Alexandria Gazette Packet 25 Cents Vol
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Alexandria Gazette Packet 25 Cents Vol. CCXXV, No. 23 Serving Alexandria for over 200 years • A Connection Newspaper June 11, 2009 Favorite Son Falls Short After primary, Brian Moran returns to his law practice. By Michael Lee Pope in the days leading up to the election, as the mo- Gazette Packet mentum began moving toward Deeds — once con- sidered a long-shot candidate who was ignored dur- rian Moran put everything on the line, re- ing much of the campaign as Moran and McAuliffe signing from his leadership position in the traded barbs. In a brief concession speech to disap- BHouse of Delegates to concentrate on his pointed supporters, Moran described Deeds as an “in- race for governor. Then he rolled out a se- vincible” opponent to take on the Republican chal- ries of progressive policy initiatives before launch- lenger in the general election, former Attorney Gen- ing a harsh campaign against eral Bob McDonnell. chief Democratic rival Terry “We sat together for six McAuliffe — culminating in a “Brian is not wealthy, years,” Moran said of Deeds, regular feature his campaign who represents Bath County. dubbed the “Pinocchio Report” so now he’s got to get “Maybe a lot of my policy posi- challenging the campaign tions rubbed off on him, and by Photo rhetoric of the former chairman back to work and build that’s how he got elected.” of the Democratic National up his law practice.” Committee. ALTHOUGH MORAN SPENT Louise Krafft Ultimately, though, it was — John Moran years crisscrossing the state to state Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-25) recruit candidates for the Gen- who won on Election Day by snagging 50 percent of eral Assembly and built a base of endorsements from the vote statewide. McAuliffe came in second place local officials across the commonwealth, he was un- with 26 percent. Although he was once considered able to win more than a handful of jurisdictions — /Gazette Packet the front-runner, Moran found himself in third place Alexandria, Dinwiddie, Hampton and Petersburg. with 24 percent. The former delegate and his family And even though he won every precinct in Alexan- took the stage at the Hilton Mark Center shortly af- dria, he was not able to score victory in the eighth ter 8 p.m. Tuesday night to concede the race. congressional district — the seat that his older “You guys have to go to school tomorrow,” Moran brother has represented in Congress since 1991. said to his two young children, who attend “He overreacted to McAuliffe when he should have MacArthur Elementary School. “Sorry.” Brian Moran addresses his supporters Tuesday night The mood among Moran supporters had been grim See City Voters, Page 5 after losing the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Change Approved Despite Concerns Eyeing November 2012 City Council is set to consider the School Board passes plan for five smaller, close-knit fate of May elections this weekend. schools to improve SOL scores and graduation rates. By Michael Lee Pope nicipal elections from May to No- Gazette Packet vember, city politics is about to en- By Maham Ayaz and school. “Almost everybody was against it except counter the most dramatic change Erica Kicak-Vanderhoeven for one person,” said Timothy. “They just thought et ready to say goodbye since the old ward system was Gazette Packet it was a stupid idea.” Gto May elections. And get abolished in the 1950s. The item However, the School Board passed the proposal ready for a lengthy No- is on the docket for this Saturday, imothy Bender, a sixth grader at George for the new middle school model on Thursday, vember ballot. when council members will hear TWashington Middle June 4. It will divide GW into two and Hammond With a majority of City Council public comment on the issue and School, learned about the into three smaller schools with members now publicly supporting proposed middle school plan dur- 450 students in each school, a proposed ordinance to move mu- See Council, Page 4 ing the school morning announce- “We don’t have within their respective buildings. ments on Friday, May 22. A few Currently, the middle schools are every specific 22314 VA Alexandria, hours later, he discussed the is- divided by grade level and then To: 1604 King St., King 1604 To: ted sue with his social studies class, answer and every into teams, where students take Reques Service Address began a petition against the classes together and have the material. changes, gained 70 supporters specific detail same teachers. The new model Time-sensitive Postmaster: during lunch, and had 143 signa- will take the team concept several Attention tures by the end of the school day. spelled out yet.” Permit #482 Permit Many GW students were See New Middle School, VA Alexandria, — Charles Wilson, PAID against the changes to their Page 8 Postage