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Nauck celebrates its 170th anniversary – See full story, Page 3 6 6 12 13 22 27 27
Highs & Lows Letters 55+ News Real Estate Classified Crossword Local History
“A Tradition of Exceptional Service and Success” Bret Brock, NVAR Liftetime Top Producer
SunGazette
703.538.6030
www.BrockRealty.com
VOLUME 79 NO. 44
ARLINGTON’S SOURCE FOR HOMETOWN NEWS SINCE 1935
Vihstadt Has More Cash in His Coffers
HOMECOMING VICTORY FOR YORKTOWN OVER EDISON
County Board member John Vihstadt heads into the final campaign furlongs with significantly more cash on hand than opponent Alan Howze, according to new figures. Vihstadt, an independent, had $58,746 in his campaign coffers as of Aug. 31, according to figures reported Sept. 15 by the State Board of Elections and Virginia Public Access Project. Howze, a Democrat, had $16,906 on hand. Vihstadt and Howze squared off in an April special election to fill the seat of Democratic County Board member Chris Zimmerman, who resigned. Vihstadt won handily. They will be the only two candidates on the County Board ballot Nov. 4. Demographics favor the Democrats, as turnout for the general election will be much higher than for the special election. While Howze has less cash on hand, he will benefit from the more robust election machinery of the Arlington County Democratic Committee, whose joint campaign helps to fund get-out-the-vote efforts. Both Vihstadt and Howze have been running almost continuously since the start of the year. Since beginning their campaigns, Vihstadt has raised $155,327 and Howze $120,663. Howze’s totals include $14,249 in loans to his campaign, while Vihstadt’s campaign has no loans, according to state figures.
Most Local Schools Are Still Fully Accredited
Yorktown High School running back Jack Storrs break into the clear during the Patriots’ 27-15 home victory over the Edison Eagles on Sept. 19. Storrs scored two touchdowns in the contest and rushed for 159 yards to help the Patriots improve to 2-1. See a game story in Sports. PHOTO BY DEB KOLT
New, more rigorous standards left two Arlington schools behind, but 28 of 30 Arlington schools won full accreditation based on academic achievement during the 2013-14 school year. Only Drew Model School and Kenmore Middle School failed to meet full accreditation, based on figures reported Sept. 16 by the Virginia Department of Education. They were “accredited with warning.” A year ago, those schools had won full accreditation. One other county school, Arlington Mill High School, is still being evaluated, county school officials said. Accreditation is based on student achievement on state-mandated Standards of Learning exams, or SOLs. State education officials have been warning for months that accreditation rates would be down this year based on the higher standards. A total of 68 percent of Virginia’s public schools won full accreditation based on achievement, down from 77 percent a year before and 93 percent two years ago. The number of schools accredited with warning grew from 393 in 2012-13 to 545 in 2013-14. “The challenge now is to move beyond the temporary disappointment . . . and work together – school divisions shoulder to shoulder with the department – to share best practices and implement the instructional strategies that will move our students toward college and career readiness,” Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven Staples said in a statement accompanying the data. Continued on Page 19
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SEPTEMBER 25, 2014