February 17, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

I was pleased to be visited in Richmond by a large delegation of adult educators from throughout the Commonwealth.

Commentary  
 
Classrooms to Courtrooms 
 
 
  
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
A report of the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) released last year included some eye-opening findings for Virginia: The Commonwealth leads the nation in student referrals to law enforcement, and minority students and students with disabilities are more likely to be suspended, expelled, or referred to law enforcement. The CPI analyzed U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) data to find that in 2011-12 in the most recent data available the average rate of referrals is 6 for every 1,000 students nationwide. Virginia's rate is 16 referrals per 1,000 students or 17,863 students referred to law enforcement during that time period. In the nationwide totals, African American students were 16 percent of U.S. enrollment but represent 27 percent of students referred to law enforcement. Special needs students were 14 percent of enrollment but are 26 percent of students referred to law enforcement.
 
As more public officers are assigned to schools, more behavior that in the past would have been handled as school discipline issues are turned into law enforcement matters. Resource officers assigned to schools for public safety and education purposes are being utilized as school police. Appropriate programs to deal with children with minor offenses are limited in the criminal justice system. As the Just Children Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center of Virginia described "Virginia's school-to-prison pipeline: Resource starvation, unaddressed academic failure, suspension and expulsion, and school policy are pushing students out of school and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems." The result the Center says is that "students are also being funneled from the school system to the already over-burdened justice system, often for typical adolescent misbehavior, such as disorderly conduct and truancy which should be handled by school officials...Ultimately, criminalizing student behavior makes schools less safe and damages communities."
 
While a few of the more dramatic instances of school resource or security officers being heavy handed have gained attention in the media, what isn't seen is the steady flow of students entering the legal system for what in the past would have been considered discipline problems and handled within the school. Escalation of response, particularly for younger children, can be counter-productive and set them on a path that increases their chances of further misconduct.
 
In the billion-dollar increase in education funding proposed by Governor Terry McAuliffe is a million dollars to support Positive Behavior Interventions (PBI) programs that are designed to transform school climate by shifting attention to positive behavior and providing students with a tiered system of supports and resources. In addition Virginia has a $3.5 million federal grant for "School Climate Transformation" to reduce referrals to law enforcement. A "Classrooms not Courtrooms" initiative is also underway in Virginia to coordinate among agencies to do a better job of keeping youth out of the juvenile justice system unless absolutely necessary. I will be working to ensure that the legislature supports these initiatives that are investments in our future. Classrooms are much less expensive than courtrooms and far more helpful.  
      
Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
  
Tune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming (Verizon Channel 1981). During the General Assembly session, Ken talks with Woody Evans of VCTA about legislative issues. 

New show: View it here. 

Previous Virginia Report shows are available for viewing online at vimeo.com.    

Bulletin Board  

I-66 Inside the Beltway: 
Design Public Hearings Rescheduled
All hearing times are 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a brief presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. 
  • Monday, March 7, Washington-Lee High School Cafeteria, 1301 N. Stafford Street, Arlington
  • Tuesday, March 8, Eagle Ridge Middle School Cafeteria, 42901 Waxpool Road, Ashburn
  • Wednesday, March 9, Visit Transform66.org to view a live stream beginning at 6:30 p.m., VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax
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Find out more at Earth Hour 2016. 

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Run for the Children promotes awareness about child abuse and neglect and raises money to help Fairfax CASA volunteers advocate for those children under the court's protection. Fairfax CASA, a 501(c)(3) public charity, recruits and trains citizen volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children who are under the court's protection in Fairfax County. Nicknamed "the eyes and ears of the judge," CASA volunteers help ensure that these vulnerable children are placed in safe, permanent, and loving homes as quickly as possible. The Run for the Children race will be held at the Fairfax County Courthouse complex and will feature music, food, prizes and raffle items. Learn more at:


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March 1, 2016 Presidential Primary Elections


What you need to know is at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections



Calendar of Events      

Saturday, February 20, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Making Justice Work: A Community Forum on Criminal Justice Reform in Virginia, at the ADAMS Center, 46903 Sugarland Road in Sterling. 
Panel and community discussion with the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety, state legislators, activists, and persons having experienced the criminal justice system. Download a flyer here. 

