Waterford PTO Catoctin School Board Candidate Forum - October 24, 2007
Responses by Mark J. Nuzzaco, Loudoun County School Board, Catoctin District - October 24, 2007
1. How do you see the delay in the construction of Culbert Elementary in Hamilton impacting Waterford and Lovettsville Elementary School boundaries?
Answer: I do not foresee any changes to any LVHS cluster elementary boundaries until the boundaries for KCEL are drawn in the fall of 2008 for a fall 2009 opening. If grade level maximums are reached in any of the elementary schools during that time period students will be overflowed to schools with capacity to receive them.
2. With the delay in the construction of Culbert Elementary, which could lead to higher construction costs, and the softening of the real estate market, do you favor building a school smaller than the prototypical 875 students and why?
Answer: I do not favor building KCEL smaller than the currently planned 875 seats for the following reasons:
1) The LCPS building department does not foresee a problem building the school with the currently budgeted and approved funds notwithstanding the one year delay;
2) Enrollment projections continue to show an increasing need for more elementary seats in western Loudoun County in the future;
3) Reducing the number of seats at KCEL would require another round of legislative approvals causing a further delay in the opening of the school; and
4) Reducing the number of seats at KCEL would require that those lost seats be made up in other schools that would be needed sooner than would otherwise be the case.
Additionally, I am on record as being firmly committed to maintaining all of the existing schools of western Loudoun regardless of their size, as long as that is the desire of the communities that they serve. While it can be argued that these smaller schools cost more per student to operate than the new larger schools, I look at them as a very important part of the heritage of the communities they serve and worth preserving for that reason.
However, going forward, I support the use of the prototype sizes and designs of the current generation of elementary, middle and high schools throughout the county, because repeated use of these designs maximizes the number of seats per site in a market where land is expensive and hard to find, and yields building cost efficiencies that help keep costs down; however, I would oppose increasing the size of the current prototypes, which are 875 elementary, 1350 middle school, and 1800 high school.
Additionally, I would also consider the possibility of some modifications to these current designs that might be needed to accommodate special requirements of a particular school. For example, I supported Woodgrove HS at 1,600 seats rather than the new larger 1,800 HS design that will be used elsewhere in the County. I would also consider a slightly smaller HS-10 north of Route 9, if that was needed based on the constraints of a yet to be determined site for the school. However, I would not favor reducing the size of HS-10 so much that it would not be in the same category (i.e., AA) as the other schools in LCPS.
3. The site for the second western Loudoun high school has yet to be decided. What is your plan “B” for the new high school?
Answer: The site for the second western Loudoun high school has been decided by the School Board and supported by the Board of Supervisors as Wooodgrove HS at the Fields Farm. I support this decision because I have always felt that the Fields Farm was the site at which the next western Loudoun high school could be built the soonest. And, in my view timeliness has been and continues to be the single most critical factor in bringing relief to all of the students of western Loudoun County, regardless of where they live. Earlier this year the School Board determined the boundaries for LVHS and WHS based on the Field Farm location. And on October 23, 2007 the School Board was notified that the County has approved the site plan for the school. Under normal circumstances this would be the point when the School Board would award a building contract and begin construction of the school, which if that were done now I believe could be completed for the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.
Regrettably, litigation with the Town of Purcellville may prevent the School Board from moving forward at this time with the construction of the school. While I respect the prerogatives of the elected leaders of Purcellville, I believe that it is exceedingly unfortunate they are unwilling to work with the School Board and Board of Supervisors to develop what I believe would be a true partnership for the immediate benefit of all students and families in western Loudoun County.
Notwithstanding Purcellville’s position, which could still change, a decision from the Virginia Supreme Court is anticipated within the next 30 days, which will define the legally available options available to the School Board. I am optimistic that the Supreme Court’s decision will support the School Board and Board of Supervisorsposition and provide the basis for moving forward with Woodgrove HS at the Fields Farm. If this is not the case, then I do not think it is realistic to expect the opening of HS-3 at another site in less than four to five years. To state the obvious, this would be a very unfortunate situation.
Were we to reach the point of needing a “Plan B”, my position has been that LCPS should select a site north of Route 9 in the Lovettsville area for HS-3. The work already underway to determine a site for HS-10, which I am facilitating, would be very helpful in more rapidly advancing an alternate location for HS-3. But as already noted, I do not think this would come to fruition in less than four to five years.
4. As a follow-up question, what are your immediate interim measures to handle issues of overcrowding at Blue Ridge Middle School, Harmony Intermediate and Loudoun Valley as we wait for that school to come on line?
Answer: I refer you to Dr. Hatrick’s October 23, 2007 memo to the School Board on this subject, which was written in response to my request and that of my colleagues Mrs. Godfrey and Mr. Reed. I support the Superintendent’s analysis contained in the memo, which is available on the LCPS web site.
5. Where do you see the next elementary school and high school in the west?
Answer: As noted above, I support the next western high school (Woodgrove HS) at Fields Farm, with a Lovettsville area high school as HS-10. With the termination of the Grubb property contract as of October 23, 2007, LCPS must now look at other possible sites for the next western Loudoun elementary school.
