School Board Candidates Clash at Election Forum

The debate between the school board candidates running to represent Dranesville was punctuated by sharp differences Monday night, on Superintendent Jack Dale's replacement, Fairgrade and discipline issues.

Fairfax County's school board races have been among the most spirited because control of the 12-member board is up for grabs. The school board spends $2.2 billion in county funds and consists of members representing each of the county's nine districts and three at-large members. Six incumbents decided not to seek re-election.

The race is ostensibly nonpartisan but each party backs candidates. The Democrats endorsed Jane Strauss, who has served for the board for 18 years. The Republicans endorsed Louise Epstein, a parent advocate and former president of the Thomas Jefferson PTSA.

At some points, Epstein made clear she didn’t think Strauss was telling the truth.

What should the board look for in a new superintendent to replace Dr. Jack Dale, who announced his retirement last week?

Epstein: "We need to look for a different kind of superintendent.  We need a superintendent that is more responsive to parents and teachers. (Someone) who doesn’t have the same top-down style."

Strauss: "We go out to the community ... and we look for someone who is the right match for the right time." The superintendent "must be able to work from the bottom up and to work as a team," she said. "Schools work better as a team."

Epstein. "If you liked the last two superintendents you might want to vote for my opponent. If you want a change vote for me."

The impact of Fairgrade, the organization of parents who worked successfully in 2008-09 to change the grading system in Fairfax County schools.

Epstein: One of the Fairgrade founders, she said when the group first approached Strauss about changing the grading system, Strauss told them to drop it.

Strauss: When she met with parents from Fairgrade they presented detailed research about the impact of the county's grading system. She was intrigued by the research and asked her school board colleagues to listen to their proposals.

Strauss said the issue had come up before and this time she asked her school board to really listen. "I spoke passionately about this," she said. "I got seven votes (to approve the change) ... working and encouraging people to listen takes time."

Epstein: Two other board members actually helped Fairgrade, Kaye Kory (now a state delegate) and Brad Center, of the Lee District. Epstein added that the members called to tell her they were ready to introduce a motion to change the grading system, but Strauss insisted that she wanted it to be her motion.

Strauss: It was her motion from the beginning.

Center in a Letter to the Editor  late Wednesday said, "One of the candidates in the debate (Louise Epstein) made some statements that were, at the very least, inaccurate and could very well be considered a distortion of the events surrounding the vote on the grading policy. 

Ms. Epstein basically indicated that I told her that School Board members Janie Strauss and Ilryong Moon would only vote for that change if “I would let them make the motion”.  I never said that.  Let’s get that distortion out of the way upfront. 

"I did have a couple of conversations with Louise on this topic (as a Fairgrade representative) and was happy to do so.  I also talked with other Board Members on this topic and was glad to help further the discussions on this topic but I did not make the statement attributed to me and I have no idea why Louise said that," said Center in a letter to the editor published in McLean and Vienna Patch.

Parental notification of disciplinary issues involving their children.

Strauss: As soon school officials get some idea of who is involved in an incident, principals just call the parents and alert them. She said she would much rather have parents called early. "I think it’s an early call as soon it's clear who to call," she said.

Epstein: She said Strauss voted against this when the school's controversial disciplinary policies came before the board in May. She added that it's up principals to decide when to notify parents.

Strauss: The new policy calls for a principal to call parents as soon as they know of a child's possibly involvement.

The McLean Citizens Association and the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce brought together the candidates before an audience of nearly 200. The election is Nov. 8.

Please see story about the debate between the Dranesville Supervisor Candidates.

A forum for candidates vying for the state Senate and the House of Delegates: 7 pm, October 12, Langley High School.