Thursday, May 23, 2013
Webb in support of the construction of a new high school in the city.
After a failed City Council re-election bid in June, Lawrence Webb is ready to get back into public service and try his hand on the Falls Church School Board. Webb, who served on council for four years, is vying for one of the five seats (one special election seat) on the school board. A higher education administrator for more than a decade, Webb said he would bring those experiences to the Falls Church School Board. “What brings me into education is seeing the success of the students,” Webb said Wednesday. “With Falls Church schools, my exposure has been seeing the commitment of the students and parents in education.” In September, Webb interviewed for a seat on the school board after Rosaura Aguerrebere resigned but the position was …
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
With increasing enrollment, should the city give more to the schools?
Phyllis Kravinsky doesn’t believe the Falls Church City Public Schools Board is asking for to much in its proposed $41.4 million 2014 budget. Kravinsky, a teacher at Mount Daniel Elementary School in the city and the mother of two George Mason High students, believes the money is necessary to continue teaching the expanding student enrollment. At Monday’s City Council meeting, she said it’s her job to give students the quality education that her own children received. “I truly believe the budget the school board has presented represents the enrollment growth,” she said to council. The school board has proposed the $43.6 million budget with a $33.6 million transfer from the city for the coming fiscal year. For FY13, FCCPS received a $29.9 …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The lacrosse player was sworn in during Tuesday night’s work session.
Before Feb. 26, there had never been a student representative on the Falls Church City School Board, but George Mason High School junior Maeve Curtin changed that. In the fall Curtin, 16, asked school board member John Lawrence if there had ever been a sitting student representative. Curtin found that other school boards had student representatives and thought it was time the local board had one. Lawrence brought the idea to the board and it was well received. Two weeks ago, the board passed a resolution making way for a student representative. Curtin was amongst four students voted on by Mason’s student council. “I always thought it was something the school board was lacking,” Curtin said. “I thought it was something that was needed.” …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Craig Cheney rejoins the school board after a five-year hiatus.
Craig Cheney was sworn in as the newest member of the Falls Church City Public Schools Board on Monday. Cheney served on the board from 2004 through 2008, which included two years as chair of the board and one as vice-chair. He will serve through December. Joan Wodiska, who left the board to take a position with the Virginia Board of Education, vacated the seat. Wodiska had served on the school board for three terms. Keep up with Falls Church news and events with the Patch email newsletter. Learn more here!
Monday, January 14, 2013
See where you can watch the inauguration and what you can’t take with you.
With the 57th Presidential Inauguration, some Northern Virginia police agencies are preparing to assist the Washington Metropolitan Police Department with security. As hundreds of people plan to venture to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration, some local hotels are offering deals and shorter stays to get people in. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s plan to increase the size of its trains to get people around won’t be ready for the inauguration, but the system rolled out its plan to get people around in Falls Church last week. The five year plan requires more input but officials said the plan will make taking the Metro easier. Joan Wodiska has been a fixture on the Falls Church City Public Schools board for some time and now…
Thursday, January 10, 2013
School board looking to fill spot vacated by long time member Joan Wodiska.
With Joan Wodiska leaving the Falls Church City Public Schools Board, the board is accepting letters of interest from city residents through noon on Jan. 17. The newly appointed board member will serve until Dec. 31. Candidates must have shown a commitment to the city by having served on a school or general board or commission. According to an FCCPS release, candidates are also expected to understand and have experience with the FCCPS budgeting process, be a strong advocate for our schools and understand the importance of a world-class education. Those interested in being considered should send their letter of interest to the board and it should include: Wodiska announced her resignation Monday afternoon after three terms on the school …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Wodiska will join Virginia Board of Education on Thursday.
Joan Wodiska, a three-term Falls Church City Public Schools Board member, turned in her letter of resignation Monday to take a position with the Virginia Board of Education. The former Virginia School Boards Association president’s resignation will be effective Wednesday and her first meeting with the state school board will be Thursday. Moving on from FCCPS is bittersweet, Wodiska said. “On one hand I’m really excited and on the other hand I’m heartbroken,” Wodiska said Monday night. Wodiska was nominated for the first-ever Bammy Award for School Board Leadership in September. She was appointed chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Local Mandates, Education Committee in 2011. Wodiska was also chair of the Falls Church school board during …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Falls Church City Schools board member says she accomplished goals she set as VSBA president.
Joan Wodiska set five goals when she took over as president of the Virginia School Boards Association in November of 2011. Wodiska, a member of the Falls Church City Public Schools board, said the VSBA wanted to improve advocacy for public education, develop stronger community relationships, attract more leaders in education to the VSBA and develop stronger communication strategies. Wodiska added a fifth goal, a personal one: end childhood hunger among students throughout Virginia. Wodiska’s term as president of the VSBA ended Wednesday. “I’m happy to report that we met or exceeded all five goals,” Wodiska said in a written statement. Wodiska said farewell to her supporters Wednesday at the Annual VSBA Conference. The association …
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Lawrence will partake in first school board meeting Oct. 9.
John Lawrence was sworn in Friday morning at Falls Church City Public Schools headquarters and now joins the school board. Lawrence was appointed to the school board in September after a 4-2 vote. Susan Kearney, school board chair, said originally, there were six candidates vying for the one spot after Rosaura Aguerrebere resigned her position on the school board in August after six-years. One of the candidates withdrew their name from consideration leaving Lawrence, former city councilman Lawrence Webb, Amy Willis, Robert LaJeunesse and Margaret Ward. Lawrence will attend his first school board meeting as a member Tuesday.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
John Lawrence ran for city council in the City of Falls Church May elections.
The library and planning commissions will have to carry on without John Lawrence for the next year and a half at least. Lawrence, who was appointed to the Falls Church City Public Schools Board Tuesday, said he will miss working with the other groups but is excited to join the school board. “It’s something I thought about for years,” Lawrence said Tuesday. “It’s one of the reasons I ran for city council. I ran on a support the school board platform. Ultimately if I want to support the schools, the school board is the place to be.” Lawrence was appointed after a 4-2 vote by the school board. He is expected to take the Oath of Office next week and join the board at their Oct. 9 meeting. Susan Kearney, school board chair, said originally, …
steve zullo
7:08 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Phil Thanks, when I see a bus fill in front of Pearson Square in the morning, it is hard to believe that these mixed use buildings only contribute more ›