Name: Sherrie Page
Age: 48
Family: married with two children
Education: high school then cosmetology school
Professional experience: 15 years as a business owner
Local community service/activities:
Vice President and President OES PTO
Orange County Youth Council Board
20 years March of Dimes supporter
Why/how did you come to Orange County?
My husband’s job.
Why are you running for office?
I have two children in school, so I have a vested interest in the school system. I want to make sure they receive the best education possible, as well as all other children in Orange.
Does Orange County sufficiently fund its schools? Why/why not?
I feel Orange schools are not sufficiently funded because teachers are underpaid and have not had a raise in four years. Schools are understaffed, leaving teachers in large classrooms with no aides to help them. Programs have been cut, teachers are split between two schools, and offices are short-handed due to budget cuts.
What are your thoughts on the vacant school in Locust Grove?
If asked a year ago, I am honestly not sure how I would have answered. After attending several board meetings, I have learned that the school will not be vacant very long. As of Oct. 4, our schools had a total of 5,038 children enrolled. OES, PHMS, LGPS, and LGMS are already over projected enrollment for this year.
What are the top three issues facing Orange County Schools?
1. Lack of funding
2. Overcrowding at the high school
3. How to attract and retain qualified teachers
How would you resolve those issues?
1. We have to get a more diversified tax base by attracting more business to Orange. The supervisors need to provide us with adequate funding, comparable to surrounding counties.
2. A trade school would lower the number of students attending the high school. The proposed CTE Center would relieve some of the over crowding.
3. The schools need to implement programs, such as the new Orange County Education Foundation Teacher Innovation Grant and Awards. We also need to be stronger advocates for our teachers by lobbying the state legislators for more financial support.
How can we make vocational and technical education a priority not just in our schools, but also in the community?
The community needs to be aware of the number of students enrolled at OCHS. What kind of jobs are our children going to get? They have little hope if they are not college-bound.
How do we fund it?
Private investors interested in investing in the future of Orange county.
Name a couple things we do right in the schools and a couple things we could do better.
Our teachers and administrators have done a wonderful job preparing our kids for SOL testing. Orange county third-graders ranked 11th out of 132 schools in the state!
Why should someone vote for you?
I am a hard working and honest mom. I am asking for your vote because I have the best interest of Orange county school children at heart. Especially, because two of them are mine.
Name: Judith Pigg Carter
Age: 64
Family: Husband, Henry Lee Carter; five children; nine grandchildren
Education: Graduated from high school. Experienced licensed title insurance agent by the state of Virginia.
Professional experience:
Owner of Germanna Title Company for 21 years. Sold real estate from 1976 to 1990.
Local community service/activities:
Member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, chamber of commerce and Orange Downtown Alliance. Served on the school board from 1988 to 1999 and from 2008 to 2012. Secretary of the electoral board from 2005 through 2008.
Why/how did you come to Orange County?
In looking for a place to live close to North Anna, Orange County was rated the best school system in Central Virginia when I moved here in 1973.
Why are you running for office?
I love the children of Orange County and want to continue to help provide them with the best education opportunities that I can. Public education is something that all citizens owe our young people. My philosophy is that someone paid for my education and now it is my turn. I have a vested interest in our community with grandchildren in our system and two children teaching in our system.
Does Orange County sufficiently fund its schools? Why/why not?
Orange County does not provide above and beyond for our students and employees. We receive only 19.97 percent about what Virginia requires, compared to Madison at 40.18 percent, Greene 66.89 percent, Culpeper 61.84 percent and Louisa 60.58 percent. The economic times we are in makes it hard to raise more money, but it’s up to the board of supervisors to find ways to increase funding for the school system, since the school board cannot tax.
What are your thoughts on the vacant school in Locust Grove?
The decision was based on available federal, state and local funding. It was the best decision at the time. We no longer have children in 16 trailers. With the economy, funds were not available to open the new school and keep the now vacant one open. The enrollment for the new school is 1,200 students and as of Sept. 30, we have 1,068 students in the new school, so this is a temporary solution.
What are the top three issues facing Orange County Schools?
1. Retain good experienced teachers. Over the past two years we have lost 66 teaching positions, not including retirees, with most going to surrounding counties where the salaries are higher. Young teachers need mentors during their first years of teaching, retaining our experienced teachers is imperative.
2. Our employees need a raise, having gone four years without any increase in pay, but they are asked to do more and more. Our employees have really come together to put our students first.
3. Over crowding. The high school is over capacity and building a career and tech center at the cost of $15 million is a lot less expensive than building a new high school at $75 million.
How would you resolve those issues?
1. I strongly support economic development. With economic development we get jobs, sales tax, personal property tax and meals tax, not just real estate taxes. But we have to have a good workforce and a good educational system in order to attract new companies to look at us. The career and technical center would help accomplish both.
2. We need to raise the salaries for all our employees and look for ways to bring money into our community. Planning and vision are essential.
3. The school board does not have taxing power, so I remain in communication with out state senator, delegate and board of supervisors to explore sources of revenue other than real estate taxes.
