I’ve been developing a theory about resilience.   I think it involves one of my favorite terms: delusional creativity.   People who have delusional creativity delude themselves about how much they can do.  They think they can accomplish much more than they can.  And so they do.   Many people are much more realistic about what they can and can’t do, and so only accomplish what they should be able to, but not more.  It’s good to delude yourself, but, of course, not too much.  Like everything, its a balance.  

Today, I deluded myself that I could actually get out of the house with my daughter, Ruth, and her two children and their luggage on time in order to get them to Dulles airport for a 4:30 flight back to Quito Ecuador and get me on the stage at Constitution Hall by 3pm for Yorktown’s graduation.  We were to leave at 1pm.   We left at 1:30.  I always take 66 to get to Dulles, but Ruth said we should take the beltway.  It was, indeed, much better, but as I was preparing to exit onto 66 west from the beltway, Ruth’s GPS (that we thought we’d turned off) piped up and said to continue straight.  What??!!  We scrambled to check and managed to avoid the wrong exit.  Whew!  At the airport we did a quick drop off, but when I tried to pull out I found I’d been boxed in.  It was 2:13.  I got out of the car to ask the man next to me to move a little.  Nope.  But the kind man behind me backed out so I could leave.  I headed for DC and put in an order to Kennan (part of my deluding myself—I think it really helps to ask him for help) for good traffic.

I practically flew into DC with the lightest traffic I’ve experienced in ages on 66 and arrived at Constitution Ave at 2:42.  I thanked Kennan and put in another order:  I need a parking space right by Constitution Hall.  I’ve had incredible luck with parking spaces since Kennan died and I regularly delude myself that he’s got something to do with it.  This makes me feel both happier and more secure.   As I pulled onto 18th street and scanned for a parking space, a tail light caught my eye.  Yes!!  A pickup pulled out and I pulled into his space.  One half block from the hall.  It was 2:49.  I walked up the steps into the hall and immediately found the person with my gown to wear.  I was in line ready to walk in by 2:59, or so.

Is it luck, or do I have a guardian angel?  Personally, I think I have several and that we all have guardian angels, but that is, most likely, deluding myself.  But it works for me.  What also works for me are the many real live people who have sent me wonderful words of encouragement and thoughtful support as I go through my latest life challenge with breast cancer.  I am most grateful to you.  Wonderful support from this community, friends and family…....and some delusional creativity have gotten me through a lot worse and I know I’ll be fine.   I hope the end of the school year has gone well for everyone, especially those with a graduate in the family.

Being part of a supportive community helps make one resilient, so I’ve decided that one way to look at building community is to consider that work an investment in one’s own well being.   You help yourself when you help others.  So, while many people have been admonishing me to take care of myself and not to do too much, I will, but I’ve found over the past two years that worrying about how to help other people with their problems is one of the best ways to take your mind off your own.  It’s important to take care of oneself…...but not too much.  

And sometimes you have to push yourself a bit to take care of yourself.  Yesterday Phoenix Bikes held the first annual Kennan Garvey Community Bike ride.  It was great.  I had the longest, hottest and most hilly bike ride I’ve had in some time…..and felt better today than I have in a while.  Good outdoor physical exercise helps one be resilient.  Or at least it makes you feel better.  I’m lucky to have a bike and a great place to ride it.  

I recently treated myself to a small Buddha statue which now sits contemplating my small backyard pond.  He brings an air of calmness and reminds me that sometimes the best way to take care of yourself and take your mind off your own problems is not to think much at all, but just take time to be.

I’m lucky to know I’m lucky.

Dear Friends,

We’ll be sending out a brief press release soon, but I wanted to let you know myself that my own life adventure continues. All looks good, but I am being treated for breast cancer. We caught it relatively early (as the press release says, get your regular checkups). The prognosis is very good and, overall, I continue to be lucky. In general, I’m feeling well and plan to keep going just as I have been, although I have skipped some activities lately and am likely to continue to take things at a little slower pace for a while, particularly this fall. 

Our schools got some great news last week when the County Board put out a press release saying that they would put Wakefield in the 2010 bond. As many of you know, I’ve been working for some time to keep Wakefield on a fast track in case financing works out to begin construction earlier than the originally planned start date of 2013. With the current continued economic situation, construction is down and contractors and suppliers are anxious for work. This means we are getting very favorable bids and anticipate starting Wakefield in 2011 rather than 2013. That will save about $15M and likely much more, depending on when the economy picks up. Once money loosens up and the pent up demand for projects is let out of the box, costs will soar. I very much hope voters will approve our 2010 bond request and that costs will stay low until we bid the contract for Wakefield about this time next year.

