September 2007

Dear Residents:

During the past several weeks I have been grateful to have received endorsements from:

1. The Fairfax Education Association (FEA) representing over 70% of the teachers in Fairfax County.

2. The SLEEP organization which represents over 8000 concerned residents for implementing a later bell schedule for county high schools.

These days I have been busy meeting the many District parents at back to school nights at our area schools and in other forums. This has given me an opportunity to view the schools and to listen to the parents about their various educational concerns.

One clear concern is the issue of maintaining neighborhood schools. I fully support the concept of neighborhood community schools. For 5 years I worked to get a school built in record time through innovative financing measures which saved the school system over $16 million dollars. I did this so that the residents in the South County area could be afforded what many other area residents already had, a community school. I know what a community school means to all the families and residents of the Springfield district.

Community schools are important to all residents. A community school is the nucleus or center of the community from where it draws. These schools provide a community identity for students, parents and their neighborhoods. This identity is key to the success of the school, the students, teachers and organizations that give it life and ultimately the key to success for the overall community.

As your School Board representative I will work hard to maintain community schools in the Springfield District as well as in the rest of Fairfax County. I don't approve of breaking long standing communities up for the sake of unwarranted boundary modifications. Personally, I have witnessed too many boundary town meetings which have torn communities apart and resulted in negative outcomes.

There is no substitute in this county for a community school.

Sincerely,
Liz Bradsher