Schools
Mount Vernon Dems Endorse Storck For School Board
After voting to support the incumbent for the Mount Vernon seat, the MVDDC heard from at-large hopefuls vying for endorsement.
Five hopefuls for a Fairfax County School Board at-large seat got the chance to speak in front of a group of Mount Vernon Democrats on Tuesday night.
Candidates Maria Allen, Greg Brandon, Ryan McElveen, Ted Velkoff, and Charisse Espy Glassman were given the floor at Tuesday night’s Mount Vernon District Democratic Committee meeting. Incumbent at-large school board member Illyong Moon was at a school board budget meeting and was unable to attend.
Just before the at-large hopefuls started their short speeches, members of the MVDDC unanimously voted to recommend that the Fairfax County Democratic Committee endorse incumbent and current School Board representative Dan Storck, who represents Mount Vernon.
Find out what's happening in Mount Vernonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The at-large hopefuls all detailed their qualifications for the school board position and also discussed a few issues within the Fairfax County school system that worry them. Velkoff expressed concern over teacher salaries and district wide literacy. McElveen dismayed the lack of full-day kindergarten in some schools and wants to abolish athletic fees. Espy Glassman discussed lowering class size and improving discipline. Brandon wants to preserve preschool programs for at-risk students and improve the course catalog for juniors and seniors. Allen is concerned about the level of instruction in schools and school board members rubberstamping decisions made by district staff members.
The Democratic endorsements for the at-large seat will be voted on at a Fairfax County Democratic Committee meeting at 7:30 pm Tuesday, May 24 at Falls Church High School.
Find out what's happening in Mount Vernonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Karen Stallings with MVDDC says the group takes school board elections very seriously.
“This is setting the tone for future generations,” Stallings said. “It’s making sure our schools get their rightful amount of budget money.”
The MVDDC’s mission is to elect Democrats, but it’s also designed to get people involved in the democratic process.
“It gives our local citizens a voice, the ability to be involved, get information firsthand and have a say,” Stallings said. “It’s important for people to get information upfront.”
Fairfax County school board elections are slated for November 8, 2011.
