Being the mother of an autistic child has had a profound effect on Manassas Park resident Rachel Kirkland.
So much so, in fact, that it was one of the reasons why she ended up submitting her resume for the lone School Board vacancy.
"I think motherhood has emboldened me, it made me a different person," Kirkland said. "My experience of being an activist for my son in the community, I think the city could benefit from some activism."
Those efforts in the community have now paid dividends, as the Manassas Park City Council appointed her to the School Board on Tuesday. She will begin the three-year term on July 1, supplanting current chairman Jason Sowalla.
Kirkland, Sowalla and Stacey Seiberling all ran for the position.
Kirkland said she almost didn't run because of her busy personal life and the respect she has for Sowalla. However, promoting awareness for autism as well as her experience on the special education advisory committee for the school system led her to apply for the position.
The 38-year-old California native and librarian at Weems Elementary School in Manassas wants to emphasize the importance of instruction and to make sure teachers would be retained at all costs.
Kirkland said more should have been done to save teaching jobs in the school system when poor enrollment and downward spiraling real estate assessments hit last year. Even with a 10-cent tax increase, Manassas Park City Schools may still have to slice several full-time teaching positions.
The economic downturn came in the wake of the schools spending $33 million on a new environmentally "green" two-building Upper Elementary School. The school in its entirety will not open until next spring.
"You had to know there would be some correction in the real estate market," Kirkland said. "... It's a great building and it's a nice sentiment to have a green building. But it costs an exorbitant amount of money ... and as a parent and a taxpayer I am not real happy about it."
The building will save the school system on energy costs and is $221 a square foot, which is very favorable considering the rising price of construction materials, said Superintendent Thomas DeBolt.
Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-369-5738.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement