News: Even Stevens? VivaLoudoun Takes a Look at the Education "Budget Battle" with Views from School Chair John Stevens and BOS Member Stevens Miller

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun.com Editor
(Mar. 23, 2010) - And you thought the health care legislation was confusing and contentious ... wait until you dive into the brewing "budget battle" in Loudoun County between the Board of Supervisors and the School Board and Loudoun County Public Schools.

All I can say for certain is that at the end of the day I will be writing the checks to meet the financial bottom line as I am both a homeowner in the county (since 1995) and a parent with two children in the schools (elementary and high school). And my gut feeling at this point is that the hardest working people in the battle -- the teachers and coaches I work with and cover for VivaLoudoun.com -- and most dependent -- the children, our future! -- are the ones caught in the middle of this tumultuous tug-a-war.

What I found interesting in the last 24 hours was two distinct differently messages on the issue from two "Stevens"  -- School Board Chair John Stevens (via a posting on his blog Our Loudoun Schools) and my Board of Supervisor Stevens Miller. So, here they are ... side-by-side if I could but I'll put up John Stevens posting which came first on Monday and then Miller Stevens email which arrived this morning so please keep reading ... click the "Read More" below for both point of views ...

(I'd love to hear your comments on these views ... but only if you can post them in a constructive and civil way ... part of what I hope our education system is teaching today is how to have civil discourse in a true democratic fashion and a lot of what I see locally and nationally isn't very mature ... people should be able to debate without hate!)