6. What is your opinion of the Virginia Standards of Learning? Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), aka No Child Left Behind?
Answer: Being a product of the New York State Regents system where I earned a Regents Scholarship, I strongly support rigorous academic standards, and support the SOLs as a minimum standard, with the expectation that teachers will teach “beyond the test”, with the basic acknowledge of the SOLs as a foundation for a broader understanding of the subject area. I support the philosophy of No Child Left Behind and believe that it has had a beneficial impact in many cases. However, I also believe that the law needs to be amended in a number of ways to make its measurements of school performance more fair and meaningful. I fully support the School Board’s recently adopted recommendations for amendments to NCLB, and was an active participant in the development of those recommendations, which are are available on the LCPS web site.
7. As a school board member, what impact do you wish to make in Loudoun County Public Schools?
Answer: I believe that I have already made a positive impact on Loudoun County Public Schools, starting from before my School Board service when I was instrumental in moving the School Board to adopted the Rising Junior policy, which gives rising juniors the choice of remaining at their old high school or moving to the new high school when a new HS is opened. 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
* Credibility in Working with Other Community Leaders
* Maximum Choices for Individual Students and Their Families
* Effective and Prudent Use of Taxpayer Money
* Improvement in the School Budget Process
* Competitive Hiring Policies
* School Choice
* The Heritage and Traditions of Catoctin Schools
* The Construction of Woodgrove High School at Fields Farm
* The Construction of a Third Western Loudoun High School
* The Expansion of the Monroe Advanced Technology Academy
* Improvement of Special Education and Pupil Services
* The Development of a Fine Arts Academy Program
* Discipline in Loudoun County Public Schools
* Safety in Loudoun County Public Schools
* Character Development and Increased Civility and Modesty
If re-elected I will continue to uphold these values and principles I refer you to my web site at www.nuzzacolcps.org for more information.
Northern Virginia League of Women Voters Fall 2007 Voters’ Guide Survey
Responses by Loudoun County School Board Member Mark J. Nuzzaco
September 10, 2007
Respondents were limited to 300 words or less.
Question 1: What is the most critical issue facing our public schools today and how would you apply them in this County?
Answer to Question 1:The most critical issue facing Loudoun Public Schools today is continuing to provide excellent education during explosive growth in student population. To meet this challenge I have supported respectful cooperation between the School Board and the Board of Supervisors that creatively and frugally manages the school budget. I also support a state-assisted audit to find further efficiencies. In addition to sound academics, I support safety, discipline, character development, civility and modesty in public schools.
Question 2: What will be your budget priorities in meeting the ever increasing needs of our schools?
Answer to Question 2: As a School Board Member I have voted for budgets that keep pace with student population growth by adding physical facilities and maintaining smaller class sizes, provide competitive salaries and benefits for teachers, administrators and other employees, and incrementally enhance the curriculum in recognition of the differing needs of students and the global competition they face.
Question 3: What will you do to lessen the disruption of school boundary changes
Answer to Question 3:Boundary decisions are always difficult, and never without some disappointment. This often results from school site decisions that must balance financial considerations along with other community needs. County land use policies need to be streamlined to improve this process. Once sites are selected, boundary decisions weigh a number of factors including: enrollment projections; continuity for individual students, siblings and neighborhoods; safety considerations; transportation times and costs; and the effects of previous and potential future boundary changes. The weight given each of these factors will inevitably vary case by case. Community input is vital, but never without disagreement.
Question 4: What other issues would you like to discuss?
Answer to Question 4:The stewardship of public education is a special trust that I have taken very seriously and worked diligently to keep. I have respectfully considered and fairly evaluated all points of view in making decisions that provide the most benefit for the greatest number, while also preserving the interests of the individual student and family to the greatest extent possible. If re-elected, this will continue to be my philosophy.
Washington Post On-line Survey Responses
Responses by Loudoun County School Board Member Mark J. Nuzzaco
Question 1: What do you see as the most pressing issues facing the Loudoun County school system?
Answer to Question 1:
The most pressing issue facing Loudoun County Public Schools today is continuing to provide excellent cost-effective education during explosive growth in student population. This issue has several facets.
The first facet of this issue is the need to carefully and frugally manage the school division’s operating budget, which is a very substantial portion of the County’s overall budget each year. To meet this challenge I have supported respectful cooperation between the School Board and the Board of Supervisors, in an effort to balance the school budget with other county needs, so as not to overwhelm the county’s taxpayers. I also support a state-assisted audit to find further efficiencies in the school division’s budget.
I have voted for school budgets that: 1) keep pace with student population growth by adding teachers, counselors and other staff needed to maintain School Board target smaller class sizes and excellent instruction, 2) provide competitive salaries and benefits for teachers, administrators and other employees, and 3) incrementally enhance the curriculum in recognition of the differing needs of students and the increasingly global competition they face in the future. When faced with budget cuts during what has been an annual budget reconciliation process with the Board of Supervisors, I have tried to at least maintain the status quo, and looked to areas like new programs, delays in acquiring materials and/or implementing programs for needed reductions.