On the political end, you may be hearing about the move to change our Arlington system of government.  This would have large, and I think very negative, consequences for Arlington. A group has formed called the Coalition for Arlington Good Government (the “Arlington Way” at work). Their website has good information: http://www.arlingtoncoalition.org. If you have any questions about it for me, feel free to ask.

Finally, it was teacher appreciation week earlier this month. Our recognition ceremony for Teacher of the Year, which recognized every school’s teacher of the year as well our Arlington Teacher of the Year, was held on May 18. As always, I was extremely impressed with the quality and diversity of the many wonderful teachers we have in our schools. There were career switchers (2 former engineers and 1 former journalist among others) and there were new teachers and veterans…..all loved for their caring and professionalism because they make the positive difference for our students every day in the classroom. Great teachers make this school system what it is. Our superintendent and board chair did a little video thank you for our teachers along with some students from Drew. Check out the clip; it’s short and will make you smile.

http://www.apsva.us/1540104114240100/podcasts/browse.asp?a=399&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=65011

As always, I hope this information is of interest and helpful to you. If there is anything you particularly want to hear about, let me know.

I wish everyone a good Memorial Day weekend and end of the school year.

Libby

Easter/Passover season is a good time to catch you up on a few things.

Budget:  It’s been a long budget process as we look for ways to deal with the new economic realities.  Bottom line:  we’re a lot luckier in Arlington than most places.  It looks like our per pupil cost will be back to 2007 levels, but cuts should not be felt much in the classroom.   We are reorganizing our central staff in ways that I think recognize 21st century realities and will benefit our students and make us more efficient.  Our teachers, like teachers almost everywhere, will not see an increase in pay.  Classes will, on average, get a little bigger.  But I think we will not lose the progress our schools have made.   Arlington taxpayers, through the County Board, continue to be very supportive of our schools, and we will not need to make some cuts that had been proposed, such as in transportation for after school and sports activities.

Biggest budget surprise:  the planetarium.   Although our planetarium is woefully out of date and lap top computers can do more today to instruct students in astronomy; although the seats are also woefully out of date; although it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep it running…..lots of people love the planetarium and don’t care.  While it may not make obvious economic or academic sense, I’m hopeful we can find a way not to close the planetarium, or at least not permanently.  My job is to represent the community’s values and clearly, the planetarium is much valued here.

Second biggest surprise:  we suddenly have about $14M more for our 2011 budget…. except we don’t really.  It’s one of those political budget tricks that get played far too often.  Every year we pay into the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) for our teachers’ retirement.  Actuaries calculate how much we need to put in each year. This is a major expense and for FY2011 staff had budgeted $33.5M.   But its hard to save for retirement when times are tight, so the Virginia legislature decided we don’t have to put so much money in.  This year.  In future years, however, we will need to make that money up and add 7% interest.  At the same time the legislature made very large cuts to retirement benefits for future employees.  This is a large liability, and I believe shortsighted.  I think the school board will wisely decide not to spend that money this year, as it would put us in an even more difficult situation in the future.  We do not anticipate future budget years being easier than this one for some time.

Savage Flowers:  Languages and traveling are such fun!   I spent a week visiting my daughter Ruth and her family in Quito, Ecuador where they are living now.  We went to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) where some Europeans determined in about 1750 that it was 0 degrees latitude and 0 degrees longitude.  www.in-quito.com/pictures/mitad-mundo.htm   We had some wild cab rides—I think Quito is more steeply up and down than San Francisco.  We kept an eye out for beautiful snow capped volcanoes through the clouds (they only erupt every few decades or so).  And visited with friends and neighbors who tried to speak English as I tried to speak a little Spanish.  Hence a discussion of local flora led to a discussion of “savage” flowers.  ???.....  Oh! wild flowers!  We all laughed and talk about savage flowers became a running joke.   Ruth and her family are living in a wonderful place, and I look forward to lots more traveling and linguistic adventures in Ecuador.  Here are a few pictures:

Phoenix Bikes (PB):  The Kennan Garvey Memorial Fund to build a permanent home for PB is growing.  I’m on the board and its great to watch this little organization that teaches youth the skills to repair bikes and run a community bike shop.  Bike sales come closer every year to meeting their operating expenses, but PB needs a permanent home and is constantly trying to bring in more middle schoolers for a healthy and positive way to spend their free time.  I’m helping with their annual fundraising event this Thursday April 8.  It will be lots of fun, featuring a cyclist who has won several 24 hour mountain bike races—yes, they race outside and through the night.  Come!  The full details: Phoenix Bikes 3rd Annual Bike Show April 8th, 7pm-9pm 4301 Wilson Ave in Arlington, VA (a block and a half from the Ballston metro)   http://www.phoenixbikes.org/buy-tickets 

As you may know, I do posts about every 2 weeks or so to my blog, which you are welcome to visit or receive.  However, we all get way too much e-mail, so I try not to send out general updates like this one too often.  I hope this has been interesting and helpful for you.  As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you might have.