How can we make vocational and technical education a priority not just in our schools, but also in the community?
I think this program has to come under the umbrella of the school system. However, the community gave a lot of money for the school board to do a study of the needs of our students and the community. The career and technical education center would provide programs for high school students to learn life skills to prepare them for high-tech, high-skill jobs or college opportunities. We need to meet the business needs of Orange County by educating a strong workforce and provide adult continuing education for our community.
How do we fund it?
We need to work with our board of supervisors, state and federal agencies to explore possible grants that support career and tech.
Name a couple things we do right in the schools and a couple things we could do better.
1. Looking at our scores over the past three years we have continued to grow. Our employees are dedicated to our students. All schools that were open during the 2010-2011 school year are fully accredited by the state of Virginia.
2. Our third-graders across the county were ranked 11th in the state on the 2010 reading Standards of Learning (SOL), having a passing rate of 89.6 percent. This is higher than any of our surrounding counties.
3. We have an alternative education program of offering students a way to earn the right to go back to the high school or middle school after being suspended. This school offers subjects that correspond with students’ home school and offers the GED program by the day and night classes. This program has been very successful for students. Without it they would be on the streets unemployed, without a high school diploma.
Things we could do better:
1. We can improve our educational system by paying our employees a salary competitive to our neighboring counties and enable us to retain our most experienced teachers.
2. Work to find new ways to reach our economically disadvantaged and challenged students who did not test well on the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests.
3. Fully fund our extracurricular activities for our students to keep them busy and help keep them out of trouble.
Why should someone vote for you?
I am a vocal advocate for public education. I stay informed with funding and policies from the state and federal government and work well with my fellow school board members. I bring experience to the board. I always put the students of Orange County first and base my votes on what is best for them. I ask for your vote on Nov. 8.
Name: Jim Hopkins
Age: 70
Family: Married to Jean for 38 years, no children.
Education: Masters degree in education from the University of Maryland in 1971. This was followed with an additional 30 hours of post-graduate credits in mathematics and computer science.
Professional experience:
High school music and mathematics teacher (1964 - 1994). While teaching, I served as facility representative to the teacher's association and chairman of the high school’s faculty advisory council. Before retirement I began a second career as a computer programmer with a series of contracts with the Army Research Institute in Alexandria. When my wife and I moved to Lake of the Woods, I continued fulfilling computer programming contracts and began providing professional computer assistance to organizations and individuals within our community.
Local community service/activities:
Member of Lake of the Woods Church and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. I have served the community as a member of the Lake of the Woods Planning Committee for three years. I am presently serving the community as a group leader of the Fredericksburg Personal Computer Users Group, and vice president of Stage Alive Community Concert Association. In addition I have been on the board of directors of the Civic Club of Lake of the Woods for 10 years and served as president for three years. In 2007, I was elected to the Orange County School Board for a four-year term.
Why/how did you come to Orange County?
My wife and I lived in northern Virginia during our professional careers. When we both retired in 1994, we moved to Orange County. The primary reasons we chose Orange County were the Lake of the Woods’ golf course and the county’s close proximity to our nation’s capital. We continue to enjoy attending concerts and dining in Washington, DC.
Why are you running for office?
I believe unequivocally in the value of a public school system that is dedicated to serving and teaching all children. A large portion of our Orange County taxes go to support the public schools. The School Board is responsible for seeing that these funds are spent prudently and in line with the interests of the entire community. It is a privilege to serve on the Orange County School Board and I will work with the other school board members to improve our school system. This includes encouraging and supporting the administration and teachers to provide a quality education for all students.
Does Orange County sufficiently fund its schools? Why/why not?
The new school in the eastern end of the Orange County speaks well for the public’s support for school buildings. But the county’s support for school operations, when compared to our adjacent counties, is strikingly poor. Last year our supervisors provided 20 percent more than was required by law to operate our schools. That sounds commendable until one compares that with our adjacent counties. Madison County provided 40 percent more than was required. Culpeper and Louisa provided 60 percent more than was required. Greene provided an additional 66 percent, Spotsylvania provided an additional 90 percent and Albemarle provided 120 percent more than was required by law.
What are your thoughts on the vacant school in Locust Grove?
The school will not be vacant for long. In September, the Locust Grove enrollment in grades K-5 increased by 47 students. Currently the elementary school is using all the available classroom space on the first floor of the new school building. Superintendent Grimesey announced at the Oct. 4, 2011 school board meeting, that he was going to price out in next year’s budget the cost of moving the elementary school to the vacant school building on Route 20. If it does not happen in 2012, it will definitely happen in 2013.
What are the top three issues facing Orange County Schools?
1.) The public needs to be informed that Orange County’s local support for the school system’s operational budget is far below that of all our adjacent counties.
2.) The school board needs to challenge the myth that Orange County is a poor county and cannot afford to provide the educational services that our adjacent counties provide.
3.) All citizens should be reminded that the quality of education in Orange County Public Schools will determine the future of Orange County.
How would you resolve those issues?
