Welcome to my online constituent office. We hope you will find this website to be a useful one-stop portal for any needs you might have from the Virginia state government. We have included information to help you better understand how our government works.
You can also keep up with the policy-making process in the General Assembly during the weeks that I am working in Richmond by reading my blogs and Twitter updates.
As your State Delegate, I’m here to serve you so please contact me with any questions or services you need. I am particularly interested in hearing about ways to make our laws work better for all of us so please do not hesitate to send me policy ideas that I may be able to propose in Richmond. I am honored to represent you and I look forward to meeting you in person.
Thank you,
- DelegateKeam: Presented another Richmond report to civic group: Sully District Council. 35th Dist has only 1 precinct in Sully - called Vale - out of 18.
- DelegateKeam: Witnessing the investiture of new Fairfax Couny Circuit Court Judge Brett Kassabian whom we voted in this session. Congrats, Your Honor!
- DelegateKeam: At NoVA Asian American community town hall hosted by Virginia Asian American Advisory Board. I served on this Governor's board in 2001-09.
- DelegateKeam: Attending "Unlock Gridlock" forum in Tysons hosted by www.TeleworkVA.org and www.TeleworkExchange.com to find solutions for NoVA traffic.
- DelegateKeam: Providing another Richmond report to constituents; this time Providence District Council in Dunn Loring. Most active civic leaders I know.
Posts Tagged ‘Schools’
Washington Post publishes letter from constituent
Eric Boyle is a friend and constituent in the 35th District, who wrote to the Washington Post with a common concern of so many parents in our district. I hope more constituents will pay attention to the short shrift we’re about to receive from Richmond as the budget shortfall is expected to harm Fairfax County more than other localities.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/02/fighting_for_fairfax_kindergar.html
Fighting for Fairfax kindergartners
By Eric Boyle
Vienna
Regarding the Feb. 2 Metro article “Banding together in protest”:
As the parent of two children in Fairfax County Public Schools, I, too, have been fighting to protect programs. But I was disappointed that this article focused only on the pageantry and the preparation skills of the protesters. The discussion should also include the impact on academic achievement and return on investment.
I am working with dozens of Fairfax parents who are deeply concerned about full-day kindergarten. Some of us have opened Facebook groups; we also have online petitions with hundreds of signatures; and we are vigorously writing to our elected officials.
Those most affected by these cuts include people who may not be fully cognizant of the ongoing discussions — parents of incoming kindergartners, especially from poorer or immigrant communities. By investing in those children’s educations early, Fairfax could save future expenditures to help some of these children catch up to their peers.
At a recent budget hearing, when I pleaded my case just as passionately as those in band uniform or speaking foreign languages, I noted that the children I’m fighting for couldn’t attend. It was already past their bedtime.
// By washingtonpost.com editors | February 4, 2010; 7:44 PM ET
Town Hall meeting with State Senator Chap Petersen
On Saturday, January 23, I held my first town hall meeting with Senator Petersen, in the heart of the Town of Vienna. Big thanks to the American Legion Dyer-Gunnell Post 180 and it’s Auxiliary for hosting the event, as well as to Mayor Jane Seeman and other leaders of the Town of Vienna for inviting citizens to join us. We had a great turnout of almost 100 constituents who were eager to learn the latest happenings in our State government and who came with lots of good questions for us.
As summarized on Chap’s blog (http://oxroadsouth.com/2010/01/24/town-hall-in-vienna.aspx), the two of us gave an overview of the economy and political climate in the Commonwealth, and focused on the critical budget process we’re about to take on. There is really no good news on any front. The national and state economic indications are still somewhat gloomy, with unemployment numbers and housing markets still far behind. The new Governor and the General Assembly must cut almost $4 billion in our biennial budget for 2010-2012 to meet our balance, and there are no easy answers to where we will find the savings.
The biggest cost factor for Fairfax County is what happens with our local composite index (LCI) which determines how much state support our schools receive (http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/budget/compositeindex_local_abilitypay/index.shtml). The background on this complicated issue has been written extensively by other Northern Virginia lawmakers so I’ll just cite these sources here to save repetition:
http://delegatedavealbo.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/school-funding-local-composite-index/
http://scottsurovell.blogspot.com/2009/12/richmonds-attack-on-middle-class.html
http://oxroadsouth.com/2010/01/19/fighting-the-lci-freeze-on-the-senate-floor-2.aspx
Bottom line is that we are now facing a shorfall of over $61 million for Fairfax County schools because the outgoing Governor’s budget would “freeze” the downward adjustment of our LCI at a time when the index finally recognizes that Fairfax is not as ”wealthy” as we once were.
I have introduced 2 bills (HB 1128 and HB 1129) to address this patently unfair treatment of Fairfax students, parents and taxpayers, and I hope to have my bills considered soon. I’ve also co-patroned budget amendments to fix the LCI formula for this upcoming budget cycle.
The town hall was a great opportunity for me to reconnect with constituents after the holiday season which was followed by a hectic move down to Richmond. After spending 10 days in the Capitol and getting used to the arcane ways of the legislature, I was very happy to return home and see some friendly local faces. It is truly an honor to be able to represent the fine citizens of Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring and Fairfax. I look forward to returning every weekend to see the great folks of the 35th District.