It’s a Party! A Schools BBQ & Pool Party!

Sunday, September 12th, 12:00PM to 4:00 PM

Students, Parents, Teachers, and Community Members … Everyone is invited to join us for a fun day of grilling, swimming and talk!

Start the school year with a BBQ and Pool Party — good friends and excellent conversation. The new school year provides opportunity to come together and explore issues affecting our students and our community. Sally invites you to participate in this dialogue. Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit and towel!

This event is FREE to attend . . . But please RSVP to BBQ@sallybaird.org

A Sally supporter? Please help support this event:
- Be a Host -Click here to join the Host Committee with a $50 contribution
- Volunteer to lead a discussion group
- Work the grill
- Bring a side dish

Questions? Email BBQ@sallybaird.org

They didn’t say so explicitly, but School Board members on June 17 left little doubt they are not happy with a proposal by county staff to relocate the Columbia Pike branch library from the Arlington Career Center west to Arlington Mill Community Center.

Board members’ comments on the subject came as the PTAs of Patrick Henry Elementary School and Thomas Jefferson Middle School began mobilizing against the proposal to move the library 1.3 miles west of its current location.

Since 1974, the school system has provided the county government with space on the Career Center campus for a library, and School Board members suggested they want the arrangement to continue.

“The county can stay there as long as they like,” School Board member Abby Raphael said.

Raphael said those opposed to the proposal should make themselves heard, and helpfully told the public whom they should lobby.

“Ultimately, it’s the County Board’s decision,” she said.

The discussion among School Board members came a day after a raucous public meeting, in which county officials found themselves under siege from adults and children alike for their proposal to relocate the library to the new Arlington Mill facility, which is expected to open in 2013.

After that meeting, county officials appeared to backtrack slightly, saying there was no urgency in reaching a decision on whether to move the library. Earlier, they had issued a timeline that suggested the matter would go before the County Board for a decision in September.

View article online here.

Dear Friends,

Welcome back to the Team Sally Newsletter!  It feels like just yesterday you helped to elect Sally to the Arlington School Board and yet here we are, back in campaign season, and with two opponents this time!

The last four years have gone by so very quickly!  But those four years yielded tremendous change–in the composition of the School Board itself, as well as important changes in how the School Board serves the students, parents, and citizens of Arlington.  This is a Board committed to actively engaging the community, and keeping the focus–first and foremost–on the individual students who walk through our school doors each morning.

Sally is proud of the Board’s work these last four years.  But she also knows–as do you–that there is still much work to do.

The months between now and November will be busy–very busy–especially with our two opponents.  So, Sally is looking forward to an election year with much opportunity for community dialogue about our schools and the values which she brings to her decision-making as a School Board member.

There are many ways to learn about Sally and get involved.  We want to hear from you!  Here’s how to connect with the campaign–

• visit the newly designed www.sallybaird.org,
• read Sally’s blog,
• connect with her on facebook and twitter, and
• to donate, see www.sallybaird.org/contribute.

And, most important of all . . . .

Join us this Saturday, June 12th, at the Official Kick Off event for the Sally Baird for Arlington School Board Re-Election Campaign!

June is LGBT Pride Month, so Capitol Pride week is in full swing.  On Saturday, we invite you to join Sally and the Arlington LGBT Community and kick off your summer by Celebrating the LGBT Community of Arlington Public Schools at the home of Ron Bookbinder & James Fisher.

This pre-Pride Parade lunch, scheduled from 1PM to 3PM and catered by Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant, will honor our community’s LGBT students, parents, teachers and staff.  Learn more about this great event here.

Sally has been honored to serve our students and our community for the last four years and is excited to take this re-election journey with you.  From now through November we will keep you informed through our weekly Team Sally newsletter, but if you would like to get more involved, email us at volunteer@sallybaird.org.

Sincerely,
Team Sally

P.S. – Email info@sallybaird.org to update your contact information or click the unsubscribe button below to stop receiving our emails.

Celebrating the LGBT Community of Arlington Public Schools

UPDATE: THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT! CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE GREAT EVENT

You are cordially invited to Sally Baird’s Campaign Kick off in honor of LGBT Pride Month
and celebrating the LGBT Community of our Arlington Public Schools.

