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Appreciation and Concerns Raised about the Superintendent's Budget
Explore key insights from the school board meeting on the FY 2026-27 budget. Understand diverse perspectives which include appreciation and concern over the Superintendent's school budget.
Vanessa Hall
Feb 115 min read
First Look: Public Review of Fairfax County School Boundary Scenarios
Make sure you take time to check out the Fairfax County school boundary scenarios out for public review. Learn about the process and what is still to come.
Vanessa Hall
Jun 3, 20256 min read
Dear Fairfax Times: This Mom is Not Your Punching Bag
Volunteering for a committee shouldn't make you a target for far right radicals. Yet, the Fairfax Times took aim at me.
Vanessa Hall
Mar 21, 20256 min read
What You Need to Know About the: Capital Improvement Program
Although not the sexiest sounding program, the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is one of the most critical analyses in Fairfax County...
Vanessa Hall
Jan 10, 20253 min read
Is Cruelty the Point? Deportation Threatens Our Public School Communities.
As if K-12 students didn’t have enough to worry about, now, some face the threat of forced deportation.
Marianne Burke, PhD
Dec 17, 20245 min read
When Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Seeps into Public School Discussions
Combatting Disinformation is Harder than Sharing It There is so much disinformation floating around these days that it is hard to do much...
Vanessa Hall
Oct 17, 202412 min read
Bucknell Elementary: Uniting with Courage and Strength
Discover the inspiring story of courage and strength within the tight-knit Bucknell Elementary community, a small but mighty school.
Vanessa Hall
Jul 22, 20247 min read
A “Brief” History of Boundary Change
My most recent blog, Essential Boundary Policy for a New Century , identified some “interesting” school boundaries in our area. Any rational person would look at those boundaries and wonder how they came to be. Of course, those non-contiguous, gerrymandered boundaries are a developer’s dime a dozen in Fairfax County. Nevertheless, I did a little research (shared below), but first I want to discuss the recent history of Policy 8130. I was surprised by recent history and previo
Vanessa Hall
Jul 12, 202414 min read
Essential Boundary Policy for a New Century
It Is Time For Some Real Change After months of debate, the Fairfax County School Board is finalizing a comprehensive overhaul of the county’s current boundary policy which was originally adopted in 1986 and last revised in May of 2013, despite 5-year review requirements. This all followed a February school board meeting on Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) amendments, when most of the school board members expressed strong concerns that one-off boundary adjustments at individu
Vanessa Hall
Jul 5, 20248 min read
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Relief after Years of Legislative and Executive Attacks on Education
2026 General Assembly Legislative Support for Public Education Public education remains one of the General Assembly’s most significant policy and budgetary responsibilities. With the conclusion of the Youngkin administration and the beginning of Governor Abigail Spanberger’s term last month, the legislature has continued its role in shaping education policy—particularly through direct investment, funding reform, and oversight. Strengthening State Investment in K–12 Schools In
Appreciation and Concerns Raised about the Superintendent's Budget
Explore key insights from the school board meeting on the FY 2026-27 budget. Understand diverse perspectives which include appreciation and concern over the Superintendent's school budget.
Restore Mental Health Professionals to our Schools
Vanessa Hall shares a personal story highlighting how important mental health professionals are in our schools and why the Superintendent should reinstate positions cut last year.
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