An Open Letter to the WC School Board

Dear Warren County School Board Members,

It is my understanding that the Warren County School Board (WCSB), after dissolving its relationship with the Virginia School Board Association (VSBA), may contract with the School Board Member Association (SBMA), a recently created alliance whose stated mission is to support “traditional academics” and “educational freedom”. But as explored below, exactly what does that mean?

This letter has two asks: (1) that you reject SBMA and (2) that you rejoin VSBA.

Why rejoin VSBA?

VSBA, in contrast to SBMA, has advocacy for pro-public schools as one of its main goals. As legislative chair for retired public teacher associations in nine counties, I closely follow education legislation enacted by the General Assembly and monitor groups that lobby for excellence in public schools.

VSBA’s advocacy this year has resulted in $2.5 billion in new funding for K-12 education for FY-2024 through FY-2026. VSBA lobbied for the passage of 30 education bills that may directly and positively impact the lives of Warren County students. For example, beginning next school year, students in Grades 9-12 are to learn about the risks to health and safety posed by opioids. They will learn how to administer medication to reverse an overdose, and public school nurses must be trained in this procedure with the now-mandated school supply of naloxone.

Why reject SBMA?

By signing onto SBMA, WCSB members must pledge to align themselves with all aspects of SBMA’s mission statement. Here are two of them:

SBMA wants “traditional academics” to be the primary focus in Virginia’s K-12 education system. That term may be misleading. It may be a cover-up for a pedagogy that was abandoned long ago: student rote learning versus the newer methodology of student/group hands-on activities; siloed subjects versus integrated, interdisciplinary subjects; a single unified curriculum for all students versus student choice of different kinds of classes. Moreover, traditional academics may offer no accommodations for special-needs students and no utilization of lesson plans based on student interests and learning styles.

SBMA wants “educational freedom” for Virginia families. That term may be misleading. It may be a cover-up for promoting educational institutions other than those of public schools. I could not find “public school” in SBMA’s literature. However, VSBA, in contrast to SBMA, aims to advocate effectively for Virginia’s public schools and before all levels of government.

In light of the above, I urge Warren County School Board members to reject SBMA and rejoin VSBA.

Sincerely yours,

Jeanne Trabulsi
Front Royal, VA

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their own judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.

In submitting a letter to the editor, authors grant the newspaper the right to publish, edit, reproduce, or distribute the content in print, online, or in any other form.

We value the engagement of our readers and encourage open and constructive discussions on various topics. However, the Royal Examiner retains the right to reject any letter that contains offensive language, personal attacks, or violates any legal regulations. Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community of readers and contributors, and we look forward to receiving your diverse perspectives on matters of interest and importance.

History repeats itself.

Ronald Reagan asked a famous question: “Are you better now than you were 4 years ago?”

The wisdom of our founding state and local fathers incorporated the value of nonpartisan elections into state laws and local charters. They intended to elect quality candidates that would focus on local issues and not party dogma (which includes our school boards) in building the quality of life in our individual communities. They felt that at this level, partisan politics would only repress the communities’ ability to make good community decisions.

With the increased activity and influence of party-endorsed candidates in our nonpartisan elections, are we better now in Front Royal than we were 2 years ago?

Over the last several years, we have witnessed many decisions made by the Town Council that were made more for the self-interest of the Council than for our citizens. Most of the Town Council elected individuals were endorsed and financially supported by the local party in these nonpartisan elections. Every day, we become aware of more situations that confirm this type of activity, which shows the lack of action addressing many of the important issues facing our community of these candidates, past and present.

I hope that the people in our community will choose the most qualified people to run for these nonpartisan positions.  Again, some great non-endorsed individuals are running, like Tom Eshelman (Mayor), Glen Wood, and Walt Mabe (Council ), who will make the necessary changes moving forward.

I have always been told I am a glass-half-full guy, but my expectations from our community change are very low.

Again, I hope I will be proved wrong.

I want everybody to make a list and share with other citizens some of the questionable decisions made by this current Council over the last 2 years.

It’s quite enlightening but sad that we keep electing the same individuals and expect different outcomes.

We have so much potential in our community. Still, with the current group of elected officials having a very limited vision of what we could become, it will continue to be difficult.

Michael Graham
Front Royal, VA

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.

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We live in a time in which we are told we can have it all.  Everyone gets a trophy, and the line between “wants” and “needs” is blurred.  We forget that the government cannot spend without first taking through taxes.  All the improvements and new services we ask for come at a price; they are paid for by increasing taxes.

Most families are feeling the pain of inflation right now, having to sit down and take a serious look at household budgets to find areas of spending to cut (cancel Netflix and that gym membership) and put off those dreams of future spending (shorter vacation this year and can’t do the kitchen renovation just yet).   While we may really WANT to buy a new couch, we NEED to pay the mortgage and buy groceries.  Adult life is full of choices, and the harsh reality is that we can’t have it all.

When we look at wish lists and realize we can’t afford to do it all right now, should we consider that a true budget cut?  I would argue no.  When I think of “cutting a budget,” I think of looking at actual spending that is already taking place, to find areas to get rid of non-essential items (no more daily lattes), finding better deals (buying store brand), or renegotiating existing contracts (calling the cable company to request a better price or cut the HBO).  When discussing the WCPS proposed budget, it appears we have now confused cutting wish list items of future spending as being the same as “cutting the budget.”  The hypothetical cuts of wished-for items are NOT real budget cuts.  When your child hands you a Christmas wish list, and you opt not to purchase every item on that list, does that mean you cut your budget?  Of course not!  It simply means you prioritized and made choices regarding which new things to buy.

Months ago, our school system put out a proposed budget of wish list items, no true cuts to existing spending were made.  Now, the school system must work to prioritize the extra spending requested.  The state has increased school funding by about $4 million, and the county will fund schools the same amount as last year since they needed to prioritize funding the increase to public safety needs (police and fire).  Overall, the school budget will increase by about 4.3%; this additional money will fund some, but not all, of the items on the budget wish list.

Teacher raises plus earned salary step increases, adding 4 reading specialist positions instead of just 3, having the school division cover the cost of rate increases for health insurance, replacing the tennis courts ($1.5 million), replacing the stage curtains at both high schools ($50k/each), adding a $100k per year communications position to central office, expanding the agriculture program by adding a teacher….these are all examples of items the school system has requested to add—some examples of what is on the school’s wish list.  As adults, we must be able to pay for what we wish for.   Now comes the difficult task where priorities must be evaluated and the hard choices made because there is not enough money to add everything.  Like your household budget, if they take a hard look at where money is already being spent and can find places to cut back, this will free up more funding for these newly requested items.  For instance, would it be worth bringing subs back in-house to avoid ESS’s 31% management fee on this million-dollar line item?  Lots of “this OR that” decisions must be made before July 1^st.  Which items would you prefer to see funded?

Let me know:  msalins@wcps.k12.va.us

Melanie Salins
Warren County, VA

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.

In submitting a letter to the editor, authors grant the newspaper the right to publish, edit, reproduce, or distribute the content in print, online, or any other form.

We value our readers’ engagement and encourage open and constructive discussions on various topics. However, the Royal Examiner retains the right to reject any letter that contains offensive language, personal attacks, or violations of any legal regulations. Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community of readers and contributors, and we look forward to receiving your diverse perspectives on matters of interest and importance.

Funding for the education of our county’s future citizens should be done without question, and yet there is time and time again a funding shortfall for the public schools of Warren County. When will the children be first?

We have continued to meet the budget needs of our Sheriff’s department. I know the importance of our county’s Sheriff’s department, and I also know that not investing in our children’s education system is a future investment in the needs of our Sheriff’s department. The place that all too often sees humans at their lowest points. The place that has continued to see the effects of those children who fall through the cracks. Every person arrested or found in a crisis was once a child in school.

Every person was once a child in school.

Our investment in our schools gives us a unique opportunity to allow children to see their value and to learn what it means to be good, civic-minded citizens of the world. And to provide education that creates productive, prosperous people. Even if it means something as simple as knowing the value in a smile or finding passion in a future career path. Our schools and phenomenal educators teach all this and, of course, so much more as our state prescribes hundreds of standardized benchmarks to lead to educational success. And yet, our county continues not to prioritize the children.

