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Crowded field for School Board
With eight candidates competing for three seats, the field for at-large Fairfax County School Board members is crowded, and differentiating one candidate from another can be difficult.
At the McLean Citizens Association candidates forum last week, candidates got to provide a little information about themselves and briefly answer questions about their positions on performance-based pay for teachers, school security and school start times.
Steven Hunt, one of two incumbents in the race, said his candidacy is based on "steering a better course for accountability." Hunt, a former fighter pilot, stirred some controversy with a letter he sent in 2005 to 24 principals, condemning Fairfax County's policies regarding educating students about homosexuality.
The other incumbent, Ilryong Moon, said he would represent immigrant views on the board if re-elected. Moon is originally from South Korea. He was also one of the few candidates who opposes performance-based pay for teachers.
"I support better training for our teachers rather than performance-based pay programs," Moon said.
Candidate Christian Braunlich agreed with Moon's position on the issue.
"Even if a teacher is great, a student brings with him as baggage all the teachers he's had before," Braunlich said.
He previously served as the School Board representative for the Lee District until 2003. Braunlich said he is running again because he wants to improve Fairfax students' reading levels.
Of the challengers, attorney-turned-teacher Tina Hone is probably the most familiar name to voters because of her distinctive, prevalent campaign signs.
"I'm the one with the red hand you see everywhere," Hone said.
"I support later start times for students," said Hone, who along with Hunt and Moon has been officially endorsed by the Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal, an organization that advocates for later school start times.
In fact, all the candidates said they supported the idea behind later start times, though Braunlich and Jim Raney were concerned about the practical implications of making the change.
"What is the business case for later start times? ... I support affordable changes to start times," said Raney, a defense analyst who characterizes his campaign as concentrating on fiscal responsibility.
Paul Constantino, a mental health professional, is also worried about money issues in education and the high tax burden on Fairfax families. Ralph Cooper, a PTA member, longtime volunteer and ex military officer, said he believes strongly in parent involvement in the school system and concentrating on preschool readiness.
The eighth candidate, Christian Volkstorf, did not attend the MCA but spoke to The Times by phone afterward. Volkstorf, a graphic designer, is the only candidate endorsed by Virginia's Independent Green party. He said he is running to get his party on the ballot and because he wants to change the way teachers discipline students.
"There was an incident involving my stepson ... and the school overreacted. I want to make a difference in things like that," Volkstorf said.
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