Best spring wishes,   Libby

 I was in Richmond for the annual Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) Jefferson Jackson dinner.  I’d heard quite a lot of speeches by the time we got to the main event Saturday night and just assumed I’d not be inspired as I had been in years past by speakers like Joe Biden, Barak Obama and Hilary Clinton.   Besides there is not a national or statewide race coming up this year.  The crowd was smaller.   Wrong.  It was a wonderful evening to be a democrat.

First there was the timing of the health care bill legislation.  We all came to the dinner feeling some excitement that after 100 years of trying and the past year of terrible politics, it just might pass.  We warmed up with our DPVA folks and Senate Majority Leader, Dick Saslaw reminding us that we needed to stay strong.  Then we went to our Congressional delegation and the excitement picked up as we were assured by all (with the notable exception of Cong. Nye) that they were voting for health care and that it would pass on Sunday.  This included Tom Periello who is newly elected in a tough district and had just come over to the yes side.  His vote is particularly courageous.   The room warmed up some more.  It got so at every mention of health care the room erupted in cheers and often we all stood up applauding, too.   Jim Webb got some laughs as he ribbed the “junior senator from Virginia”, but mostly he had the room of 1300 in rapt silence as he spoke about the need to reform our legal system…..and pass health care.  Cheers.   Next Mark Warner spoke and recognized the contributions of his colleagues.  Virginia may be weak in its state administration for the moment, but we are blessed with quite a team in the Congress.  Our keynote speaker was Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota.  I worried a bit how she would do after all the great speakers we’d just heard.   She was great.  She was funny, warm to her Virginia colleagues, made spot on references to Virginia politics, talked about health care (more applause and cheers) and then spoke about what I think is the major issue we face as a nation:  the need to invest in our future so we can compete in the 21st century world economy.  This means health care, rebuilding our infrastructure and, most of all, investing in our children’s education. 

Like many of us, I just grin thinking about how health care has finally passed.  I’m bouyed up again by the quality of our Democratic leadership.  Its once again a good time to be a Democrat.

After the rough weather, discouragement about health care reform, government in general and budget shortfalls, I find myself feeling hopeful.  It’s a good time for hope.  Last week I helped host Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Shultz at an event for GWEN (Get Women Elected Now).  She is smart, funny, down to earth and a breath of fresh air.  Lowell Feld put up several video clips on his blog, which you might enjoy.  I especially recommend the crayon story, which is the third clip. http://www.bluevirginia.us/2010/03/debbie-wasserman-schultz-health-care.html The congresswoman is a reminder that there are good, young leaders moving up in our Congress.  And some of them are women.

Then on Saturday, I attended one of the first Coffee Party parties in Shirlington.http://CoffeePartyUSA.com The Coffee Party was started by a young woman, Annabel Park, who was frustrated at the Tea Party movement and the lack of civil discourse in our public debates.  It turns out she’s not the only one and the Coffee Party is taking off.  About 50 people showed up at Busboys and Poets, until there was no room to sit.  There were a few activists and folks like me, but mostly it was a diverse group of people who simply believe government should work for people and that we need to be civil when we talk about how it should do that.  The preamble to the Constitution was read.  There was lots of discussion and an effort to put what we believe onto a few short slogans for signs.  I’m not sure where it will lead, but it was truly hopeful to see so people not only sincerely concerned about their democracy, but feeling there was a way they could help.

Here I’ll give a short rant about the press and democracy and Fox News.  Fox News especially seems to be increasingly willing to lie or bend the truth to advance an agenda that, to me, seems to be about anything but making our democracy stronger. I watched with dismay as it become increasingly popular.  It’s been heartening to watch Rachel Maddow call them on their work lately.  It was good to read Howell Raines in the Sunday Post on “Fox News: unfair, unbalanced, unchecked.”  I hope this is all a sign that there finally will be some significant pushback to Fox News and similar reporting that pretends to be unbiased and honest, but is misleading those who watch and listen.  Democracy depends on an informed, educated electorate.  