When addressing these issues the most common response is “we cannot afford it.” But the Commonwealth of Virginia clearly states that Orange County’s “ability to pay” is higher than many of our adjacent counties. There may be many good reasons for not financially supporting the public schools but “we can not afford it” is not one of them.
If the public is given the facts, they can decide if their elected officials are acting in the best interest of Orange County. For example, to advocate for economic development without adequately funding the school system, is really putting the cart before the horse. Businesses that have high paying jobs will not consider locating in a county that under funds its public schools.
How can we make vocational and technical education a priority not just in our schools, but also in the community? Everyone knows this is an important priority but it will take money to make it happen. Orange County’s budget is so lean that moving money around is not going to solve this issue. If the county wants a technical education center, the county is going to need additional financial support.
How do we fund it? The Commonwealth of Virginia provides local governments several options for funding projects. It would be prudent to explore all the available options but in the end the majority of the cost will be paid with local tax dollars. The Orange County Education Foundation will continue to seek support for the technical education center but without a major donation or grant, I predict this project will be on hold for some time.
Name a couple things we do right in the schools and a couple things we could do better.
The Virginia Department of Education has reported that all eligible Orange County Public Schools exceeded Virginia’s standards in English, mathematics, history, and science on Standards of Learning tests last year. As a result, all eligible Orange County schools have achieved full state accreditation for the fourth consecutive year. Last year we had eight schools in Orange County but this year we have nine. The new school is Locust Grove Primary School and it will not be eligible for accreditation until it has completed its first year.
Virginia’ Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission has reported that Orange County Public Schools’ third-graders rank 11th in the state on the 2010 reading Standards of Learning test. County wide, Orange’s third-graders had a pass rate of 89.6 percent which was higher than any of our adjacent counties. In fact this pass rate was higher than any of the counties to the north of us.
Third grade is the first time our young students are tested state wide. Reading is a gateway subject. If students have a firm foundation in reading, they will be well equipped to get the most out of their other subjects for years to come. I want to congratulate the students, their parents, and our K-3 teachers for a job well done.
This is an outstanding accomplishment but we can do better. The goal is to have a 100 percent pass rate on all Standards of Learning tests.
Why should someone vote for you?
My background and experience are well suited to bringing a unique point of view to the school board. I am running on my record because much has been accomplished over the past four years. The School Board has streamlined the school system’s administrative office as a cost saving measure, hired an outstanding Superintendent of Schools, and managed to get the new school built during a recession. But there is still more work to be done and I would like to continue to represent the citizens of District V on the Orange County School Board.
Name: Alexis Gray
Age: 42
Family: Married for 17 years, two boys
Education: AOS in Culinary Arts
Professional experience:
Currently a substitute teacher for Orange County, I was an administrative assistant for surgical services, Memorial Health, Savannah, GA.
Local community service/activities:
Currently the secretary for Lake of Woods Ski Club and a 4H leader with two robotic teams. I was a PTO President for LGES and a Cub Scout leader.
Why/how did you come to Orange County?
My husband got a job in Washington, DC in 2006. We loved Lake of the Woods as soon as we saw it.
Why are you running for office?
Because I have a vested interest in our schools. I want to make a difference in the lives of the children I teach and really care about.
Does Orange County sufficiently fund its schools? Why/why not?
No it does not! Orange County's capacity to pay for education is ranked 27th in the state but it chooses to pay much less and we are ranked 127th out of 136 school districts.
What are your thoughts on the vacant school in Locust Grove?
The budget for that school year was sufficiently short that Dr. Grimesey and the school board had to make decisions and use their brains and not their hearts. It was a very difficult but necessary decision to make.
What are the top three issues facing Orange County Schools?
1. Teacher retention is expected to be on the rise.
2. An overcrowded high school that's at 107 percent capacity right now and will continue to get worse not better.
3. County funding needs to increase.
How would you resolve those issues?
1. First of all I couldn't do it alone, we have to work as a team and collaborate and discuss many ideas to "fix" the problems.
2. For teacher retention I'd like to see if we could at least look at a cost of living increase.
3. Try to have another meeting with the board of supervisors regarding the CTE and this time have their constituents tell them that meeting must take place.
How can we make vocational and technical education a priority not just in our schools, but also in the community? Show people the numbers. Don't use blanket statements that "our child population is increasing.” Next year OCHS will be over its capacity by at least 80 students and by 2014 that number will increase to approximately 150 students (and that's with no growth). Where will those kids be taught when there are no classrooms left? I think there is a larger acceptance of the CTE center than you think, especially when you tell the parents of elementary school-age kids what their children will be facing when they get to the high school. They want those changes now.
How do we fund it?
In this time of limited funding we should be fostering partnerships with local and national corporations and entities.
Name a couple things we do right in the schools and a couple things we could do better.
We have some very caring teachers and staff that have stayed with the school systems for a number of years but in these lean economic times they may not stay for much longer. All Orange County Schools have met accreditation. Security level at the high school needs improvement. From a teacher's point of view I think we give too much redundant testing.
Why should someone vote for you?
This follows why I'm running for this position. Because I have a vested interest in our schools. I want to make a difference in the lives of the children I teach and really care about.
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