F.C. School Board Gets Advisory Group Reports
During last night’s Falls Church School Board monthly work session, the Board received written reports from the School Board Advisory Committees and School Affiliated Organizations, as well as oral reports from a few of the Committees. The discussions included the use of technology in schools and an update on the State Budget. The update highlighted several key points:
- The General Assembly adopted an amended FY 2024 budget and a 2024-2026 biennial budget, which the Governor signed into law.
- Changes in sales tax distributions resulted in decreased state funding for school divisions, while funding for the Infrastructure and Operations Per Pupil Fund increased.
- Overall, the state budget impacts on FCCPS for FY 2025 include minor adjustments in funding allocations, with a recommendation to restore recurring funding for two positions and defer action on remaining available funds for potential future needs.
Biden Grants Pardons To Same-Sex Vets
Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, released the following statement following President Biden’s proclamation on granting pardons to veterans convicted of unaggravated offenses based on consensual, private conduct:
“I thank President Biden for taking this important step to right the wrongs of the past and restore honor to LGBTQI+ Americans who bravely served their nation in uniform. This is an important step forward in addressing the wrongs of anti-equality policies.”
Since World War II, more than 100,000 Americans are estimated to have been discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. Those forced out of the military may have left with discharge statuses of “other than honorable,” “general discharge” or “dishonorable,” depending on the circumstances. As a consequence, many of these service members may be disqualified from accessing certain benefits that they earned and are entitled to, and may not be able to claim veteran status. The consequences of a negative discharge also include preventing some veterans from voting or making it more difficult for them to acquire civilian employment.
This week, President Biden issued a proclamation granting a full, complete and unconditional pardon to individuals with court-martial convictions for violations of former Article 125 of the UCMJ based on conduct that involved consensual, private conduct with persons age 18 and older.
‘Patch’ Reports on July 4 Of a Different Annandale
The ‘Patch’ news outlet belied its ostensible “local news” claim this week by publishing a story about Northern Virginia’s Annandale plans for July 4 by citing the wrong Annandale, namely one in Minnesota, complete with the day’s schedule for a parade, carnival, fireworks and a tractor pull.
Fairfax Co. Unveils Its First African-American Marker
In what is characterized as a significant step towards acknowledging the contributions of African Americans, Fairfax County unveiled the first Black/African American Historical Project marker dedicated to civil rights activist Lillian Blackwell at Oakton High School earlier this month.
In 2021, the Fairfax Board of Supervisors initiated the Black/African American Historical Marker Project to help ensure a more comprehensive and inclusive telling of the county’s diverse history. According to County Board chair Jeff McKay, “The project aligns with the county’s One Fairfax policy to intentionally consider equity when making policies or delivering programs and services.”
SCOTUS OK’s U.S. Contacts With Social Media Platforms
The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday rejected a challenge to its contacts with social media platforms to combat what administration officials said was misinformation.
The court ruled that the states and users who had challenged the contacts had not suffered the sort of direct injury that gave them standing to sue. The decision, by a 6 to 3 vote, left fundamental legal questions for another day. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch, dissented.
Virginia U.S. Senator Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a statement saying, “Glad to avert a catastrophic outcome here, but today’s ruling is only a partial victory. We need to permanently protect the ability of the U.S. government to share vital information with U.S. communications platforms about foreign-based threats, as the Senate Intel Committee’s bipartisan investigation concluded. It’s essential to the security of our elections and our nation.”