Closer to home, it looks like the Virginia budget cuts for K-12 will not be quite as bad as feared.  And my colleagues on the County Board are raising taxes in part to cover the increase in school population for Arlington.  While it looks like our per pupil cost will be back to about 2006 levels when we finish up our school budget in April, I think we will be able to maintain the quality we’ve all come to expect in our schools.

Closer yet to home, spring brings some family birthdays, including Owen who just turned 3.  It’s hard to stay discouraged when one has beautiful and thriving grandchildren.  And the first crocus has appeared by my front door.

I hope my readers also feel the change in the air and wish you all a good Saint Patrick’s Day.   Libby 

As my readers know, Kennan was an organ/tissue donor and my family’s experience with that process has helped ease the pain of our  loss.  I hope Frank’s post below and Kennan and my experience outlined in the article that appeared in the Post last year will encourage readers to discuss donation with their loved ones.   Hopefully it will remain an academic discussion for my readers, but, if not,  our experience has shown that grief is eased by knowing your suffering has been able to help others.—Libby

by Guest Blogger Frank Sietzen, Jr.

In today’s America it is a silent epidemic affecting nearly ten percent of the population. In the African-American and Latino communities it is an unseen and little discussed shadow that shortens life spans and careers, complicates lives, and destroys families. I’m talking about kidney failure and the consequences and complications it brings.  In the greater Washington, DC area kidney disease in adults is 24 times the national average, evading medical science’s understanding of the cause. Is it caused by Diabetes, or hypertension, or obesity? Whatever the reason, it is a disease without a cure, leaving only three avenues for the patient. One is trice-weekly dialysis, done in a clinic or hospital; the other a similar treatment done by a smaller machine at the patient’s home. Ultimately, though, the best solution for failing kidneys is to get a new one, either from a friendly donor that matches you, or from a cadaver whose kidneys become available.

There is, though, just one problem with this: and that is the demand for matchable and working kidneys far outstrips the availability. The great question, it seems to me, is why? In America, unlike Europe, the public looks queasily upon organ donation. The complex system of registry offers donors no subsidy, and a living donor is subjected to a week’s worth of tests that must be done here at the hospital that is to conduct the actual transplant operation. Depending on where the donor lives, the cost of a week in a hotel room plus the cost of airfare to get here and the lost week of work all quickly adds up. And people wonder why more don’t donate? Even the process of making your organs available after death is complicated. So until the system is reformed, and some remuneration created to entice donors, people like me must wait years for a cadaver’s matchable kidney. There is one option available to virtually everyone that can vastly increase the pool of donors. When you renew or get a driver’s license in the Commonwealth, there is a check off box in which you can list yourself as an organ donor. Painless, simple and easy. Why more folks don’t take advantage of this is a mystery to me.

Some two and a half years ago, I submitted to the process that leads to my name going on the transplant list. I spent most of a day getting poked, prodded, and having 12 samples of blood taken for analysis and registry. Once completed, a potential recipient is rated based on the genetic composition that makes a match easy or more difficult. The easier you are, the easier it would be for a cadaver to match you. Then each year a stress test is done to make sure I could survive an operation. And every month, I must take and send to the hospital that is my primary designee for the operation a sample of blood. All of this stuff is up to me, the patient, to do. In my case, I had two friends who wanted to donate a kidney to me. One was found to have cardiac problems, and thus eliminated. The other discovered that he had kidney problems himself, previously undetected, another case for elimination. So I wait, and wait, and wait some more. At this rate, I’d even accept a Republican kidney!

The only consolation is that there are hundreds in the same boat as me here and thousands more across the country. Until a way is found to increase donations, help people understand that there are easy ways to become donors after your death, or provide some system of compensation for living donors, hurry up and wait is the tune of the day.

Sometimes its good to take a break from the big issues of budgets and health care.  So I thought I’d share a longstanding, but small, concern of mine:  I’ve often thought that its a shame people can’t raise chickens in Arlington.   Not lots and lots of chickens, but a few friendly backyard chickens.   So folks could have inexpensive fresh eggs without hormones or antibiotics if they wanted.  Now there is a group advocating for a local ordinance that allows backyard chickens in Arlington.   My former school board colleague, Ed Fendley knows of my support for this issue and asked if I’d interview for the website of The Arlington Egg Project.   My comments can be summed up in this one line from the interview:   “Locally raised eggs are more nutritious, better for the environment, better for the chickens — and cost less. What’s not to like?”    Interested in learning more?   Check out http://www.ArlingtonEggProject.org.