U.S. School Board member STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ June 11-17, 2009 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ June 11-17, 2009 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Council Notebook News Junk and Trunks For years, Councilman Paul Smedberg has been trying to bring some sense of consistency to how city officials demand new busi- nesses purchase trash cans and plant trees. Now, finally, the coun- Student Autism Rates Rise cilman can count a newly crafted policy as hard-won battle that was years in the making. “Some people might see this as trivial and Schools adjust system. A major difficulty is very small,” said Smedberg. “But it’s a policy decision.” the varying spectrum of au- Time and time again, Smedberg has questioned city officials on for estimated tism: Some people with au- why they chose to charge some permit applicants for a trash can tism may present with severe while others were not bothered. More recently, the argument grew 12.2 percent impairments, while others to incorporate demands that special-use permit applicants plant have more mild symptoms. trees near their business. Just last month, the councilman grilled increase. staffers on why they hadn’t added a $250 tree-planting fee to a WHAT SOME STUDENTS By Erica Kicak- new restaurant known as “Burger Joint” — eventually adding the with autism need to be suc- Vanderhoeven fee to the permit as a friendly amendment. cessful in school can be com- “I hate to be this picky,” he said at the time. “But we need consis- Gazette Packet pletely different from the tency.” Enter the city’s new policy on trees and trash cans. Adopted needs of other students. by City Council members Tuesday night, the new rules require spe- 12.2 percent in As Deborah Hammer, one cial-use permit applicants to pay one lump sum contribution that crease is projected of two autism resource spe- would go into a joint infrastructure fund for street trees and trash A in the number of cialists employed by the cans. Although Councilman Rob Krupicka suggested a $300 fee, students with au- school system’s central office, Smedberg persuaded his colleagues that a $500 contribution would tism from this school year to the said, “People with autism are be appropriate — but not before expressing his frustration. start of school in September, just like any other people — “It took five years to get to this stupid point,” he said before vot- mirroring the growth nation- they’re individuals …. Accom- ing to adopt the new plan. wide. The increase leaves the modations are completely dif- city schools trying to figure out ferent.” how best to help students with All special education stu- Here Today, Gone Tomorrow a wide range of needs. Shawn Williams works as a dents have their own Indi- Uncle Sam may be spreading more stimulus largess to children According to Virginia Com- paraprofessional in special vidual Education Plans in Alexandria — specifically 54 low-income children. But don’t ex- monwealth Autism Services, education at Cora Kelly (IEPs), which determine the pect the generosity to last. This week, the City Council approved a autism is characterized by re- Elementary School. best way for the student to be new grant application for one-time funding for the Head Start pro- stricted, almost obsessive, in- served by the school system. gram through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The terests and behaviors, and qualitative impairments Any given student with autism can have a different money would fund an expansion of the existing program serving in social skills and communication, which make it IEP than any other student with a diagnosis of au- 252 children by filling Head Start classrooms to capacity. Yet even difficult for those with the disorder to relate to oth- tism. One major point of the IEP is having students if the stimulus money were approved, the new money would only ers. There is no definitive answer for why there is in the “Least Restrictive Environment.” “Least Restric- serve a portion of the need in Alexandria. such a rise in diagnoses of autism. Some researchers tive Environments” can range from students being “The current Head Start waiting list stands at more than 200 suspect that childhood vaccines or food additives sent to residential facilities to students spending the plus,” wrote City Manager Jim Hartmann in a memorandum could be the culprit, while others believe that au- majority of their time in mainstream classrooms. Sixty explaining the stimulus application. “The need for services for low- tism is being diagnosed more frequently simply be- of the projected 83 students with autism who will be income children, age three to five, is also confirmed by data from cause people are more aware of autism than they in the school system next year will be spending the the program’s annual community assessment.” The application ap- were in the past.