When it comes to the boundary issue... Vote Cheryl Buford for At Large
Voices of Fairfax undertook an endorsement process because community members repeatedly asked who, based upon our research, would best represent their concerns. This has been a time-consuming process, full of intense and respectful debate with input from residents throughout Fairfax County. We appreciate the time candidates provided in responding to our questionnaire, meeting with us, participating in debates, and making themselves available at community events. We encourage you to exercise your VOICE at the ballot box, and we look forward to working with the new School Board.
Cheryl is an experienced teacher, FCPS parent, and prior Department of Education analyst for at-risk youth programs. Her insistence on data to drive decision-making will help drive discipline on the board - especially in the CIP process.
The proposed policy 8130.8 was almost voted in by the current school board without input from the community, and would have given the board power to move more children without public engagement and rezone students based on their socio-economic and/or racial characteristics.
In her responses to our questionnaire, Cheryl expresses concern with the resolution. "In particular, it is very troubling that the draft 8130.8 policy has removed for consideration such criteria as:
the overall impact on neighborhoods;
school feeder alignments; as well as
the overall impact on families and students."
✓ Supports keeping families in their neighborhood school of choice
The current school board majority is interested in potentially rezoning your neighborhood out of your school of choice, ignoring the impact on your community and property values, in order to distribute the demographics across the county. The current board wanted to remove from the considerations for a boundary change the impact on neighborhoods and overall impact on families and students among other concerning changes.
In Cheryl's response to our questionnaire and her opening statement in the Sep 25 debate, she clearly indicated that neighborhood schools are her priority.
✓ Offers innovative short term and long term solutions for overcrowding
In her responses to our questionnaire, Cheryl cited FCPS's historic inability to provide accurate [enrollment] forecasting. She champions more temporary, flexible solutions such as open enrollment and magnet programs at Langley to solve the solution rather than slower moving and divisive solutions like boundary changes.
✓ Advocates for active, ongoing community input
In her opening statement at the Sep 26 debate, Cheryl made it clear that she is interested in representing YOU, emphasizing the need for community input on School Board policy changes. Cheryl stands out because of her detailed analytical style that drives her to ask important questions, insist on data-driven decisions, and discussions based on well-researched facts. Cheryl's detailed analysis in her answers to our questionnaire set her apart.
✓ Cheryl had two children attend and graduate from FCPS
Cheryl has had two children attend FCPS schools, one of whom attended TJ High School. As her children grew, she spent 15 years as an active volunteer in FCPS. A firm believer that FCPS should uphold rigorous academic standards and programs, Cheryl served as Chair for the Government Relations Committee at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ), where she successfully increased the Commonwealth’s funding for TJ.
✓ Cheryl was an educator herself
Cheryl has 30-plus years of experience in education and education policy, covering today’s most pressing issues. She spent the first ten years of her career teaching career and technical education and family economics, which made her an unwavering advocate for quality education for all students. Cheryl brings experience as a classroom teacher, parent & community volunteer and Department of Education analyst focused on at-risk youth programs.