“Please be patient with me, I can’t back up.”  This is the sign in the windshield of our buses as they carry our children back to school after the largest snowstorm in modern memory. They’ve had the desired effect as people realize they need to be patient and sometimes they need to back up themselves to let our buses by in streets narrowed by heaps of snow.  Our community has been and continues to be at its best with neighbors helping neighbors move heaps of snow, cope with power outages and now everyone helping to get children back to school.    We’ve all been reminded yet again how connected we are and what a pleasure it is to have the time to visit with neighbors because none of us can rush off to ....anywhere. Reading the comments posted by parents on schools Snow Learning Page  has been a real window into many Arlington families, and they look good.   Now, of course, we’re working on how to make up the lost school days without going to school later in the summer and without losing spring break.

I’ve had my own reminder this week of how connected we are and how important community is. The final letter from the Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC) about the outcome of Kennan’s tissue donation came on February 11. It is hard for me to believe it has been over two years since he died. The letter brought up a number of different emotions for me, but I continue to be grateful that Kennan’s death was able to help so many people. And I continue to feel very supported by the WRTC. As always, there was a personal handwritten note as well.

“Kennan’s donation consisted of orthopedic tissues, which are used to hasten recovery in individuals suffering from bone or spine disease or injuries.  Many bone grafts can be generated from one tissue donor.  In the case of Kennan’s gift, our donation records indicate the creation of eighty seven bone grafts which are used to perform reconstructive surgery, spinal fusions, and oral surgery.  Our records also indicate that eighty three of these grafts have been distributed for surgical procedures that will enhance the lives of many patients. These grafts were distributed to California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Clearly Kennan’s donation has made, and will continue to make a remarkable and widespread impact on the lives of many others in need.
We would like to formally convey our condolences to the Garvey family on the loss of their loved one.  We hope this information provides greater insight to the significance of Kennan’s donation.  Many donor families find this information comforting.”

Frank Sietzen is a journalist, speechwriter for NASA and co-author of New Moon Rising about the Columbia accident.   He was my campaign manager in 2008.   Frank is also one of the thousands of Americans who must receive kidney dialysis treatment three times a week or face death.  He hopes to receive a donated kidney soon.  I’m pleased he has agreed to write occasionally for this website about his experiences and thoughts on the health care debate.—Libby

by Guest Blogger Frank Sietzen, Jr.

Imagine if you will this scenario: You are alone in a darkened landscape where nothing is familiar and where there are no stars or guideposts to help you navigate. Every time you think you have reached stable ground, it shifts beneath you, requiring that you quickly learn new terminology, procedures, and make choices that could change your life and your health. To understand your predicament, you are bombarded with information coming at you from every imaginable source, whose reliability and accuracy isn’t always easy to discern. And the end of the day, it’s solely up to you to implement these new ideas, products and technologies into your lifestyle while at the same time keep a watchful eye out for complications and side effects which lurk around every corner. Some days you feel able to navigate this terrain, but on other days your mind and spirit may be too tired to barely do the basics to keep you safe.

Sounds like a place you’d like to visit?

Welcome to my world.

I am one of the estimated half of the adult U.S. population –that’s 150 million Americans-with at least one chronic illness. And I am also one of 26 million Americans with End Stage Renal Disease, the final and irreversible step in kidney failure. A few blocks from my home in Arlington, I visit a medical clinic three times each week. There, a machine the size of a small filing cabinet is keeping me alive. To compensate for my malfunctioning kidneys the machine removes and cleanses my blood, returning it to my body in a process called hemodialysis. I must endure this treatment-shared by more than 75,000 Americans every year-until I receive a transplanted kidney. Since that wait in our region is more than five years, that machine has become my new friend.

And I have been introduced, however reluctantly, to the American health care system, in all its glorious strengths-and weaknesses. Given these circumstances, health reform is to me more than a matter of headlines. While I am fortunate to have a good commercial health policy, I wake every day with the prospect that, given my condition, here in Virginia it could be canceled at any time, with no court of appeal. True health reform that lowers costs of policies and strengthens consumer protection is greatly needed. But right now, the legislation is bottled up in Congress, thanks to our Republican friends looking out for the insurance industry. 

Should we fail to seize this moment, future trends are stark. According to the Congressional Budget Office, health care costs will account for 25 percent of GDP by 2025 and 49 percent by 2082, if we do nothing. That would condemn millions of future patients like me to a health care system that will be increasingly inaccessible and unaffordable for most Americans. What a tragedy it would be to say we faced the call for reform and answered “no, we can’t”.