While Loudoun County receives some state funding to help pay for the annual LCPS operating budget, it is only a small fraction of the taxes paid by Loudoun taxpayers to the state. The amount of our own tax money returned to Loudoun is controlled by a complicated formula known as the Composite Index, which fails to adequately take into account the heavy burden on Loudoun taxpayers as the County goes through rapid growth. To address this inequity and to lessen the burden on Loudoun taxpayers, as Chairman of the School Board Legislative/Policy Committee I have lead the effort to propose revisions to the Composite Index by the state General Assembly.
The next facet of this problem is the unrelenting need to continue to build more schools to accommodate the thousands of new students who arrive in Loudoun County each and every year. The blueprint used to meet this need is the School Board’s Capital Improvement Program, which is a projection of county student population growth and the physical facilities needed to accommodate it. Like the school division’s operating budget, the school CIP is a major component of the County’s overall capital needs plan.
The School Board’s current CIP is close to a billion dollars, and will continue to grow in proportion to the student population. Keeping pace with this tremendous expansion of required services is a major logistical, financial, and political challenge.
Logistically, it demands the identification, acquisition and development of numerous sites for new schools. Financially, it strains the County’s taxpayer resources, and must be properly managed so as to both meet the needs of the growing population while at the same time preserve the County’s AAA bond rating that is a vital factor in obtaining the most cost-effective financing for public projects. Politically, it makes constructive cooperation among all levels of government imperative.
Finally, LCPS should continue to place a very high priority on safety, discipline, character development, civility and modesty in Loudoun County’s public schools.
Question 2: Are you satisfied with the current process for choosing the sites for new schools? If not, what changes would you make?
Answer to Question 2:
I believe that Loudoun County land use approval processes must be streamlined to allow for more expeditious processing of both public and private land use applications. Selecting school sites is a challenging process that inevitably must balance financial considerations along with other community needs. This is especially true in western Loudoun County where there are a number of topographic issues as well as water, sewer and transportation challenges. While current County land use policies favor locating schools near existing towns and population centers, they also allow for exceptions if circumstances warrant. Public input in the school site selection process is very important, but it should be recognized that it may come with a price tag of inflated land costs. The next Loudoun County School Board and Board of Supervisors, in close cooperation with the elected leaders of the County’s towns, must address this issue in order to avert further worsening of delayed school openings and overcrowding of Loudoun schools. Once sites are selected, boundary decisions weigh a number of factors including: enrollment projections; continuity for individual students, siblings and neighborhoods; safety considerations; transportation times and costs; and the effects of previous and potential future boundary changes. The weight given each of these factors will inevitably vary case by case. Community input is vital, but never without disagreement.
Question 3: Recent census figures show that Loudoun’s minority and immigrant populations are growing rapidly. Do you foresee the need for any changes in school programs, staffing or policies because of this diversity?
Answer to Question 3:
The Loudoun County Public School system has already taken a number of steps to address the growing diversity of the population of the county. These include: frequent communications with the community designed to increase community participation in school activities, increased recruitment and employment of qualified minority applicants for teaching and administrative/supervisory positions, parent liaison positions designed to enhance communication between school and home, interpreters who provide assistance for Head Start, Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC), Title 1 conferences, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) workshops, and individual parent/teacher conferences, outreach activities such as a liaison to the MSAAC, Parent Liaison training, Preschool Literacy Liaison, cultural competency training, and professional development training for thousands of LCPS staff in strategies to close the achievement gap. These efforts have yielded many benefits already, and will be even more important in the future as the diversity of Loudoun County continues to increase.
In addition to the above efforts, I would also encourage a greater receptivity to the value of expressions of the many various cultural traditions found amongLCPS students and staff, within the bounds of the law and school rules and regulations.
Loudoun Times Mirror Fall 2007 Voters’ Guide Survey
Responses by Loudoun County School Board Member Mark J. Nuzzaco
October 15, 2007
School Board Candidate Questionnaire:
Name: Mark J. Nuzzaco
Contact (Web site, e-mail, phone): www.nuzzacolcps.org; mark@nuzzacolcps.org; 703-771-2056
Occupation: Attorney/Government Affairs Representative
Years in Loudoun: 28
Question 1 (maximum 35 words): Why do you want to represent the Catoctin District on the School Board?
Answer to Question 1: I want to cost-effectively implement many improvements to benefit the Catoctin District, including additional elementary and secondary school capacity, academic rigor and innovative programs. To this endeavor I offer experienced, studied and fair decision making.
Question 2 (maximum 100 words): How will you tackle the issue of getting the next high school built in western Loudoun?
Answer to Question 2: I continue to urge a partnership among Purcellville, the School Board and the Board of Supervisors that both meets town needs and provides for the opening of Woodgrove HS at Fields Farm by fall 2009. This is unquestionably the most immediate and practicable solution to the urgent need for more high school seats in western Loudoun. At the same time, I am actively facilitating the public process of locating and acquiring a high school/middle school site near Lovettsville for future use, or as an alternative to the Fields Farm for HS-3 should that become necessary.