Making History
PWFT-backed candidates rode a wave of voter resentment to give Democrats control of the school board for the first time since the practice of electing the school board began in the 90s. Ryan Sawyers will become the new School Board Chairman when he takes office in January. Our first vice president, Justin Wilk won the Potomac district seat and Lillie Jessie was reelected to represent the Occoquan district. AFT subsidized a PWFT phone bank that made nearly 9000 calls to members and other voters. Along with the Northern Virginia Labor Federation and the AFL-CIO, we sent an endorsement letter to 5620 union families in Prince William County.
Redesign of the 13th High School Defeated
PWFT led a successful coalition of opposition to replacing the previously adopted design of the 13th high school with a new plan. The change would have cost more money at a time when too many children attend classes in trailers, class sizes and caseloads are too high and insufficient compensation for teachers and staff makes it difficult to fill vacancies in the Washington area labor market. The motion died on a tie vote after recent legislative candidate Josh King shared his experience as the parent of a student who went an entire school year without an autism teacher. School Board members Lisa Bell, Lillie Jessie, Michael Otaigbe and Loree Williams voted against the proposal.
School Calendar for 2016-2017
The PWCS Calendar Committee will present its report to the school board on December 2nd and it will be up for a vote on December 16th. The committee will offer two options, one that opens school prior to Labor Day and one that starts school after Labor Day. Our December newsletter will be able to devote more space to the details of the two plans. PWFT members Kathy Russell, Shana Robinson and Bill Hosp served on the committee.