian review
Initiating spot improvements for district roads and trails
Actively engaging thousands of residents with responses within two business days
Hosting nearly a dozen Mount Vernon District events, most of them new.
Some projects to highlight for 2016 include the reopening of the Original Mount Vernon High School (OMVHS) Teen Gymnasium, the Lorton VRE Park-and-Ride Expansion Project, and continued progress on the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Embark projects. A personal highlight was the inaugural Tour de' Mount Vernon. Thanks to everyone who joined me on Dec. 31 for a 50 mile round-trip bike ride along the GWP trail to Mount Vernon Estate and ultimately ending at the Workhouse Arts Center.
Looking ahead to our 2017 Goals, we are working hard to make sure that we accomplish:
Increasing connections between you, your community and your local government
Balancing a low-growth FY2018 Budget
Public safety changes implemented and net new police officers hired
Land use improvements continuing with major housing, highways and trail projects
Increasing Health, Human and other County Services availability at area government centers in the district
An environment that is more protected with less airplane noise
Hospitality & Tourism initiatives that increase awareness of our scenic beauty, history and livability.
Please visit www.FairfaxCounty.gov/MountVernon to learn more about your community and tune into our upcoming Ides of Bark for dog lovers, Walk MVD for nature enthusiasts, Taste of Mount Vernon for foodies, Music Nights for music enthusiasts and more later this year. And #ConnectMVD while you’re enjoying these events. And, most importantly, this Saturday:
Please join me for the 30th Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Mount Vernon High School. The exhibitor-filled cafeteria opens at 7:45 a.m., followed with a 9:30 a.m. program with many of our national, state and local elected officials. Speakers include Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova, County Executive Ed Long, Mount Vernon District School Board Member Karen Corbett-Sanders, and Colonel Angela Holbrook, Garrison Commander, Fort Belvoir. There will be plenty of Q and A time as well. Looking forward to seeing you in person or you can also live stream the program.
It is an honor to represent you. Please contact me anytime at 703.780.7518 or MtVernon@fairfaxcounty.gov.