Commentary

Greening Our Schools
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

Recently I was a speaker at the National Press Club for the Green Building Council's announcement of its initiative to expand the application of the LEED for Schools Rating System to more schools throughout the country. The LEED for Schools Rating system is the recognized benchmark for green schools with third-party reviews to ensure that schools are healthy for students, comfortable for teachers, and cost-effective.
 
The Green Building Council pointed out that 20 percent of all Americans go to school every day – more than 55 million students and more than 5 million faculty, staff, and administrators. The Council estimates that over a quarter of these students and teachers attend schools that are considered substandard or dangerous to occupant health. The Council projects that if all new school construction and renovations went green starting today, energy savings alone would total more than $20 billion over the next ten years (www.usgbc.org).
 
I spoke as a legislator with nearly 30 years service in the General Assembly and as an educator with nearly 30 years of mostly concurrent experience as a teacher/administrator for Fairfax County Public Schools. I indicated my intent to organize a green caucus in the Virginia legislature. As an educator, the green school initiative appeals to me because I believe our school buildings should serve as laboratories demonstrating good environmental stewardship. As I told the media and advocacy groups at the National Press Club, "I want our children to see us as good stewards of the environment."
 
The idea also appeals to me as a legislator. In my speech I said, "At this time in our history when we have become painfully aware of the scarcity of our resources, we need to invest wisely the public dollars available for infrastructure including schools. The familiar, usual, regular school design may seem relatively low cost to us in the short term, but in the long run when inefficiencies in energy use become apparent we will not have saved any money. Studies cited by the Green Building Council indicate that green schools use 33 percent less energy, save 32 percent water use, and reduce solid waste by 74 percent. Expenditures for school and classrooms must not be viewed as simply costs but rather should be considered as investments – investments in the teaching models the buildings can provide for students and investments in energy conservation and efficiency and resulting cost savings these schools can provide to the community."
 
School construction is a responsibility of local school boards in Virginia. Just as I will be pushing for action at the state level to encourage the use of green principles in school construction, we need advocacy at the local level for our school systems to join the green movement.

Delegate Ken Plum's Weekly "Virginia Report"
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Voting Information for November 4 General Election

Announcements

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and Fairfax County government are inviting the public to attend one of 20 upcoming community dialogue sessions to share their comments and thoughts about the FY2010 budget which is projected to have a deficit of more than $400 million. Registration is required for the community dialogue sessions, which will be held on the following dates and other dates throughout the county:

• Saturday, September 20, 9:30 a.m. to noon at Chantilly Regional Library, George Mason Regional Library, Reston Regional Library, and Sherwood Regional Library.
• Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. at Herndon High School, Marshall High School, Oakton High School, and South County Secondary School.

To register for one of the community dialogues, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget or call 703.324.2391, TTY 711. If you are unable to attend the community dialogues, you may submit your suggestions and comments by calling the Fairfax County Budget Hot Line at 703.324.9400 or by completing the online form at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget.

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Governor Timothy M. Kaine has launched an online community that allows citizens to submit ideas for improving government performance and to collaborate with others to highlight those worthy of consideration through an interactive voting feature. The community portal at www.ideas.virginia.gov enables constituents to share their ideas, engage in discussions, and play a role in improving government service. This new community will strengthen the Commonwealth's commitment to performance by:

• Inviting members to submit ideas so that others can comment and vote on them;
• Allowing members to discuss ideas with each other and collaborate
• Encouraging members to vote on other ideas and help promote them for implementation consideration.

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The Heartland Institute's comprehensive study Welfare Reform after Ten Years names the six states with the most successful anti-poverty programs as Virginia, Maryland, Idaho, Illinois, Florida, and California. Two grades — for anti-poverty success and welfare reform policies — were averaged to produce a single score, which is the basis for the overall ranking for each state and the District of Columbia. Virginia was one of five states that scored highest overall. Only three states — Virginia, Maryland, and Illinois — ranked as having the best policies and also appear in the list of 10 states with the best results.