So keep re-electing Jim Moran in the House and Senators Webb and Warner. And please continue to support the President’s call for reform. Life on dialysis is made liveable for me by my work as a writer and my involvement in political campaigns like Libby’s recent campaign for School Board, and other ways to strengthen the Democratic Party. Because if it is reform we need, then it will only come from Democrats!

I spent Monday and Tuesday this week at the National School Board Association’s Federal Relations Network Conference.   School board members from around the country came for briefings and “how to” sessions before spending Tuesday on Capitol Hill meeting with their senators and representatives.  We heard from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan who talked about the need to invest in education if we are to not fall behind economically.  He also talked about the proper role of the federal government in education policy: to set the standards for success, not the prescription for success.  One of the interesting ideas they have is to bypass states in some of their funding and directly give support to school divisions.  That could be a good thing in states that do not support their public schools well.  Here in Virginia, I have very real concerns about the push for charter schools.  Yes, I’m well aware the President and Secty Duncan support charter schools.  Charter schools can be helpful when you have totally dysfunctional school systems.  But when things are working well, and there is choice for parents, and there are relatively high standards, as is the case in most Virginia districts….....charter schools could wreak havoc with what is working well and do nothing to move education forward.   My fear is that in an effort to cut spending and to not raise taxes no matter what AND to appear to be an “education governor”,  the “solution” may be legislation to take charter school approval away from school boards and put it in the hands of those who think any charter school has to be good.  Money has to come from somewhere, and it almost certainly would come from our schools.

At the conference, it was a pleasure to spend time with other school board members and our legislators and their staff:  all intelligent, well-meaning people trying to help make government work better for everyone.  Hearing about the difficulty of getting almost anything done in the current political environment was not so pleasant.

I found myself walking to Union Station from the Library of Congress Tuesday evening in the snow.  I was alone and the area behind the Capitol was almost deserted.  The Capitol and the Supreme Court were lit with a warm light and the snow swirled gently as it fell. I stopped to look and thought of all the history in those buildings and the centuries now of Americans trying to make our government work well for everyone.  It was a magical moment.  I said a silent prayer for our nation feeling lucky to be, for a short time, a very small part of a very great effort.

What’s music got to do with it?

I’ve been asked if we’ll cut art and music from our schools in these tight budget times. I’d like to answer that question by telling you a little about my weekend.   I listened to A Prairie Home Companion on Saturday wondering how Garrison Keillor would handle the whole Haiti situation.  Sometimes there are events that just can’t be ignored by anyone in the broadcast business.    I should have guessed.  He talked a little about how horrible the situation is and how we all need to send help to Haiti (yes, we do) and then he started with a heartfelt song, a blues song that went “God, please don’t turn Your back on me….”  Soon the whole audience was singing (and me at home).  Sunday, I attended our annual program to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr which featured student essays about Dr. King and…..music: great jazz by the Washington-Lee Jazz Band and wonderful hymns and spirituals by a combined choir from all the historically black churches in Arlington.  Soon the whole audience was clapping and singing in honor of this great man.  My weekend began Friday with the first Washington-Lee pyramid choral concert which featured all the elementary and middle schools that feed into Washington-Lee (hence the pyramid reference).  In the end all the choirs joined together and the audience was singing along and clapping.

I can’t imagine life without music.  People everywhere turn to music.   Music is there for us when we are happy or sad, in a crowd or feeling lonely.  Performing music teaches reading and math, teamwork, the value of preparation and practice.  That makes music a great educational tool, but music is more than that. Music speaks for us when we can’t find the words.   As musician Art Blakely put it, music washes “away the dust of everyday life.”   

Tuesday the 19th is the second anniversary of Kennan’s death.   I’ve often turned to singing songs when I’m alone to help get through these two years, folk songs and hymns mostly.  They speak to the human condition and have comforted people for centuries as they’ve comforted me.     Cut music and the arts from our schools?   No way.

