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From YouTube: Jay Fisette on the Importance of Arlington's Schools
Description
Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette discusses Arlington's public schools at the Board's annual organizational meeting, January 1, 2014.
A
This
morning,
I
want
focus
on
the
three
largest
challenges
that
I
believe
we
faced
growing
school
enrollments,
housing,
affordability
and
economic
competitiveness.
The
first
is
the
growing
enrollment
in
our
public
schools.
This
is
a
symptom
of
our
success.
Families
are
settling
in
Arlington,
because
our
public
schools
are
so
good,
and
that
reflects
the
fact
that
this
community
and
this
county
board
have
always
made
public
education
a
top
priority,
because
we
believe
in
the
value
of
education.
A
We
know
that
every
child
deserves
an
opportunity
to
succeed,
Arlington
taxpayers
again
and
again
have
voted
for
bonds
to
improve
and
expand
our
schools,
despite
the
fact
that
just
thirteen
percent
of
the
adults
have
kids
in
those
schools.
This
is
a
civic
commitment
that
few
communities
can
match
between
1988
and
2010.
Arlington
made
major
improvements
to
25
schools
and
entirely
rebuilt
six
elementary
and
middle
schools
and
three
high
schools.
We
have
built
one
entirely
new
school
and
another
new
elementary
school
will
open.
A
Next
year
we
proudly
lead
the
region
in
our
eighteen
thousand
dollar,
plus
investment
per
student,
which
ensures
that
we
are
able
to
attract
outstanding
teachers.
Yet
we
must
do
more.
Over
the
next
five
years,
the
schools
project
over
4,000,
more
students
will
enroll
in
our
schools
and
eighteen
percent
increase.
A
They
estimate
the
need
to
complete
four
to
eight
construction
projects
in
the
next
decade,
beyond
those
already
under
construction
or
underway.
This
poses
major
challenges
both
for
our
capital
budgets
and
for
land
use.
Planning.
Arlington
has
just
26
square
miles
and
is
nearly
built
out.
We
have
growing
demands
for
space,
not
just
for
schools,
but
also
for
affordable
housing,
recreation,
parkland
and
other
public
facilities.
Every
square
foot
of
public
land
is
precious
and
must
be
wisely
used.
A
Thus,
it
is
essential
that
the
county
of
schools
work
together
even
more
closely
than
we
already
do.
We
will
initiate
a
monthly
joint
staff
meeting
to
ensure
good
communication
collaboration
in
developing
the
10-year
capital
improvement
program.
Our
elected
leaders
will
also
meet
regularly.
My
goal
is
to
work
with
my
colleagues
to
identify
medium
long-term
needs
and
make
decisions
together
that
benefits
students,
families
and
the
entire
community.