1. State Funding and Allocation - It is important to continue to press for additional Federal and State funding for the education of our children. There needs to be an equitable balance between the tax revenue we send down to Richmond and the proportion the County receives back to educate our children.

2. Teacher Resource and Compensation - Teachers are one of our greatest resources in our children's education, and the quality reputation of FCPS schools is in large part due the educational efforts and talents of our teachers. We need to continually offer teachers a fair and competitive compensation package that will maintain a professional, vibrant and effective teaching profession in this county.

3. Fiscal Responsibility - For every dollar this county receives in education we must make sure it has the highest and best direct impact to each and every child. We must continue and expand the technology initiatives and expand all day kindergarten. We must also be ready and willing to look towards new and innovative means for financing our needs to include private public partnerships. It is imperative we address our $2 billion backlog in capital needs in a flexible, more efficient and effective manner.

4. Accountability - The School Board is accountable to all County stakeholders from students to teachers to parents to taxpayers. Transparency and continued accountability will improve credibility with stakeholders. The School Board must be good stewards and messengers of this institution. School Board members and county staff need to maintain a continuous dialogue with the community regarding educational issues raised on behalf of our children.

5. SLEEP (Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal) - It is a simple, attainable, and a realistic goal. Starting high schools at reasonable times will improve the alertness of students in the morning and decrease teen auto accidents, teen behavior problems, and even teen depression. We could begin with a simple, incremental step, such as starting secondary schools 15 - 20 minutes later. But we must also work with transportation experts toward a more permanent solution to give all of our students, K-12, healthy start times that are in sync with their basic biology for optimal learning.