Our schools, their teachers, and administrators are dealing with major issues related to staffing. Schools that are perpetually underfunded will continue to be understaffed. The schools struggling to meet state and federal accreditation standards in this county not only have the most staffing issues, but those staffing issues affect the students most in need. Students who are affected by low income and who have higher special education levels. Students are more likely to fall through the cracks.

This is an endless cycle. A cycle of high needs, understaffing, and low support contributes to conditions that cause accreditation issues and disciplinary issues, ultimately failing our students most in need of an education system that will prepare them for their future.

What will it be? Who will Warren County become? When will we invest? When will we stop allowing children to fall through the cracks? When will prevention be prioritized? When will the children be first?

Sarah Downs
Skyline High School Alum
Front Royal, VA

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.

In submitting a letter to the editor, authors grant the newspaper the right to publish, edit, reproduce, or distribute the content in print, online, or any other form.

We value our readers’ engagement and encourage open and constructive discussions on various topics. However, the Royal Examiner retains the right to reject any letter that contains offensive language, personal attacks, or violations of any legal regulations. Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community of readers and contributors, and we look forward to receiving your diverse perspectives on matters of interest and importance.

Wow, what a beautiful day. The flower baskets are incredible. Thank you to the Town and Beautification Committee. Main Street hasn’t looked better. But wait, what’s that eyesore at the end of the street? It couldn’t be the Historic Afton Inn! No way that was supposed to have been renovated into a delightful restaurant early last year. Or was it this year or when the builder got done with another project (completed a while ago)?

Yes, our favorite ruins are looking shabbier and shabbier. The windows that were boarded up with flower paintings are falling in, and the cupola on the roof has taken an ominous lean, with bricks starting to dribble dangerously down.

So where is the builder (a continuous question), and where are the town leaders – all you get from them are a shrug and “we can’t do anything about it.” The same answer comes when you ask about the other eyesores in Town. I am told that a Town bureaucrat has deemed these buildings “safe” because they have been boarded up. These rodent-infested fire traps have been vacant for well over forty years.

Forty years of inaction, scams, bribes, and embezzlement. A proud heritage. But a continued heritage nonetheless. Why have our town leaders, year after year and for decades, turned a blind eye to these piles of rubbish? There have been numerous stories about debilitating attempts by the Town to buy some of the properties.

Now that Jennifer is off to prison, the shenanigans on who got what in the under-the-table deals with the EDA. The current developer placed a sign on the fence surrounding the Afton, stating proudly, “Completion by summer 2023”. But then he started building something elsewhere and couldn’t handle two projects. On various occasions, he has refused to talk in public to the Town Council. Phone calls to his office are either not answered or not returned. The town has been handed a pile of sticks for the famed Avtex renovation/construction.

Come on, do the right thing. Tell the Zoning Board that they work for the Council AND the people. True, the Zoning mafia isn’t elected, but still. As this goes on, things start to look sketchy as to why a town would not want to put its best foot forward. Sorry, can’t blame Jennifer, COVID, or UFOs on this one.

Fritz Schwartz
Front Royal, VA

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.

In submitting a letter to the editor, authors grant the newspaper the right to publish, edit, reproduce, or distribute the content in print, online, or any other form.

We value our readers’ engagement and encourage open and constructive discussions on various topics. However, the Royal Examiner retains the right to reject any letter that contains offensive language, personal attacks, or violations of any legal regulations. Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community of readers and contributors, and we look forward to receiving your diverse perspectives on matters of interest and importance.

“Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One’s standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intended to.” —Theodore Dalrymple (Anthony Malcolm Daniels)

Political correctness has morphed into something at once hysterical and hideous: transgenderism. It’s largely recognized as a component of wokeness, which is a tool of Cultural Marxism, which it might be said, Cultural Marxists will deny exists.

In a very recent interview with Riley Gaines, an NCAA women’s champion swimmer, and now activist for the rights of women in sports, Ben Shapiro asked her what was the “wakeup moment” for her that caused her to realize she could not conform to the insanity imposed upon her by her school—the University of Kentucky, by the NCAA, and by America’s sports writers.

