My Record as Your Catoctin District School Board Member

Four years ago I promised to commit the time and energy necessary to meet the most critical challenge facing Loudoun County Public Schools – which is continuing improvement in cost-effective high quality public education in the face of explosive growth in the school-age population. I have fulfilled this commitment to serve the students, families and citizen-taxpayers of the Catoctin District by supporting:

Respectful Consideration and Fair Evaluation of all Points of View - I have a record of respectfully considering and fairly evaluating all points of view before making decisions that are consistent with my core principles and are in the best interest of all of the students, families and citizens of the Catoctin District and all of Loudoun County.

Credibility in Working with Other Community Leaders - I have a record of credibility in working cooperatively with other School Board members, members of the Board of Supervisors, and other county and town officials to achieve constructive consensus.

Maximum Choices for Individual Students and Their Families - I have a record of moving the School Board to adopt the Rising Junior and Trailing Sibling Policies that facilitate continuity of school assignment for individual students who are in high school when boundaries change.

Effective and Prudent Use of Taxpayer Money - I have a record of cost-effective and prudent use of taxpayer money in providing superior educational instruction and facilities. I have consistently voted for school budgets that are frugal, while still meeting the needs of the rapidly growing Loudoun County school-age population - nearly 3,000 new students annually – and implement measured incremental improvements to curriculum and instruction.

Improvement in the School Budget Process – I have a record of supporting the LCPS application to participate in the state school budget audit process, and favor the ability of the School Board to conduct a limited 60-day update of its budget proposal to the Board of Supervisors in order to account for changes in enrollment projections and certain estimated insurance costs.

Competitive Hiring Policies - I have a record of consistently supporting competitive hiring policies and salaries that attract and retain the most highly qualified teachers and administrators – 99.7% throughout LCPS - and have also supported the improvement of wages and benefits for other employees.

School Choice - I have a record of supporting school choice for students and their families, as well as cooperation between LCPS and the private and home school communities.

The Heritage and Traditions of Catoctin Schools – I have a record of supporting the heritage and tradition of Catoctin Schools by maintaining and renovating existing schools while building new ones to meet growth within the District. Specifically this includes the preservation of existing smaller elementary schools, and the renovations of Loudoun County HS and J. Lupton Simpson and Blue Ridge Middle Schools.

The Construction of Woodgrove High School at Fields Farm - I have a record of supporting the construction of the next western Loudoun high school – Woodgrove HS – at the Fields Farm site as soon as possible, and have consistently urged constructive cooperation among the School Board, Board of Supervisors and the elected leaders of Purcellville to realize this badly needed and long overdue objective.

The Construction of a Third Western Loudoun High School – I have a record of supporting a third western Loudoun high school and middle school north of Route 9 near Lovettsville, and have actively worked to facilitate a discussion of the views of all of the citizens in that region of the county in the order to determine the optimal site for the schools.

The Expansion of the Monroe Advanced Technology Academy – I have a record of supporting the expansion of the Monroe Advanced Technology Academy to provide more courses and additional student capacity to meet the growing need for technically trained people in the Twenty-first Century workforce.

Improvement of Special Education and Pupil Services -I have a record of supporting improvement in Loudon’s Special Education and Pupil Services to meet the needs of the most challenged students.

The Development of a Fine Arts Academy Program – I have a record of supporting the development of a Fine arts Academy Program in conjunction with the next Leesburg area high school to be sited north of Ida Lee Park.

Discipline in Loudoun County Public Schools – I have served on the School Board Discipline Committee for the past four years, where I have upheld the rules of the school system that provide for a safe learning environment, while also showing concern for the long-term best interests for students who have been disciplined for violations of those rules.

Safety in Loudoun County Public Schools - I have a record of voting to improve safety in Loudoun County Public Schools by adding additional security measures.

Character Development and Increased Civility and Modesty – I have a record of supporting character development in Loudoun County Public Schools that promotes intellectual growth, individual initiative, mutual respect, personal responsibility, patriotism and ethical development necessary to be productive citizens, and urge an increased emphasis on civility and modesty in our schools.