Fire Up the Budgets, Fairfax! Why's the Focus on Symbols and Not Schools?

What do you think is the big news with Fairfax County's schools? It's not test scores or budget trouble. Last week, the school board passed a new celebration month for LGBT history. Wait, what? Didn't they just do that in June for Pride Month? Indeed, they did. So, why another month? Let's step back. The school board’s job is to manage the schools, the staff, and the money. But they seem to be pretty busy with symbolic moves, like this new history month. Aren't there more pressing issues? Fairfax County's schools have a bunch of problems. Kids are struggling with tests, and some high schools might lose their accreditation. On top of that, there’s a big budget issue. The school district wants more money, but they're wasting time on stuff like celebrating certain figures that some folks might not agree with.

Here’s the thing. The school board has been accused of picking favored vendors for projects, like a school boundary review. That project costs half a million dollars and was given to a company that might not even know the area. When asked about this, the superintendent’s office was a bit dodgy. They said the superintendent might comment later. But shouldn't they have a good reason right now if things are on the up and up? So, what's the deal? Shouldn’t the school board focus more on fixing problems than on passing fancy resolutions? It’s their job, after all. Let’s get back to making schools better, not just look good on paper.

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