Both contenders in Arlington’s Democrat School Board primary argue that leaders should rethink a plan to close a program for preschoolers with disabilities.
At a Wednesday candidate forum, June Prakash and Monique “Moe” Bryant contended that Arlington Public Schools leadership should have engaged more with affected families before introducing the proposal to close the Integration Station and disperse its students to other classrooms.
APS staff have said this would save about $1 million and help close a budget gap. However, the plan has emerged as one of the most contentious during the current budget cycle, with Integration Station proponents saying it calls into question the county school system’s commitment to serving some of its most vulnerable students.
“It’s a magical space,” Prakash said.
Acknowledging that “we need to have difficult conversations” related to the budget, Bryant also indicated support for the program and criticized the current School Board and top leadership for not being more proactive in talking to those impacted by the potential closure.
“We need to be more engaged with families,” Bryant said. “We don’t make decisions entirely on data.”
Prakash agreed that more discussions should have preceded the proposal, and voiced concern that closing Integration Station — which is run for the school system by The Children’s School — would hurt students.
“The kids will not get the same services if they are moved,” she said.
While their comments may give some hope to Integration Station supporters, a final decision on whether to close the facility is approaching. Final School Board budget action is slated for May 1.
Prakash is president of the Arlington Education Association, while Bryant is executive director of the Challenging Racism advocacy and training organization. They are vying for the Democratic endorsement in the race to succeed Mary Kadera, who in January announced she will not seek a second four-year term.
Democrats will select their endorsee in caucus voting that runs online April 19 to May 10, with in-person opportunities on May 4 and May 10.
Since 2003, no candidate for School Board has won the general election without first securing the Democratic endorsement. The filing deadline for general-election candidates not seeking the Democratic nod is mid-June.
The April 2 debate, moderated by former School Board member Noah Simon, also touched on how the school system could best focus its $845 million budget on core needs.
“We do need to look at what positions and what programs are serving our students best. We need to cut stuff, not staff,” Prakash said — a mantra that the educators’ union has used throughout the budget season.
Bryant appeared largely on the same wavelength.
“Arlington likes it shiny,” she said of the community’s desires for new programs and facilities. She said the school system had to “cut the shiny” during tough budget times, but not “take a DOGE approach and take a hatchet to things.”
