FLEX TIME:
Fauquier, Liberty and Kettle Run grapple for the district wrestling title Saturday. Sports, Page 16
January 30, 2019
Our 202nd year | Vol. 202, No. 5 | www.Fauquier.com | $1.50
NO FAIR? Fauquier County Fair canceled over parking issue By Robin Earl and James Ivancic Times Staff Writers
lack of funding for the state’s public schools was heard loud and clear. “It is unfathomable that Virginia teachers are making more than $9,000 less than the national average yet judged, by a number of indicators, to be delivering a first-class education,” Jeck said. Virginia Education Association President Jim Livingston, a former Prince William County middle school teacher, led the rally.
Fauquier County Board of Supervisors Chairman Chris Butler said Monday night “it’s a damn shame” the fair won’t be held this summer. The Fauquier County Fair Board, in a letter released Monday, Jan. 28, said a parking issue couldn’t be resolved in time to hold a fair as usual in July. Site work on the long-discussed Central Sports Complex is getting underway this year, which will impact the area typically used for parking by those who attend the fair. In a letter addressed to “the citizens of Fauquier County” and released Monday night, the Fauquier County Fair Board of Directors said they report “with great sadness and many heavy hearts” that they will not host a 2019 Fauquier Fair. The letter blames the timing of the construction on the Central Sports Complex for the parking issue. “Recently, the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors approved new construction of the Central Sports Complex on the land located directly behind the fairgrounds, just off Old Auburn Road,” the letter said. “... The board of supervisors and the county Parks and Recreation Department have been working with the fair board to try to accommodate parking requirements for the fair and [have] also worked to ensure that future fairs will be able to utilize the new [sports] complex parking lots. Unfortunately, the timing and extent of the ensuing construction will not support the fair for the 2019 season.” Brenda Rich, president of the Fauquier County Fair Board, said Monday night the decision to cancel the four-day Fauquier County Fair this summer was a difficult one but added: “You can’t have the fair if you don’t have anywhere to put the people. We hope to come back better than ever next year.”
See RALLY, Page 4
See FAIR, Page 4
TIMES STAFF PHOTO/KAREN CHAFFRAIX
Fauquier County schools Superintendent David Jeck stands on the Capitol steps, arms raised high, addressing some 2,000 Virginia educators at the Virginia Education Association rally in Richmond Monday. The crowd was dressed in “Red4ED.” Some 200 teachers represented Fauquier County.
‘Fund our future’
2,000 teachers rally in state capital for raises, better school funding By Karen Chaffraix Times Staff Writer
More than 2,000 teachers and supporters of the Virginia Education Association descended upon INSIDE Business.............................................13 Classified............................................34 Communities......................................30 Faith...................................................27
Richmond Monday, visiting state lawmakers and then rallying on the Capitol steps. The group included about 20 teachers from Prince William schools and about 200 from neighboring Fauquier County. Fauquier County schools Superintendent David Jeck was one of eight speakers during the rally and the only superintendent to deliver a message to the sea of red-clad educators whose frustration over years of stalled salary increases and a general
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