Friends:  I hope this e-mail finds you feeling recharged after a happy holiday season and looking forward to 2010.   I am starting the new year with a new, updated website (many thanks to my webmaster, Dave Leichtman).  It’s a little more personal and a little less political than before.  I’ll do a brief blog post  about every week (and try not to brag about my beautiful grandchildren too much), and there will be fairly regular updates on education issues and what’s going on in our schools.  The section on Kennan features memorial information and information about Phoenix Bikes and organ and tissue donation.  All subjects that are close to my heart.  As always, please let me know if there is something you’d particularly like to see on my website.  I want it to be interesting and useful for my readers.  BTW, I’m also on Facebook where I post a few more of the goings on in my life with children, grandchildren etc.  I’m happy to be everyone’s friend.  :-)

Last week was a busy one.   I met our incoming governor on Monday when I was in Richmond for the Governor’s College and Career Readiness summit.  We started with Governor Kaine and ended with Governor McDonnell.*  To read more, go to LINk  On Thursday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sibelius, Surgeon General  Regina  Benjamin and Congressman Jim Moran all came to Carlyn Springs Elementary School to spotlight our H1N1 vaccination program.   It was covered by UPI, CNN, the News Hour, NBC, ABC, Fox and the AP. Carlyn Springs is a community school and a model for delivering health care to our nations children.  There was an article in the Washington Examiner that praises the administration of H1N1 vaccine and the communication network employed in Arlington. The author contrasts Arlington’s approach to Chicago’s with a satiric sense of humor http://tinyurl.com/yk8b4db. 

In the middle of all this, I took a quick trip to Charlottesville for a meeting of The Farm Team www.farmteam.org  and, finally, on Friday had a little basil cell removed from my face.  Don’t let the big bandages alarm you.  I’m fine and should look pretty normal in a few months.

Stay warm!      Libby

* In between the two governors, education leaders I’ve worked with on the P-16 Council talked about the need to smooth transitions from high school to higher education, and about the work and plans that are underway to do that.  Currently about half of community college students need remediation classes before they can start college level work, a loss of valuable time and resources.   Virginia’s Standards of Learning for high school, and their associated tests, are being aligned with standards for college readiness in math and English.  The plan (yet to be approved by the state board of education) is that students will take those tests junior year of high school and, if they do not pass, will take classes while still in high school to become ready.   It is also hoped that a number of students will be able to complete high school and college in fewer years, again saving time and resources.   Community colleges are working with local school systems to have college credit courses taught in high school, which we are already doing here in Arlington with NOVA.  Virginia’s P-16 Council was praised repeatedly to encourage its continuation under Governor McDonnell.  When the incoming Governor spoke he seemed quite aware that his own reputation would depend in large part on how much educational progress in Virginia continues under his leadership.  I am quite hopeful the P-16 Council will continue.  I would very much like to continue to serve on the Council.  I am not so hopeful about that, but am grateful for the over four years I have been able to serve.  

It occurred to me several months ago that with my children gone to different continents, I would have no family here for Christmas and the holidays.  For years, Christmas meant scrambling to get everything done so Christmas would happen for Kennan, children and grandchildren.  It seemed like every year there was more to do and often more people to do it for.  Suddenly, there would be just me and the cat.  No scrambling necessary.  In fact, for the cat Christmas did not have to happen at all.  In the past, I’d often wished there weren’t so much to do for the holidays, however, this was a bit extreme and I started to think about the holidays with just me and the cat at home.  I’ve always known that what’s important about the holidays is being with friends and especially family, and we often invited familyless friends over that day, but it was clearer to me this year in a very different way. I have many wonderful friends, but I realized that being with family was what I wanted and that meant leaving town.  So I did.

First, Ruth and children flew here in November and we all drove to Ohio for the annual Thanksgiving family reunion with Kennan’s family.   When we came back, I had a day to pack and Ruth put me on a plane for Vienna, Austria.  There I met my newest granddaughter and had lots of toddler and baby rocking time and a little tourism time, too.  It snowed my last day and we went to a very old church, so old it had no heat. It was picture perfect (but very cold).  I returned to Arlington for a school board meeting and to check on the cat.  Then I got on a plane for Madison, Wisconsin to spend Christmas with my mother and her friend and my two sisters.  My mother had tuned the piano and practiced Christmas carols for weeks.   It snowed in a timely manner and my younger sister got snowed in with us.  Perfect timing.  It was beautiful.  

Throughout this holiday season, I dodged storms on two continents, helped a lot in kitchens, and had time for many relaxed (and sometimes with small children not so relaxed) conversations. It was not a holiday season I’d never imagined, but I felt very lucky to have family and to be with them.   it was just right.