Tuesday, February 23, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Planning for the Future: Learn about Proposed Countywide Transit, George Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church (Cafeteria), Open-house format with a brief presentation at 7:00 p.m. For more information on the project, latest news or to submit comments online, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/2050transitstudy.

Thursday, February 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Planning for the Future: Learn about Proposed Countywide Transit, Mount Eagle Elementary School, 6116 N Kings Highway, Alexandria (Cafeteria), Open-house format with a brief presentation at 7:00 p.m. For more information on the project, latest news or to submit comments online, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/2050transitstudy. 

Friday, February 26, 9:00 a.m., Racing to Justice: Achieving Social Equity In Our Community, at Annandale Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale. Join one of the nation's foremost leaders of the movement for universal justice, john a. powell, as he discusses these issues with our community. Explore where we are today and how we can continue to live the values of our community's ideals. Free, but tickets are required. Register at Racing to Justice. View a flyer here.

Saturday, February 27, 3:00 p.m., Racing to Justice: Achieving Social Equity In Our Community, at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Join one of the nation's foremost leaders of the movement for universal justice, john a. powell, as he discusses these issues with our community. Explore where we are today and how we can continue to live the values of our community's ideals. Free tickets are required and available from the CenterStage Box Office or by calling 703-476-4500. For more information, contact Kevin Danaher at 703-390-6166 or visit restoncommunitycenter.com. View a flyer here.

Saturday, March 5, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Grow Your Health Festival: Gardening, Local Food & Wellness, at Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax. Meet local farmers, learn about organic gardening, food, and healthy options, buy local food products, see the film, "Growing Cities," and more. Ticket information is at www.GrowYourHealthnova.com. Admission includes all activities, classes, and demonstrations. 

Sunday, March 13, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 3rd Annual NoVa Mini Maker Faire, at South Lakes High School and Langston Hughes Middle School, Reston. Details are at NoVa Mini Maker Faire. 

March 22-23, 2016 Resilient Virginia Conference, Richmond. Learn more at http://resilientvirginia.org/. Register here. 

Wednesdays, March 23 to May 11, 2:15 p.m. to 3:40 p.m., Aging Well in Reston (55 years and older), at RCC Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza North, Reston. Cost: $45 (Reston) $90 (Non-Reston) (500452-6A * Registration Required). This lecture series helps residents discover why to stay in or move to Reston as you enjoy your retirement years. Some of the topics will include resources for remaining in your own home, opportunities for intergenerational community involvement, and the village living concept. Register at www.restoncommunitycenter.com. 

Saturday, March 26, Last day to donate formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, handbags, scarves, shawls, and accessories to Diva Central. Drop off at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Download a flyer here. 

Thursday, March 31, 11:00 a.m., "Destination Rides" Information Session, NV Rides-Reston will host a one-hour information session to learn about issues facing non-driving seniors in our community, at Reston Community Center, Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston. This is a free event; you will not be asked to make a financial contribution. For information or to RSVP, contact NV Rides at 703.537.3070 or GinaC@NVRides.org. More is at www.NVRides.org. 

April 5-7, Environment Virginia Symposium, at VMI's Center for Leadership and Ethics, one of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Virginia Green Convention and Conference Centers. Find more information about the symposium and register at Environment Virginia Symposium.

Friday, April 22, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Senior Health, Wellness & Safety Summit (55 years and older), at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Cost: FREE. An educational and interactive event designed to provide basic safety information, blood pressure screening, and health and safety topics important to older adults in the Reston community. The event is co-sponsored by Reston Community Center, Reston Association, Tall Oaks Assisted Living, Reston Hospital Center, and Fairfax County. Register at www.restoncommunitycenter.com. 

Saturday, April 23, noon to 6:00 p.m., Diva Central Event, at Reston Community Center Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza. The one-day event is open to any current high school student who is in need of a prom dress and other accessories. Everything is absolutely FREE. Limit one dress per person. Download a flyer here. 

April 25-26, National Reduce Tobacco Use Conference, showcasing the latest in tobacco-use prevention, reduction, and cessation with youth and young adults. For more information, visit reducetobaccouse.org. 

May 21 to 22, 1:00 to 7:00 p.m., Relay For Life of Reston, at South Lakes High School. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement symbolizes hope and our shared goal to end a disease that threatens the lives of so many people we love. More information is at Relay for Life. 
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 
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In This Issue
Commentary..."Classrooms to Courtrooms"
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News


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