LaBell Wins Republican Endorsement for School Board Seat

Politics

Kari LaBell, one of three candidates running for the Catoctin District seat of the Loudoun County School Board, was endorsed by the Loudoun County Republican Committee on June 26.

LaBell won the endorsement by an almost two-toone margin over Daniel Brubaker, who also sought the endorsement.

LaBell is an educator with over 30 years of experience in Loudoun County, and 50 years of experience in education and engagement in national, state and local issues, according to an announcement.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree at George Mason University and an educational specialist degree from George Washington

Potomac Crossing

continued from page 10 network of trails along the Potomac River, through Ball’s Bluff Regional Park and stretching north into Veterans Park. As part of the access improvement project, a new trailhead sign provides information on the difficulty of the trail inside the park and a map of the broader network. The connector trail was upgraded to a wide, level path with a concreate binder base to accommodate wheelchairs.

“The reason we picked this park was to tie it into all of the rest of the NOVA Parks that are in the area as well the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail,” Trask said. “We wanted to do this because at least I can get you back to this key connecting point, and if you choose you can go on to the rest of them.” From the park, she said visitors can set out on a loop hike of just a few minutes or two hours.

Beyond improving trail accessibility, the town also added a picnic table with wheelchair access, redesigned the grill area to accommodate chefs in wheelchairs, and put in a sidewalk leading to a large wheelchair-assessable portable

University. LaBell has served as a teacher, department chair, educational diagnostician, vocational evaluator and job coach. She was involved in developing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, and was asked to help revise the Virginia Standards of Learning Vocational Goals. She and a colleague were awarded a congressional grant to establish a county-wide assessment and work training program at three labs in the county.

LaBell said her platform focuses on common-sense education, including a focus on readiness not remediation, merit not mediocracy, equality not equity and parents as partners. Her goal is to have all students who graduate from division high schools to have the ability and the skills to apply to an entry level job in the career field of their choice.

Megan Lockwood, of Purcellville, is also running for the Catoctin District seat, seeking the Democrat endorsement.

School Board seats are nonpartisan, though many receive endorsements from either party.

For more on LaBell, go to kariforcatoctin.com. n bathroom.

Trask and Clease, both of whom serve on the town’s ADA Compliance Committee, said they look forward to incorporating similar access features into the town’s seven other public playgrounds as they undergo a round of renovations in coming years. Brandon Park along Harrison Street is next on the list.

“It’s nice to focus and complete one, and then move forward,” Clease said. “I think that’s the best way to manage it. But the whole goal is to become inclusive for all users.”

Potomac Crossing Park is located at 508 Shanks Road, NE. n