Describing the moment she realized she could no longer tolerate the lie, Gaines recounted how, when she tied with Lia (William) Thomas in the 200 freestyle final at the NCAA Women’s Championships in 2022, [https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/riley-gaines-i-left-there-with-no-trophy-after-tie-with-lia-thomas-kentucky-standout-disappointed-with-ncaa/] and the official told her that they only had one trophy and it had to go to Thomas.

“The NCAA official looks at both Thomas and myself, Thomas towering over me, and the official says, ‘Great job you two, but you tied and we only have one trophy. So we’re going to give the trophy to Lia. Sorry, Riley, you don’t get one,’” Gaines remembered.

When she asked why, the official told her they had been advised that it was crucial Thomas was holding the trophy when photos were taken. “That’s what the unfair competition looked like,” Gaines said.

This trophy incident was the moment she decided she had to do something, Gaines said. Since then, the former UK swimmer has been an outspoken advocate for girls’ sports. The idea that lies can be truth is absurd, but then, we have seen the absurd for so long, we have gradually come to accept it. For Gaines, this was the moment, when she realized she was smiling and applauding the absurd. This was the moment Riley Gaines woke up: when the scales fell from her eyes.

During her interview, Gaines makes the comment: “Biology is not bigotry.” This is obviously a fundamental truth and a powerful buzz phrase that elegantly and unassailably confronts the transgender trope of our age. This age is deserving of comparison to any communist—or socialist—regime in the modern era. Because to disagree with biology as fact must not, and will not, be tolerated by the powerful. The same powerful—whether they be the politician, the corporate executive, the journalist, the educator, or the judge—who will impose upon the ordinary citizen, the crushing authority of an evil doctrine. All too sadly, this evil doctrine has gathered a small and ardent army of adherents.

Happily, Gaines is gradually being joined by soldiers-in-arms, and some are frequently, and most vocally, accomplished women in their own right.

I am thinking of women like Rosario Butterfield, who is now making headway within the Christian communities who are wavering in the onslaught of insidious incursion into the Church body by heresies like “Side B Gay Christianity.” While appearing on Alissa Childers’ podcast she discussed transgenderism, and explained why she believes it’s the sin of envy. Butterfield is saying transgenderism is a product of “feminism which says there is an immutable difference between biological sex and ‘cultural’ gender.” Feminists made the mistake of believing they don’t need biological sex at all because we have cultural transgender. Her conversation with Childers can be seen here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsiSTC3UlE0] You can read a brief statement here: [https://rosariabutterfield.com/new-blog/2018/2/14/how-should-we-understand-transgenderism-what-is-the-realtionship-between-the-lgb-and-t] In it she says, “Using the definitions of our culture, sexual orientation is who you want to go to bed with, and gender identity is who you want to go to bed as. Both terms are driven by the idol of sexual autonomy.”

Another fighter defending against the war on children and women, is Abigail Shrier, whose seminal best-selling books, “Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up,” and, “Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters,” are integral in fully comprehending the tide of transgender ideology. Both books reveal the connection between intrusive psychiatric intervention and so-called care, with the astonishingly rapid and epidemic growth of transgenderism in young girls.

She writes, “While all this sexual identity politics marches through the front door, a large-scale robbery is taking place: the theft of women’s achievement. The more incredible a woman is, the more barriers she busts through, the more “gender nonconforming” she is deemed to be. In this perverse schema, by definition, the more amazing a woman is, the less she counts as a woman.” —Abigail Shrier, “Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters”

It escapes me how anyone can fail to see the irony in Marxist feminism, a radical branch of feminism, which uses Karl Marx’s theories to assert that women are exploited by capitalism and private property. They argue that women are oppressed by the gendered structures of capitalism and the patriarchal family. Thus, Marxist feminists view capitalism and the family as institutions of oppression that must be destroyed. Ask Riley Gaines, who is exploiting her.

The task before us is not to change this culture on its own terms—by power and intimidation. It’s our job as believers to change people first, with the truth, who in turn will change the culture. That’s the only way this works, because the only true power in this struggle is the God of the Bible, and with God, people always matter most.

• For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. —2 Corinthians 10:3-5

J. Jeff Toler
Shenandoah Christian Alliance