Calendar of Events

Fairfax County will host the 9th annual Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference on September 18-20 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean. For more information visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2008/166.htm. 

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area and the Fairfax Community Access Channel are co-sponsoring televised debates between candidates for this fall's Northern Virginia congressional district elections. The debates will be broadcast live on Fairfax channel 10 and will also be available live on the Internet at http://easylink.playstream.com/winlive/insidescoop.wvx. Incumbent Congressman James Moran (D) and 8th district challengers Mark Ellmore (R) and J. Ron Fisher (IG) will face off on Monday, September 22, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. The debate between Gerald Connolly (D), Keith Fimian (R), and Joseph Oddo (IG), candidates for the 11th district, will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 6. The debate scheduled for the 10th district candidates was canceled after Congressman Frank Wolf declined to participate. Representatives of the media will pose qustions of the candidates, and viewers can call in or email questions until the mid-point of the broadcast to 571.749.1166 or debate@FCAC.org. Questions must be directed to all candidates and will be posed by the moderator. FCAC (channel 10) will provide copies of the debate broadcasts for replay by Cox Cable, Reston and other Northern Virginia Comcast stations, and Verizon FIOS. Check your local television provider after the deate for its broadcast schedule. The broadcast will also be uploaded onto the Google Video Internet site.
 
Attend the Capital Beltway Hot Lanes Tysons Business Briefing on Wednesday, September 24, 8:00 a.m., at the Gannett Company, 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean. RSVP at outreach@VirginiaHotlanes.com or 877-495-8368.
 
The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia's Back to School Night for Volunteer Recruitment will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church. All individuals who are interested in learning more about the rewarding volunteer opportunities that promote adult literacy are welcome. For more information or to RSVP, contact Belle at volunteers@lcnv.org or 703.237.0866.
 
A foreclosure information meeting for county homeowners and renters will be held on Thursday, September 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, 1086 Elden Street, Herndon. For information visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2008/203.htm.

The Third Annual Race into Autumn 5K and 1 Mile Run sponsored by the Therapeutic Recreation Department of Northern Virginia Training Center (NVTC) will be held at NVTC on Saturday, September 27, at 8:00 a.m., 9901 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA. This Race will benefit the Northern Virginia Training Center, a state run residential facility for adults with intellectual disabilities. for details and registration go to www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1602665&assetld=d5e316.

Ride in the Blood, Sweat & Gears Bike Ride, a 25k, 50k, or 50 mile loop through the Virginia countryside, on September 27, rain or shine. The ride starts and stops at the YMCA at 12196 Sunset Hills road, Reston. The Hemophilia Association – Capital Area sponsors this event. Go to www.hacacares.org and click on Chapter Activities to view more information about the Ride.

Explore the newly reconstructed streams along Snakeden Branch at a Stream Restoration Walk with Reston Association Watershed Supervisor Nicki Foremsky on Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m. to noon. You will hike down the stream and natural area behind the Hunters Woods Village Center, so be sure to wear boots that can get wet and wear long pants and insect repellant. For more information call 703.435.6560 or email nicki@reston.org.

The 8th Annual Greater Washington Arts Committee (GWAC) Youth Art Fest will be held Saturday, September 27, at the Pavilion at Reston Town Center, 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. The GWAC Youth Art Fest is a celebration that brings together professional artists, artisans and performers to share their work and talent with children and their families. The goal of the GWAC Youth Art Festival is to expose children to a variety of artistic mediums and to work directly with professional artists in developing their artistic talents. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit Devotion to Children, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to providing high quality educational and childcare programs for children aged six and under from economically disadvantaged families. Visit www.YouthArtFest.com for more information about this year's theme, participants, judging, sponsorship opportunities, and more.

Attend the Fifth Annual 8k Run/Walk, "Kit's Miracle Mile – Rejoicing in the Triumphs of Survivors with Brain Injuries," on Sunday, September 28. Register online at www.kitsmiraclemile.org.

