tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post3386697223763001070..comments2023-09-16T04:58:07.261-04:00Comments on the Annandale Blog: Community members charged with voting for a new name for JEB Stuart High School select 'Stuart' Annandale Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-18736603694241363982017-09-21T20:16:02.363-04:002017-09-21T20:16:02.363-04:00If the FCPS board intends to solidify divisiveness...If the FCPS board intends to solidify divisiveness in the Stuart community, it will select Marshall or Johns. Otherwise, it would be wise to select a place neutral name if the Board is hellbent on changing the name and adding a million bucks to the Fairfax County taxpayers tab.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-39675673230381168382017-09-21T10:36:51.569-04:002017-09-21T10:36:51.569-04:00The regulation doesn't say how the superintend...The regulation doesn't say how the superintendent shall interpret community input, but, it's reasonable to guess that he would recommend more than one option, since the survey results show that there are three top names, by using a weighted point system: Stuart Raiders (18% of the total weighted vote), Justice Thurgood Marshall (15% of the total weighted vote), and Barbara Rose Johns (14% of the total weighted vote). It’s a very tight race. Peace Valley took 10% of the overall vote, but considering that the community voted for names in honor of people – as opposed to places -- by a margin of 75% of the weighted points, it seems clear that the community wants a school named after a person.Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-57431488314297453722017-09-21T10:36:00.821-04:002017-09-21T10:36:00.821-04:00School Board members and community members have st...School Board members and community members have stated publicly and privately that in 2017 FCPS would never name a school after a Confederate War General, but, if “Stuart” is chosen as the “new” name of the school, I don’t see how it can be viewed any other way. Certainly the ‘keepers’ would see it as a victory, which would surprise no one, since it principally ‘keeps’ the school’s current name. Emails sent to community list serves as well as public FB posts confirm that the “keepers” see the 18% in favor of “Stuart” as a victory for their cause to keep the name the same, that “Stuart” = “J.E.B. Stuart.” However, Barbara Rose Johns and Justice Thurgood Marshall have essentially as much community support as the name “Stuart” by the weighted point system, and either name would be an infinitely better choice for our community in 2017. Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-76765165112816938842017-09-21T08:22:30.456-04:002017-09-21T08:22:30.456-04:00Thank you, Maijo. Those facts seem to have been lo...Thank you, Maijo. Those facts seem to have been lost amid all the fuss. <br /><br />A commenter above called Stuart "a great Virginian." ???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-23982885025735396302017-09-20T12:11:36.454-04:002017-09-20T12:11:36.454-04:00And, some of the really stupid names got votes! I ...And, some of the really stupid names got votes! I guess they were registering their disgust. 73 choices.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-80777566117507323032017-09-19T21:10:53.977-04:002017-09-19T21:10:53.977-04:00It wasn't really well advertized, and some vot...It wasn't really well advertized, and some voters like me showed up that afternoon after hearing about it on WTOP. Then the ballot had some just stupid names on it. No wonder everyone is unhappy. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-12855908212150064232017-09-19T19:50:25.471-04:002017-09-19T19:50:25.471-04:00Wow. In retrospect, it shouldn't be any surpri...Wow. In retrospect, it shouldn't be any surprise that our School Board zanies came up with something that daffy. Excising Gen. Stuart's first name certainly isn't fooling anyone. All it does is appeal to those voters who wish to avoid having to foot the bill for a complete renaming When seen in that context, most of the headless Stuart voters likely weren't even committed to a name change. Moreover, considering the low voter turnout, I've concluded that most local residents are largely indifferent to a name change anyway. So, despite its mindless interference, the School Board would be wise to consider tabling this issue indefinitely. However, as has become all too apparent, wisdom isn't something the School Board typically exhibits.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-91487404655118711092017-09-19T19:26:01.135-04:002017-09-19T19:26:01.135-04:00That's one of the most reasonable things I'...That's one of the most reasonable things I've read on this entire page. