Dean Fetterolf is the candidate of choice for the Rock Hill Seat on the Stafford County School Board.
I’m honored to be endorsed by the Stafford Education Association.
I value education, having earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Florida in 1983. I have lived in Stafford for nearly 22 years and my two children are Mountain View graduates.
Serving as Chair of the Finance and Budget Advisory Committee from 2007-11 and on Budget and Compensation task forces I understand the budget.
I gained respect for the impact on families serving on a 2009 Redistricting Committee. Serving on the Capital Improvement Committee taught me about where and when new schools are needed.
To Improve SCPS we must: 1. Reduce class sizes. It is the most effective way to improve the learning environment. SCPS has the 4th highest K-7 student teacher ratio in VA, up from 6th. That doesn’t include the 55 positions unfilled by the $8.3M budget mistake.
2. Improve Compensation. Replacing and retaining qualified teachers is difficult. Stafford teachers earn $4000 less than nine comparison districts. Paraprofessionals earn $9,000 less than those in Fredericksburg. Stafford ranks 79th out of 132 districts in per pupil funding.
3. Offer Program Parity. The middle school redistricting grievance filed in court taught us that the quality of a child’s education should not be left to chance or depend upon the neighborhood in which they live. I agree with Dr. Benson. We need a “school system” not a “system of 30 schools.”
4. Recover the Impact of Development. Why does a county with the 9th highest median household income in the country continually struggle with funding smaller classes and better pay? It’s the $30.5 million and growing debt service for new schools and renovation due to decades of poorly planned and under-proffered growth. The developers must start paying their fair share.
I ask for your support on November 3rd. Vote for Dean Fetterolf – a new face, a new direction – Moving SCPS forward.