Attend a seminar – "Building a 21st Century Mainstreet-Dulles Corridor & Transit-Oriented Development" – on Tuesday, September 30, at the George Washington University Loudoun Campus at 20101 Academic Way, Ashburn. Registration and continental breakfast are at 7:30 a.m.; program is from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Confirmed speakers include Lawrence Rosenstrauch, Director, Loudoun County Department of Economic Development; Sharon Affinito, Commuter Services Specialist, Loudoun County Office of Transportation; and Ron Kirby, Director of Transportation Planning at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Co-sponsors of the event are Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA), Dulles Corridor Rail Association (DCRA), Tysons Transportation Association (TYTRAN), Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Committee for Dulles. Cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Contact info@datatrans.org or call DATA at 703.817.1307 for information and registration.

The Virginia PTA will be hosting four Internet Safety Town Hall Meetings around the state to launch a program sponsored by the Internet safety organizaiton Enough is Enough (EIE) and the Virginia PTA in order to introduce and distribute the "Internet Safety 101: Empowering Parents" teaching DVD and workbook. The Virginia PTA and EIE Public Town Hall Meeting will be held in our area on Tuesday, September 30, at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, with registration and refreshments beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the program in the auditorium beginning at 7:00 p.m. Online registration is available at www.novadistrictpta.org/events/EIEtownhall.htm.

Join the Brain Aneurysm Race for Awareness 8k on Saturday, October 4, 8:30 a.m., starting and ending at South Lakes High School. There will also be a 2k Fun Run. Olympian and U.S. record-holder for the one mile run, Alan Webb, will be at the race. This race has been organized by the family of Tim Susco, who grew up in our community and graduated from South Lakes High School. Susco died of a brain aneurysm in August. He and Webb were teammates on the south Lakes High School Track and Cross Country Teams. Visit www.susco8k.com for details about the 8k Race, registration, and course maps.

The Youth for Tomorrow Country Fair & Auctions will be on Saturday, October 4, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the YFT Campus, 2 miles south of Manassas, Route 28 & Linton Hall Road. This event will be hosted by Joe Gibbs, YFT's founder and chairman and former Washington Redskins coach. Visit www.youthfortomorrow.org for more event information.
 
The Virginia Recreation and Park Society's 54th Annual Conference with The Governor's Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Trails will be held October 4 through 7 at the Greater Richmond convention Center and the Richmond Marriott. Visit www.VRPS.com for information and online registration.

Oktoberfest is returning to the Reston Town Center Pavilion on October 10 and 11, 3:00 to 11:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, the best in fall brews and delicious traditional Oktoberfest faire from area restaurants will be featured. Enjoy live entertainment at the main Pavilion throughout the event. Visit www.restonchamber.org for information about sponsorship and restaurant participation opportunities.

The 7th Annual Reston Home Tour will be on Saturday, October 18, 2008, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year's tour, "A New Perspective," will feature five private homes and a special chef presentation at Linden Springs Manor House. Get tickets online at www.restonmuseum.org. Those interested in being a Reston Home Tour docent may contact Donna Shaffer at donnas17@verizon.net or 703.437.1099. The Reston Home Tour is presented by Reston Historic Trust to benefit Reston Museum at Lake Anne Village Center.

The Virginia Council for Litter Prevention & Recycling will host a conference October 22-24 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fredericksburg. Save the date; more information on registration will be available soon.

Are you new to Reston? Get to know your Reston Association (RA) at an event for newcomers and also for those not-so-new to Reston on Thursday, November 6, 7 to 9 p.m. at RA's Main Conference Room, 1930 Isaac Newton Square. Learn more about RA and its many services, amenities, and programs available to you. Meet staff and Board members, and find out about volunteer opportunities. Light refreshments will be served, and door prizes will be awarded.

Join the Reston Epilepsy Awareness Stroll on Saturday, November 15, 2008, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at South Lakes High School. For questions, to volunteer, and to register, contact Dana Douglas at danadouglas@cox.net, 703.698.0229, or contact Kristen Cortes at klcortes@yahoo.com, 724.944.7685. There will be free t-shirts for walkers donating $20.00 or more.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum | 2073 Cobblestone Lane | Reston | VA | 20191