Yvonne Folkerts for School Board

Election Day - May 5th.

I ask for your support on Tuesday, May 5th.  As Chairman of the Alexandria School Board, I have worked hard to help institute positive change within ACPS so that all students - at all levels of ability -are given opportunities to reach their highest level of achievement.  As a Board, we have passed a five year plan to elevate Alexandria schools to an international standard of success.  We are honing curriculum (math, science, writing), strengthening our middle schools, and expanding our pre-K focus to get all kids started off well.

We have challenges to address:  increasing student enrollment and tightening budgets, among them.

However, I am optimistic that we can deliver responsible budgets that do not sacrifice student achievement and that maintain a focus on the classroom experience:  effective class sizes, excellent teaching, and a strong and engaging curriculum.

I look forward to the next three years as an opportunity to continue to build upon the positive changes that we have started.  Thank you. 

Dear Friends...

            With great enthusiasm, I’m announcing my intention to seek re-election to the Alexandria School Board, representing District B.   It’s been an honor to serve you, and all of the 11,200 students and their families in the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) for the last three years.

            I am asking you, my friends and neighbors, for your support and your vote on May 5.

            If re-elected, I pledge to continue improving communications, seeking higher achievement for all students, and managing wisely your tax dollars.  In the last three years, we’ve recruited an experienced and dynamic new superintendent, introduced open enrollment honors classes in social studies and language arts at our middle schools; introduced Chinese as a foreign language; required testing of all second graders (beginning in the 2009-2010 academic year) for placement in the talented and gifted pool of candidates; and worked to increase the number of students enrolled in Algebra I by the eighth grade.

             This school year, I’ve had the privilege of serving as Chairman of the School Board.  I’ve strived to create an atmosphere of collaboration and collegiality among board members.  Together, we established goals for the 2008-09 school year; initiated a five-year strategic plan; began planning for the anticipated increased enrollment the next three years; and introduced our new superintendent to ACPS and the community.  Furthermore, we are strengthening elementary science instruction; improving literacy skills among elementary students; introducing high-level science courses and internships for high school students; and working to identify all students “at promise” in the middle schools and increase their math proficiency.

             While we’ve made significant progress, challenges remain.  Finding solutions for these challenges is what motives me to seek re-election.

             School enrollments are increasing while the budget is tightening.  This school year, ACPS experienced the highest percentage enrollment increase in the state of Virginia – nearly 700 new students.  Meanwhile, we’re expecting a decline in next year’s school budget.  Already this year our operating budget is estimated at $197 million, a decrease of more than $2 million from the current year. 

In short, we must continue to be responsive to the current economy, must prepare for the increased enrollment, and make certain that neither of these factors be a barrier to advancing student achievement.  I have the leadership and experience to help us address these issues and make the difficult decisions.

If you’re willing to help me win re-election to the School Board on May 5, I invite you to post a yard sign, distribute literature in your neighborhood, host a “meet-and-greet,” raise funds, help with mailings, allow your name to be used as an endorsement, or help make phone calls closer to the election.   Send an e-mail to Yvonne@yvonnefolkerts.com if you'd like to help. To make a campaign contribution, send a check payable to “Friends of Yvonne Folkerts” to 4124 Ft. Worth Place, Alexandria, VA 22304 (my husband Brian is my campaign treasurer.)

 If you’re on Facebook, sign up for my page, “Friends of Yvonne Folkerts for School Board” to learn more about me and my ideas.  I look forward to hearing from you and working with you so that together, we can work for our children’s education.

See you on the campaign trail,

Yvonne