One is all it takes

MANASSAS PARK — Only one person applied for appointment to the Manassas Park School Board for 2002-04.

School Board Member Vicky Augustine, whose seat will expire June 30, submitted her resume for reappointment by Friday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

Unlike neighboring school systems that conduct elections to fill School Board seats, Manassas Park’s members are interviewed and hand-selected by the City Council.

Superintendent Thomas DeBolt said he is not surprised by this year’s one applicant and, in the past, the numbers have varied.

“Some years only one person applies and the most we ever had was five people. I would say the average is about two to three people,” DeBolt said.

DeBolt knew of Augustine’s reapplication to the School Board prior to Friday’s deadline. “Vicky is an outstanding board member. She has done a great deal of work,” he said.

Augustine, however, was disappointed at the application turnout.

“It takes the pressure off a little bit, but it would be nice to see some interest,” she said.

A Manassas Park resident for six years and a stay-at-home mother of two, Augustine regularly volunteers at both Cougar and Manassas Park elementary schools. She also has served as president of the Parent Teacher Organization at Manassas Park Elementary School.

One of her daughters is in first grade at Cougar Elementary School and the other is in fifth grade at Manassas Park Elementary School.

Augustine has a four-year degree in marketing and computer science degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

In her first three-year term on the board from 1999-2002, Augustine helped oversee the construction of Cougar Elementary School and the implementation of the parallel block program at the school.

In the parallel block program, classes in kindergarten through third-grade are divided in half to study the core subjects math and reading. The program operates similar to that of a middle or high school where students move from classroom to classroom each day.

“It allows a smaller ratio of student to teacher. Instead of 24-to-1, you have 12-to-1,” she said.

Augustine said she is seeking reappointment because she would like to continue her work with the school system.

“I want to help keep the momentum going. There are still things that need to be accomplished,” she said.

Each of the five members on the School Board serve three-year terms and appointments are staggered from year to year.

In order for the city to convert to an elected School Board, residents would have to file a petition and the City Council would have to vote on the issue.

DeBolt said he doubts the city would change to an elected School Board.