"Helen has also been at the forefront of the essential effort to dramatically improve the Jefferson-Houston elementary school." So let's look at what the "effort to dramatically improve" this school has produced for the students of Jefferson Houston over the past 3 years. English pass rate: 2009-2010 69%, 2010-2011- 67%, 2011-2012 61%. Math pass rate: 2009-2010 81%, 2010-2011 62%, 2011-2012 35%. A decline every single year. This is dramatic improvement? Science pass rate: 2009-2010 67%, 2010-2011 51%, 2011-2012 43%. 43% of students passing what should be one of the most hands on, fun, concrete, subject areas in all of elementary education! That is an outrage. Social Studies pass rate: 2009-2010 57%, 2010-2011 38%, 2011-2012 48%. Writing pass rates: 2009-2010 75%, 2010-2011 51%, 2011-2012 56%. Three years later and EVERY SINGLE subject area has declined. Every single one! For Mr. Williams to suggest there has been any type of "essential effort" to meet the educational needs of these students is insulting. What is more insulting is the implication that these results are somehow due to Alexandria's "diverse collection of city kids." "City kids," are you kidding me? The continued failure of these students is due to a school Board which lacks a clear focus. Led by the Superintendent, this Board bounces from initiative to initiative leaving poorly implemented programs and failed students in it's wake. It is time for a change. For the sake of all students.

Helen Morris also voted to renew Mort Sherman's inflated boondoggle contract.

All Alexandria residents should be grateful that Superintendent Sherman is willing to head our schools, at such minimal compensation and with a substitute, non-guaranteed retirement plan, especially in light of the vexatious, small-minded, meritless nonsense that his few opponents have served up.

If $250000 plus a Mercedes allowance is "minimal compensation" then sign me up!

Mark, I could always use an extra $250,000 for doing nothing. I'm sure most Alexandrians could. How wonderful for you that you are so rich that you would turn down the opportunity for an extra $250,000 plus Mercedes allowance and the ability to grant contracts and consulting agreements to your friends. Of course, given that you are the law partner of the other Marc Williams (Marc with a C, who is an incumbent school board member), I have limitless confidence that you two have indeed already found other ways to enrich yourselves at the expense of others. No wonder you like Mort Sherman so much. You have so very much in common.

There is a bridge for sale somewhere. Mr. Williams, did you watch the October 25 presentation before the Virginia Board of Education? It was a downright three ring circus and an utter embarassment. Do you believe that the abysmal pass rates at Jefferson Houston are "meritless nonsense?" Those rates are not from years before this board or before the arrival of this Superintendent. Those rates have occurred under their watch and leadership. Is it "nonsense" to question results after four years of leadership? No. What is nonsense is an unwavering loyalty to a Superintendent who is paid $250,000 a year and going so far as to call that salary "minimal." We should all be grateful and kiss the ring and drink the kool aid as you have done? Grateful enough to spend $250,000 a year to head a school system with a single high school? Grateful enough to spend $250,000 a year to generate mediocrity, confusion, and waste? Grateful enough to spend $250,000 a year for a multitude of haphazardly implimented initiatives which leave just as quickly as they arrive, at a cost to taxpayers and children? Grateful enough to spend $250,000 a year while our city's teachers take home less this year than last? Watch the VA Board hearing and learn a thing or two about how real educators see through the smoke and mirrors the man behind the curtain has given Alexandria for the last four years. The current Board could not see behind the curtain and they must go.

Mark, I have no current litgation. Please continue to waste your efforts by attacking me personally. I'm not running for anything. In the meantime, Mr. Lewis and I shall continue to point out that the incumbent school board members have been a disaster. I'd like to thank Mr. Lewis for posting the data which disputes Mr. William's continuing exaltation of Mort Sherman and his lapdog, the other Marc (with a C) Williams.

Was Heath Wells even a real candidate? I never once met him, the one debate they had they said he was "on vacation" (lame!) and I just started to see yard signs for the guy less than a week before the election. Does this guy actually exist? Seems like he didn't really care.

To put Superintendent Sherman's salary into perspective: He receives the same compensation as the New York City School Chancellor. To put that simply: the man who runs a school system with approximaely 10,000 students is paid the same as the person who runs a system with more than 1,000,000. http://gothamschools.org/2009/01/06/new-database-reveals-that-doe-employs-the-citys-top-earner/