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-31346260897843759572017-09-19T17:40:27.116-04:002017-09-19T17:40:27.116-04:00The School Board voted to request that the Stuart ...The School Board voted to request that the Stuart community consider “Stuart High School” as the new name. See www.fcps.edu/renaming<br />WeRetorthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590088355292583805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-4587344249168746842017-09-19T16:54:07.959-04:002017-09-19T16:54:07.959-04:00J.E.B Stuart wins in a landslide! Get over it, it...J.E.B Stuart wins in a landslide! Get over it, it never was about racism, or anything but a great Virginian.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-60298252591032153522017-09-19T16:48:32.738-04:002017-09-19T16:48:32.738-04:00The inept voters are the ones that Grisafe signs i...The inept voters are the ones that Grisafe signs in their yards during the special election. They are the ones that are willing to spend money for a special election, spend 100,000 for just "Stuart" instead of real new name. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-82222090640575608782017-09-19T16:13:55.450-04:002017-09-19T16:13:55.450-04:00ENOUGH of this silliness. The people have spoken....ENOUGH of this silliness. The people have spoken. Stuart won. Let's move on with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-6853117579607334762017-09-19T16:04:45.397-04:002017-09-19T16:04:45.397-04:00Ellie -- Perhaps you can give us an accurate break...Ellie -- Perhaps you can give us an accurate breakdown of just how many tax dollars have actually been spent on this name changing effort? I am particularly interested to know if another post on your blog is accurate -- FCPS employees have been donating their time to this cause. Is that accurate? How many volunteer hours and what is their value?Kate Walternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-13478518999747858062017-09-19T15:03:41.148-04:002017-09-19T15:03:41.148-04:00The bottom line here is that our locals had an opp...The bottom line here is that our locals had an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to renaming their local high school and they punted. Suggesting that the place be renamed "Stuart" was nothing more than a transparent and ridiculous attempt to save money. So, now that the locals have demonstrated they're not up to the job, it's time for the school board to do their job for them. However, since the school board was, in part, elected by the same inept voters who believe there's something purposeful about knocking a few initials off Gen. Stuart's name, I'm hardly optimistic about the outcome. Congrats, guys. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-58572232771525196692017-09-19T14:56:21.698-04:002017-09-19T14:56:21.698-04:00Chill out and embrace the vote. Stuart wins!Chill out and embrace the vote. Stuart wins!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-71395207480752705742017-09-19T14:19:43.200-04:002017-09-19T14:19:43.200-04:00There were 932 unique households participating in ...There were 932 unique households participating in this vote/survey/event.<br /><br />339/932 = 36.4% for Marshall, etc.<br />336/932 = 36.1% for Stuart<br />332/932 - 35.6% for Johns<br /><br />How can you call this anything but a dead heat in raw vote?<br /><br />The system used for voting was a weighted vote system. By design, this type of system seeks to establish a pluralistic solution rather than majority rules. Those are the rules the FCSB set up. Using this system:<br /><br />917/5,178 points = 17.7% Stuart<br />763/5,178 points = 14.7% Marshall et al<br />737/5,178 points = 14.2% Johns<br /><br />You cannot simply add points for Marshall and points for Johns. Pluralistic voting does not allow combining choices AFTER the vote because 1) people may behave differently if they had only one choice, and 2) you cannot clearly track how many unique voters you have between choices. For example, did all 332 people who voted first place for Johns also vote second place for Marshall? If so, they already have the value of their weighted votes counted into the totals. By combining these categories, you are doubling the value of their votes relative to other people who participated in the process.<br /><br />The reg specifically states no combining results after the vote. Presumably the school board members (or reg drafters) understood how this system actually works?