What follows is our letter to school board candidates about joint use of school and park property, and their responses (in order that we received them).

Dear Arlington School Board Candidate: I am writing to you on behalf of the Friends of Arlington Parks, a non-partisan volunteer group of private citizens in Arlington County that for over 20 years has worked to preserve and enhance the Arlington public park system and to encourage usage by our residents of parks for passive and recreational purposes. There are many examples of Arlington schools that take advantage of nearby parks to give students opportunities to study nature. Similarly, school grounds often include green space that could be enjoyed by the public while also providing teaching opportunities. We are aware of several Arlington schools containing sites that present wonderful opportunities for joint use for educational and community purposes. These sites include green space at Wilson School and Kenmore Middle School, and the wooded area at Wakefield High School. If you are elected to the School Board, would you support a joint effort by APS and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources to identify sites at Arlington schools that are particularly suitable for joint use and to develop a program to enhance those sites and make them available for both educational and community use?

Response from Emma Violand-Sanchez
I would strongly support the joint effort by APS and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources to identify sites for joint use and to develop ways they can be used by both the community and the schools. I am a strong advocate of experiential learning, students need to have concrete experiences when learning new concepts especially in science including learning about our environment.

Throughout my campaign, I have been focusing on three points: educational excellence, a caring school community and schools as a community asset. I have particularly emphasized the need for collaboration with others in our community. The initiative you suggest could involve not only the schools and PRCR, but other organizations.

I also believe strongly in the power of parents to make good things happen for their own children and those of others. Parents have already been deeply involved in establishing nature study areas at several schools. Such projects have the potential to involve parents who are newcomers to our community, as well as those already involved in PTAs.

I look forward to the opportunity to work on the collaborative venture you suggest. We can all work together to benefit children and our Arlington community. I ask for your vote for Emma Violand Sanchez on May 1st or May 3rd. Emma Violand-Sanchez

Response from James Lander
Thank you for your question and I am indeed working very diligently on our campaign efforts. With regards to your question, "yes" is my short answer! Throughout my campaign I've spoken about the "Stakeholders' Triangle", and included this concept from the very beginning on my website, www.jameslander.org, where you can learn more. The "Stakeholders" as I've defined them are the community, the school and the parents. I believe the school board has the critical responsibility to bring together and support the community, the schools and the parents. I welcome a productive partnership between our community and schools.

Thank you again for your question and I welcome the opportunity to further discuss your concerns and my ideas with regard to our community and schools.

Warm Regards, James S. Lander

Response Libby Garvey
Of course, as long as it does not take resources from the schools that are needed by our students.

Response from Terron Sims
The quick answer to your question is yes. For years, I have volunteered at the Drew Community Center and fully understand and appreciate the need for a true partnership between APS and Parks and Rec. The two organizations, together, can further enhance the education of our children outside of the classroom through various activities. Currently, the APS and Parks and Rec do work together, but not as integrated as they should. We can do more to make classroom and green space available to our students for various activities that will enhance their growing into mature, productive members of our coomunity.

Terron Sims, II Arlington County Democratic Candidate for School Board

Response from Reid Goldstein
Preserving open space and maximizing use of school grounds as park and recreation areas is increasingly important in our increasingly urban county. We need to do several things:

1. Ensure that school facilities are made available to the public as much as possible, consistent with education as the priority. This means going beyond policy statements to verifying actual usage. We also need to make sure the public knows how to gain access and schedule use of gyms and auditoriums. These are public assets and need to be treated as such.

2. Improve the working relationship between the county and schools on usage of fields and play areas. Many fields adjacent to schools are under county management, but consistently have schools use. Policies must be consistent, and we cannot have a situation where each organization lays off responsibilities on the other. We should study the option of management by a single entity.

3. In design of new facilities, preservation (and in some cases, creation) of open space and wooded areas should be a priority. Particular attention should be focused on these sites.

• Wakefield--the wooded area between the stadium, pool and George Mason Drive should be preserved. The idea of an access drive off of George Mason Drive at Frederick St. can be consistent with this goal, provided that the road (and potential parking structure) are properly placed. The current building design does not optimize open space, or create a proper civic presence for the building, and needs work; a position repeatedly expressed by the County’s Public Facilities Review Committee to APS Staff and the Wakefield Building Le

• Kenmore--restroom facilities (to allow greater community use of the fields) must be properly designed for universal accessibility. Capital budgets are always a challenge, but we cannot let the interface of organizations continue to be a reason (or excuse) for inaction.

• Career Center--plans for a new fifth high school (also home for High School Continuation) as a "first phase" built along Highland St. between the existing Career Center and Henry Elementary would negate the opportunity to create significant open space on the site. It also has significant design problems for the programs to be housed there. This site should concentrate density on the southeast corner, consistent with the surrounding density of buildings, not create a new major facility on the opposite (northwest) corner.

Response from Karla Hagan
Thank you for your question on behalf of the Friends of Arlington Parks.

I am particularly interested in your question because one of the things that motivates me to run is to improve the way Arlington Public Schools and Arlington County work together. We are one community; as citizens, we write one tax check. We must work together better, and given that land is a precious resource in our 26-square-mile community, we must work smarter. School facilities must serve educational goals, but also community goals.

I would absolutely support a joint effort that would include APS and DPRCR that would identify sites at Arlington schools that are particularly suitable for joint use. As funds become available, I would be pleased to support the construction of joint efforts that enhance our educational offerings, as well as provide benefits to the community. Karla