Enjoy this exciting opportunity for dialogue with LGBT students, parents, teachers and staff
as we take pride in the profound individuality of our Arlington community!

Saturday June 12, 2010
1:00PM to 3:00PM

Hosted at the home of:
Ron Bookbinder & James Fisher
855 North Liberty Street, Arlington, VA

Catered by: Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant

Our Celebration Host Committee

Sponsorship Levels

Host Committee – $200
Supporter – $50
Young Dem – $25

Please RSVP to Tiffany Joslyn at campaign@sallybaird.org

Three Easy Payment Options

Purchase online at www.sallybaird.org/contribute

Pay at the door by cash or check

Mail a check to:
Sally Baird for Arlington School Board
1600 South Eads Street, Apt. 712 North
Arlington, VA 22202



The Arlington Green Party has endorsed Miriam Gennari, a 10-year resident of Arlington, in her bid for the School Board. Gennari will face off against School Board Chairman Sally Baird, who has the backing of Democrats, and independent Joszet Hudson Johnson on Nov. 2.

“Miriam has been a long time school and community activist on environmental and science issues,” Green Party officials said.

Gennari owns and operates her own home-improvement business. She has been active in five different schools that her three daughters have attended, including Oakridge Elementary, Claremont Elementary, Gunston Middle School, H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program and Wakefield High School. She also was active in starting the Aurora Hill’s Children’s Playgroup Cooperative pre-school group.

For more information on the November 2010 ballot, visit the Arlington County Government Voter Registration page here.

On April 25th the Arlington Children And Nature Network (CANN) held their official Touch the Earth kick off event at Potomac Overlook Regional Park.  The organization is dedicated to getting children outside while having fun along the way.  Our School Board Chair Sally Baird, joined by Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE), Potomac Overlook Regional Park, and WalkArlington, led students in touching the earth with their feet on a Walkabout of the Regional-National Park.  As part of CANN’s Touch the Earth Celebration, and marking the conclusion of Get Outside Week and the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the kid-sized Walkabout took children of all ages on a short guided hike on the Park’s Heritage Trail.

Check out this video, posted on the Arlington Virginia Network, to hear Sally and the Executive Director of ACE talk about this exciting day and excellent program.  In the photo below Sally is joined by a group of kids to help read a proclamation declaring the official kickoff of CANN at the Touch the Earth event.

Where:  Bear Rock Cafe Shirlington 4251 Campbell Ave Arlington (www.bearrockcafe.com)

When:  Jun 05    8:30 am – 10:00 pm

Host:  Arlington County Democratic Committee (ACDC)

What:  Meet School Board Chair Sally Baird at the ACDC “First Saturday Democratic Breakfast”.  Purchase your own breakfast and join us in our designated area. This is a social event with a very brief program hosted by Precinct Ops Chair Kip Malinosky.

Questions?  Contact Charley Conrad at CharleyConrad@gmail.com or 703 835 6614

Joszet Hudson Johnson, who in 1997 and 2000 ran as an independent for County Board, has filed petition signatures to run this year for School Board.

“A lot of things need improvement,” Johnson told the Sun Gazette. “We need to go out and innovate. We can become excellent by working together.”

Johnson will face incumbent School Board Chairman Sally Baird, who is seeking a second term. Baird has the backing of the Arlington County Democratic Committee, although, by state law, school board races across Virginia are officially non-partisan.

Baird said she welcomed the challenge.

“I look forward to the opportunity offered by a competitive race,” she said. “As we consider the future of our school system, there are many important conversations that we must have as a school community. A competitive race provides that opportunity for that community dialogue.”

Johnson in 1997 ran for County Board as a write-in candidate, having failed to file sufficient petition signatures to get on the ballot. She received just over 30 votes in that race, a special election called after Democrat James Hunter resigned due to ill health. Democrat Barbara Favola won that race.

In 2000, Johnson qualified as an independent candidate on the ballot. She receive 1,385 votes, or about 1.9 percent of the total, in a County Board race that saw Democrat Barbara Favola defeat Republican Scott Tate.

From 2000 to 2007, Johnson lived in Georgia. Her son is now a high school senior, and Hudson said she opted to get into the School Board race based on her experiences dealing with the school system and PTAs.