<br /><br /><br />Kate Walternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-49030146783258292712017-09-19T13:29:15.113-04:002017-09-19T13:29:15.113-04:00I helped share the Manahoac High School theme -- i...I helped share the Manahoac High School theme -- it touches on many of the same issues of rights and responsibilities, but resets the discussion to a time period before the Civil War and carries it forward to today's Virginia politics. Native Americans continue their struggles for representation and full rights today. Here's the Facebook page, if you'd like more background. https://www.facebook.com/ManahoacSpiritEagles/Kate Walternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-58688062688770838542017-09-19T12:40:13.789-04:002017-09-19T12:40:13.789-04:00Well, the special election for the new at large bo...Well, the special election for the new at large board member just refutes this. Low turnout even... bye-bye Grisafe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-801203107169683752017-09-19T12:07:23.889-04:002017-09-19T12:07:23.889-04:00We are going to waste almost 100,000 to 200,000 to...We are going to waste almost 100,000 to 200,000 to name it just "Stuart". This is like a car salesman telling you got a new car, but when you drive it - it is the same 50 years old car.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-67929068772168029572017-09-19T12:01:32.099-04:002017-09-19T12:01:32.099-04:00Exactly. The current name of the school is Stuart...Exactly. The current name of the school is Stuart HS so to change it to Stuart HS is beyond ridiculous. It's embarrassing. Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-46193500523613788312017-09-19T12:00:17.036-04:002017-09-19T12:00:17.036-04:0090% of students did not vote to keep the name. Th...90% of students did not vote to keep the name. This is false.Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-48001844464525566412017-09-19T11:57:45.780-04:002017-09-19T11:57:45.780-04:00Does anyone really believe that "Stuart HS&qu...Does anyone really believe that "Stuart HS" which appears on all the mail I receive from the school, which is the name of the parents list serve "StuartParents", which is listed on the FCPS website and on countless county lists and maps, is not the same as the "Stuart" HS that was on the ballot and that garnered only 18% of the total weighted votes cast?<br /><br />It is actually surprising that 'Stuart' didn't get more votes than it did, since it is essentially the incumbent candidate, and has all the name recognition that comes along with being an incumbent, as well as being named on the school board resolution. Additionally, the 'keepers' have lobbied very hard for it -- the ironically-titled 'StuartFacts' website that was created in the summer of 2016, "Know JEB" t-shirts, lobbying anonymously on community list serves, ad hominem attacks against neighbors and school board members and name nominees, public testimonies at school board meetings, inviting Civil War re-enactors to SB meetings, named sponsorship of the Raider Run, participation in the ad hoc committee as well as participation in multiple subcommittees, ad hominem attacks against fellow subcommittee members, inviting TV reporters into private homes for personal interviews, one on one meetings with School Board representatives, etc. <br /><br />It's kind of embarrassing that the name didn't get 100% of the vote if the claims are true. If the community likes the name so much, why did so many community members line up to speak and nominate the other 72 names on September 9? Why did they come out in droves to vote on September 16? 932 households voted. That's more household votes that Grisafe could get individuals to support him in the special election.Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-68752448712959671712017-09-19T11:50:56.518-04:002017-09-19T11:50:56.518-04:00FYI - the reg actually say the 1st has to be submi...FYI - the reg actually say the 1st has to be submitted. Later it says.<br /><br />"After review of the community’s recommendations derived from the process used at the community meeting, the Division Superintendent will formulate a recommendation consisting of one or more of the most popular choices according to community input. The Division Superintendent shall then transmit the recommendation to the School Board for consideration and action. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-25602483244577663452017-09-19T11:50:34.130-04:002017-09-19T11:50:34.130-04:00"Do you have a source for the information on ..."Do you have a source for the information on FCPS Staff volunteering their time that you are able to share?"<br /><br />I asked the staff who worked at all the ad hoc committee meetings and public meetings if they were being paid overtime and they said no. They are salaried employees.Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-39761686874578121922017-09-19T11:25:57.804-04:002017-09-19T11:25:57.804-04:00And Thurgood Marshall elected not to send his own ...And Thurgood Marshall elected not to send his own kids to Stuart but to private school. Let them name that school after him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com