Schools

Video: Hynes, Linton Face Off In Hunter Mill Debate

Candidates answer questions about pensions, start time, honors courses at Vienna American Legion

Just five days before voters head to the polls for the Nov. 8 elections, Hunter Mill School Board candidates and faced off Thursday in a debate at Vienna's American Legion, sounding off on topics from school start times, to employee pensions and school board spending.

The debate between the candidates, who are vying for the seat Stu Gibson has occupied for 16 years, included a few pointed moments rare to this race, as Linton, a Herndon resident, said some people she has spoken with felt Hynes was too close to Gibson and would not be able to ask the tough questions of central office's management, particularly, Superintendent Jack Dale.

Hynes, who as a Fairfax County Public School teacher would be the board's lone member with recent classroom experience, clarified the remark, saying her day-to-day role of a teacher has her questioning administration and broader system policy every day.

Find out what's happening in Viennawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"[In a previous statement, I'd said] As a classroom teacher, I'm laborer, central office is management, I have nothing but disagreements with central office right now. I have no problem disagreeing with them, I do it every day," Hynes said.

Patch will run the candidates' responses to audience questions in a series of three video segments. The first four questions can be viewed in the media player above.

Find out what's happening in Viennawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Question 1: How do each of you feel about later start times for high school?

Question 2: I've been hearing a lot about public employee pensions depleting state treasuries. Does Virginia have a similar problem with teacher's pensions? If so, how will it be dealt with?

Question 3: Would you support a Superintendent who agrees with an elementary school principal's decision to ban all forms of competition among the students because it would make some students feel bad, including disallowing an Honor Roll, forbidding PTA fund raising through collection of box tops or banning any competition between classes?

Question 4:How do you feel about offering both AP and Honors versions of classes?

Check Patch later for the second and third segments of video responses.


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