“I know I’m kind of controversial, because I do speak out,” Johnson acknowledged.

Johnson said the school system was wasting money by paying to send students to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, and said teachers and administrators need to travel the country to find ways to be more effective. And she said the school system must better engage parents – a theme that also was used by Democrat James Lander during his uncontested bid for School Board last year.

“Too many parents are being left out of the loop,” Johnson said.

For the county’s politically dominant Democrats, election season will feature challenges to Baird, County Board Vice Chairman Chris Zimmerman and U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th).

“Everyone who thought we were going to have a sleepy year, it’s time to wake up,” Arlington County Democratic Committee Chairman Mike Lieberman said at the organization’s June 2 meeting.

Johnson said she has talked to both county Republicans and the Green Party about potential endorsement of her campaign. While parties can’t nominate School Board candidates, they can “endorse” candidacies.

This article can be found online here.

Democrats are banking on County Board Vice Chairman Chris Zimmerman and School Board Chairman Sally Baird in the November election. Neither incumbent faces opposition within the party.

Arlington Democrats now have their political ticket set for the fall, as neither County Board Vice Chairman Chris Zimmerman nor School Board Chairman Sally Baird picked up opposition within the party ranks.

School Board: The Arlington County Democratic Committee on April 7 formally endorsed Sally Baird for School Board, essentially ensuring her re-election in November.

Baird, who was first elected in 2006, was the only contender to seek the Democratic endorsement for the single seat on the ballot this year.

The Democratic committee’s vote to back her was unanimous.

“She’s so terrific, nobody wanted to run against her,” Arlington County Democratic Committee chairman Mike Lieberman said.

Baird noted that the current School Board represents a generational shift from the past, with four of the five members – all Democrats – in their first terms. The school system also has a new superintendent.

“As Democrats, we believe our School Board is on the right track,” Baird said in remarks to committee members. “We have set a direction – we need to make sure we stay on this path.”

Under state law, political parties can’t nominate candidates for school boards, but can “endorse” candidacies – more a technical distinction than anything else.

As a political newcomer four years ago, Baird won a narrow victory in the Democratic caucus over Sharon Davis to win the party’s backing. She went on to win the general election that year over Cecelia Espenoza.

Last July, Baird was tapped by colleagues to serve as chairman, a post that rotates among members.

Baird said the current membership of the School Board has been striving, within budget constraints, to provide a rich educational experience for each of the county’s more than 20,000 public-school students.

“Kids are different; each needs different support to find success,” she said. “I hope that I will challenge us to look differently at delivering education. Thinking differently benefits kids.”

Baird’s campaign Web site is www.sallybaird.org.

The full article can be viewed online here.

The Arlington County Democratic Committee on April 7 formally endorsed Sally Baird for School Board, essentially ensuring her re-election in November.

Baird, who was first elected in 2006, was the only contender to seek the Democratic endorsement for the single seat on the ballot this year.

The Democratic committee’s vote to back her was unanimous.

“She’s so terrific, nobody wanted to run against her,” Arlington County Democratic Committee chairman Mike Lieberman said.

Baird noted that the current School Board represents a generational shift from the past, with four of the five members – all Democrats – in their first terms. The school system also has a new superintendent.

“As Democrats, we believe our School Board is on the right track,” Baird said in remarks to committee members. “We have set a direction – we need to make sure we stay on this path.”

Under state law, political parties can’t nominate candidates for school boards, but can “endorse” candidacies – more a technical distinction than anything else.

As a political newcomer four years ago, Baird won a narrow victory in the Democratic caucus over Sharon Davis to win the party’s backing. She went on to win the general election that year over Cecelia Espenoza.

Last July, Baird was tapped by colleagues to serve as chairman, a post that rotates among members.

Baird said the current membership of the School Board has been striving, within budget constraints, to provide a rich educational experience for each of the county’s more than 20,000 public-school students.

“Kids are different; each needs different support to find success,” she said. “I hope that I will challenge us to look differently at delivering education. Thinking differently benefits kids.”

Baird’s campaign Web site is www.sallybaird.org.

This story can be viewed online here.