Letter to the Editor: Education Forward, When?

Dear Patch,

I've not had sufficient time to fully reflect since Saturday's convention -- congratulations to the victors -- but I believe that the most shared call among the candidates was to address “the school situation.” It remains to be seen whether meaningful action will now follow the victors’ words.

Choices will need to be made. Post-convention, it will be too easy for the victors to pull back and remind everyone seeking action that the School Board is the real body with jurisdiction; that the Council’s ability to effect the schools is really limited. Or maybe they will point to the Education Forward Committee as where the action is, suggesting that they are staying outside of the fray so as to not disrupt the Committee’s work. In other words there will be no shortage of excuses to pull back from campaign talk and really do something. Action always presents a larger target then inaction.

So attention is naturally focused on the Committee. But is the Committee ready to act? Are they even remotely close to acting? Predictable FTP (“fear of taking positions”) has afflicted the Committee’s work leading up to yesterday’s convention. It would not be surprising for the Committee to continue suffering FTP through the general election. Then what? Does the Committee’s composition change due to the election resulting in even further delay?

As difficult as it may be, now is when the Committee should plow forward and do everything it can to come up with concrete recommendations in advance of the general election. That would force everyone to take a position. Then we can see who is talking the talk and who is walking the walk. Voters will be better informed if they know the candidates’ real positions on concrete recommendations prior to the election. And maybe, just maybe, a real plan will be adopted and education in Manassas will move forward sooner than later.

Rich Meyer