Va. school makes exception for McCain-Palin rally

[HopeHoops]

Source: AP

FAIRFAX, Va. - A Fairfax County high school is hosting a rally for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, in spite of a policy banning political events during school hours.
...
The school system will receive $10,208 in rent from the McCain campaign.
...
School system policy states that "school buildings and grounds may not be used for campaign activities during school hours."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080909/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_school_visit;_ylt=AiEXqLBWkYfDaUKB45zI_Nes0NUE

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Ah, fine Fairfax County, VA - land of the SUV with silly custom wheels and a diverse community of rich white people and richer white people. Oh the shock of it all for this to transpire in such parts.

[firedupdem]

1. Probably didn't even take the rent money n/t

[Virginia Dare]

2. Fairfax County went for Kerry in 2004..

it's the rest of the state that doesn't get it. I'm willing to bet that lots of Obama supporters show up at this rally. It will turn into the zoo, and the school will regret it.

[demnan]

3. Is it Fairfax County or Fairfax City?

If the mayor decided it must be Fairfax City. Robinson is in Fairfax County and they've held Democratic events there before after hours.

I'd like to know where this school is - the local campaign can set up voter registration there during school hours during the event. Anybody know?

[onenote]

7. Fairfax High School is in Fairfax City

However, while Fairfax City has its own elected government and school board, there is an agreement in place between Fairfax City and Fairfax COunty under which the County School Board/Superintendent do most of the actual governance of the school, which explains why the County Super was quoted in the story.

[catgirl]

4. I hope some parents are complaining!

That's BS.

[noonwitch]

12. Obama had a rally at North Farmington High School near Detroit

Yesterday. It's a public school.

[JackintheGreen]

15. different states

different laws

[4lbs]

5. Here's how they'll get around that policy:

Hold the rally on a Saturday.

The policy bans political rallies during school hours. So, they'll strictly interpret that to mean Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 3:00pm, as well as any night time sporting events.

Saturday then, since the kids won't be in school, unless you count the ones serving detention.

[onenote]

6. showing off your ignorance about Fairfax?

Diverse community of rich white people and richer white people? Really? YOu really know your stuff.

NOT.

Fairfax County is wealthy, but its also pretty diverse. 27 percent of its residents were born outside the US and 33 percent of its residents over the age of 5 speak a language other than English at home. The population is 68 percent white, 16 percent Asian, 13 Hispanics, and 10 percent African American.

THe school at which this rally is occurring is located in Fairfax City which is even more diverse. The school population is 49 percent white, 25 percent Asian, 13 percent Hispani, and 10 percent African American.

Fairfax County went for Kerry in 2004, and overwhelmingly for Webb in 2006 and for Obama (in the primary) in Feb 2008.

For the record, I think the decision to hold a rally during the school day at Fairfax High School is a crock and have let my member of the School Board know (and she agrees with me). But next time, do your homework next time instead of talking out of your ass.

[HopeHoops]

16. I lived in Reston for a while and know the area

The comment was partially tongue-in-cheek but not entirely, mostly a reference to Bush and his "base". No dispute with your numbers or the Kerry/Webb vote. I certainly was NOT joking about the SUV thing! Apologies from the speaking rear ;}

[BonnieJW]

8. They moved it.

McCain Rally to Move From Fairfax School After Outcry

By Michael Alison Chandler and Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, September 9, 2008; 1:44 PM



Fairfax County school officials said that a rally scheduled tomorrow for Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will be moved from Fairfax High School, following protests from some School Board members and parents that the event would violate school system policy.

The decision to move the event was made by the McCain campaign, Fairfax schools spokesman Paul Regnier said. He could not specify the new location.

Superintendent Jack D. Dale's original decision to allow the political rally at the school led some board members to say this morning that he had overstepped his authority. The board's bylaws forbid campaign events to be held on campus during school hours.

"Only the School Board has the authority to override a policy," said board member Kaye Kory (Mason). "We did not agree. We did not vote. We didn't discuss. So this is a violation of not our only our policy, but our procedure."

She and other board members said they received dozens of e-mails

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090901663_pf.html

[4lbs]

9. Well there you go.

That should be the end of that.

[Virginia Dare]

10. It was a stupid call to have it there..

they were facing all sorts of backlash I'm sure, not the least of which was from teachers and parents. I hope Jack Dale gets major grief over this. He just dropped about 10 notches in my book.

[Infinite Hope]

11. Fairfax County as far as I know is quite Democratic. n/t

[tannybogus]

13. I taught in Fairfax county.

One school had to deal with 42 different dialects in its student body several years ago.

[bpj62]

14. Fairfax County

First off the Fairfax County School Board can't even do a school redistricting correctly so it doesn't surprise me one bit that Jack Dale screwed this up. Secondly the poster obviously has never lived or visited Fairfax County Virginia. Yes we are one of the wealthiest counties in the country, we are also one of the most educated households in terms of 4 year degrees. This is from the 2000 US census. As a life long resident of NOVA and for the past 11 years a resident of Fairfax County I take great offense at your post. As a prior poster stated Fairfax went for Kerry in 04 and it was Fairfax that put Webb over the top in 06. Gerry Connolly the County supervisor is running to replace Tom Davis and that will give us one more democratic seat in the house. Also Mark Warner lives in Fairfax and we will help get him elected to the Senate as well. By the way I have a small block SUV and a van. my wife is a day care provider and we have three kids of our own so get over yourself. It is people like you who turn democrats off with your utter lack of knowledge. By the way we also voted overwhelmingly for Obama in the March primary.