I hope my readers have had a good holiday season wherever you were and wish everyone much time with friends and family in 2010.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan held a national town meeting with students from around the country at WETA in Shirlington and with him were students from Wakefield High School.  The purpose of the town meeting was to follow up on the President’s speech to the nation’s students from Wakefield this September.   Secretary Duncan wanted to hear from students what worked and what didn’t for them and how adults could help support students in their learning and to stay in school.  Our students talk about a number of programs at Wakefield that connect them to each other and to the larger community.  They credit the community that Wakefield creates as a major support helping them succeed in school.  You can watch the town meeting here and see how proud we can all be of Wakefield and our students http://www.apsva.us/15401082104136983/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=64053

In case you aren’t able to watch to the end, I want readers to know that Secretary Duncan says that he is a fan of Wakefield and that it can serve as a model for the country. The picture of me with the Secretary was taken after the President’s Speech at Wakefield.  Yes, the Secretary is very tall—I’m standing on my tip toes.

I am privileged to be on the school board of a pretty special community.  On September 8, President Obama delivered his speech to the nation’s school children from Wakefield High School.  I was fascinated to watch some of what goes into a Presidential visit and thought my readers might enjoy a few inside perspectives, including a few pictures when the President met for about 40 minutes in the library with a small group of students before his speech.

Sally Baird, our school board chair, and I co-wrote a description of the event which is below and you might like to read the article Linda Erdos, Director of School and Community Relations wrote about what is was for ??  about what it was like to have the President come to speak on the first day of school.

The President at Wakefield High School

It is impossible to fully articulate the excitement which everyone in the Wakefield community felt about the President’s visit.  Many students wore Obamafield t-shirts last year. As President, he exemplifies the American life journey – and challenges—which is familiar to so many of our Wakefield students.

It was such an honor—and well-deserved recognition—for a very special school and staff.   The principal, Doris Jackson, expressed it perfectly.

We had a rather odd vantage point as all this unfolded.  First, was the thrill of finding out the President was planning to come, but the need to keep it secret.  That was hard. We worried the White House would change its mind about the location.  Once the press release went out, however, we breathed a huge sigh of relief and enjoyed telling the world.

It struck us how little control we had over the event itself.  It was so complicated. The White House decided just about everything, including who could and could not come, and where people would sit.  We watched and listened as our staff worked out a myriad of details with the White House and security. A number of times, in response to our inquiries, APS staff told us “we’ve asked, but they won’t tell us”  and a few times “we’ve asked, and they said no.”

Then there were the amazing complaints from around the country, and a few from Arlington (!) that we were “subjecting” students to “brainwashing” and worse.  It is clear that hate radio is pouring misinformation and manipulating facts, and making far too many people fearful and angry.  What a destructive force!  This phenomenon could destroy our democracy over time.

But back to a positive future: our students. Sally was one of the few to sit in the library as the President spoke with 40 incoming Wakefield ninth grade students. The students selected to be there represented the wide range of diversity which Wakefield so beautifully embodies. One of the students asked the President why he chose Wakefield. The first part of the President’s response noted Wakefield’s achievements. But then he looked out at the group, paused, and said “you look like the world…this is what America really looks like….I wanted to talk to you…..”. It was a very powerful comment, and one which was not lost on the students sitting in the room with him, a number of whom have worked hard to achieve against daunting challenges.  One student asked the President about how it was growing up without a father and the President seemed surprised at first by the question and then answered very thoughtfully.

Outside the room, there was much waiting.  Events like this mean waiting.  Security limits the President’s exposure to crowds, so there was plenty of time to talk with everyone waiting which included some now very familiar folks from the Department of Education, even Secretary Duncan and his family before he joined the President and our students.  The excitement was electric for everyone, even the VIPs. 

I’m sure many of you watched the speech.  It was great.  There was a wonderful signer for the deaf who artfully translated the speech into sign language.  It was moving to watch the high school students listen so intently to what the President was saying to them.  In fact, saying some congressmen behave like children when the President speaks is insulting to our Arlington children.  Our students behaved much better and, as always, made us proud.

In the room, Barak Obama’s grin was infectious.  He praised Tim Spicer, the senior class president who introduced him and had a big smile.  He seemed to be looking right at Libby and she grinned back.  Then the President smiled even more broadly.  It was a spectacular moment.

Afterwards many students shook the President’s hand.  He left two signed bricks and an autographed picture.   It turns out the President usually signs the wall of each school he is in.  He went to do that at Wakefield and the staff panicked briefly:  “Oh no!  These walls are coming down in a few years.”  They found two single bricks which he signed.  Those bricks are waiting for the new school, so they will be with Wakefield for a very long time.

So will the memories.   I heard teachers say that some students’ lives would be changed forever by this visit.  The President came, spoke directly to them and showed he cared about them and that he is, indeed, an example to all of them to work hard and never give up on their dreams.It is always an honor and a privilege to serve on the Arlington County School Board, but never more than this year’s first day of school.