School Board Swearing-In

Jeff Platenbergstaffby voiceeverybody got got quiet

Speaker 4at the right time that was

Jeff Platenbergstaffby voiceperfect well good evening everybody and welcome to such an auspicious event such an exciting time when we have the swearing in of school board members I've said before and I'll say it again it's a part of America that makes this country great. One of the foundations of why we all gather, why we're here, and the reflections, the memories, the experiences we have either as students going through our educational system or as parents and adults looking out for those who we care for and love so dearly, our children. And especially for the residents and the students of the City of Fairfax. First of all I want to thank the parents for being here. I also want to thank the spouses and the partners and

the friends and relatives for all of those that are going to be sworn in this evening. It is a big responsibility to be an elected official and working on behalf of the citizens and students of the City of Fairfax. One that is really a lot more time demanding than people recognize or realize and the burdens that love those that provide what is the service, the service to our country and the service to our students, is certainly something that we can all be extremely proud of. But really, thank you for the support that you've given through the campaign process and the electoral process. But thank you for the support that you're going to be giving throughout. I wanted to go ahead and recognize some folks that I saw walk in,

and hopefully I'll be able to make sure I cover everybody. If I don't, please give me a shout-out. welcome I noticed Janice Miller came in former city council member and school board member emeritus and historian of all things with the city and also dr. Mitch Sutterfield and Toby Sorenson two former school board members we have school perfect public schools school board members Sandy Anderson Springfield district column McDaniel at large and also I believe Robin lady is here as well yes thank you so much for being here this evening we really appreciate here. We also have the Region 5 family. In fact, we have everybody here from Region 5 with Becky Banning, the Assistant Superintendent, Gordon Stokes, and Chad Lehman. Thank you all for being

here this evening and taking time out of your busy schedules to

Rick Harringtonbe a part of this very important event.

Jeff Platenbergstaffby voiceAnd also our city principals, the people who really get the job done in the city. Thank you so much. Fairfax High School principal, Dr. Georgina A., Chris Smith at Katherine Johnson in middle school, and then both Susan Mullen and Andrew Pratt, both of our elementary schools. We really, the work that we do is to support you and what you do for our children. So with that, I want to also recognize the city staff that are here, JC Martinez, the chief financial officer for the city, and Gwen Riddle, the director of budget, two individuals that I've grown to become very fond of, and just incredible professionals who have been a huge partnership with the schools. And we couldn't really operate, and we're going to be talking about a budget later this evening,

but we couldn't operate without this new collaboration and the new partnerships that we must have as we move forward in the changes that we're experiencing. And

Rick HarringtonKatie

Jeff Platenbergstaffby voiceHerman,

Rick Harringtonthe FPAC, I'll just say chair

Jeff Platenbergstaffby voiceof FPAC, but also somebody who's heavily involved and a huge partner with all of us. And is there anybody else that I may have missed? Oh, Billy Bates. I didn't see you coming, Billy. Another city council member, Billy Bates, here this evening. Thank you so much for joining us. So with that, I'd like to introduce the clerk of court, the Fairfax County Circuit Court, Chris Falcon. He's here with us this evening to do the swearing-in. And then after the swearing-in, we're going to have Rick Harrington, a fellow Rotarian, also with the City of Fairfax Electoral Board, present the certificates. So I'll turn it over to you.

Chris FalconThank you. Good evening. everyone can you hear me okay to be clear the clerk of the Fairfax County and Fairfax City circuit court but it's good to be with you all one of the most important duties that we have in the clerk's office is the administration of oaths to our newly elected officials I've had the pleasure of going around with the region over the last couple of days and doing this including out in Herndon a couple of nights ago but it is so important I just want to say a moment to give thanks to the individuals that are sitting behind me right now for agreeing to answer the call to service it is so truly important and I am very grateful to you all also as the father of three school-aged children I am very grateful

to you all thank you and without further ado I can launch into the Oaks first up if I can have Lauren Ann Barton there I warn Ann Bartman.

Speaker 4I warn Ann Bartman.

Chris FalconDo solemnly swear or affirm. Do

Speaker 4solemnly swear or affirm.

Chris FalconThat I will support the Constitution of the United States of America.

Speaker 4That I will support the Constitution of the United States of America.

Chris FalconAnd the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Speaker 4and

Chris Falconthat I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the dues incumbent upon me

Speaker 4as

Chris Falcona member of the school board for the city of Fairfax, Virginia according to the best of my abilities, so help me God.

Speaker 4According to the best of my abilities, so help me God. Thank you very much. Congratulations.

Chris FalconThank you. Thank you. the Commonwealth of Virginia

Speaker 4and

Chris Falconthat I will faithfully and impartially

Speaker 4discharge

Chris Falconall the duties incumbent upon me as a member of the school board for the city of Fairfax Virginia I'm

Speaker 4never the scope word of reference.

Chris FalconAccording to the best of my abilities. So how can I do that? According to the best of my abilities. Congratulations. Congratulations. Next up, if I could have the Omnid Pickman. Thank you. And that I will faithfully and impartially

Speaker 4discharge

Chris Falconall the duties incumbent upon me

Speaker 4as

Chris Falcona member of the school board for the city of Fairfax, Virginia,

Speaker 4according

Chris Falconto the best of my abilities, so help me God. According to the best of my abilities, so help me God. Next up, if I could have Sarah Kelsey come forward. Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Sarah Kelsey. I, Sarah Kelsey. I will support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the Commonwealth

Speaker 4of Virginia

Chris Falconand that I will

Speaker 4faithfully and

Chris Falconimpartially

Speaker 4discharge

Chris Falconall the duties

Speaker 4incumbent

Chris Falconupon me

Speaker 4as

Chris Falcona member of the School Board for the City of Fairfax, Virginia As

Speaker 4a member of the school board from the city of Fairfax, Virginia.

Chris FalconAccording to the best of my abilities,

Speaker 4so help me God. According to the best of my abilities, so help me God.

Chris FalconNext up is by Cat Carolyn Pitches. Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Carolyn S. Pitches,

Speaker 4do

Chris Falconsolemnly swear or affirm

Speaker 4that

Chris FalconI will support the Constitution of the United States of America

Speaker 4Constitution of the United States of America

Chris Falconand the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the

Speaker 4Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Chris Falconand that I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon me

Speaker 4as

Chris Falcona member of the School Board for the City of Fairfax, Virginia as

Speaker 4a member of the School Board of the City of Fairfax, Virginia according

Chris Falconto

Speaker 4the best of my ability, so help me God.

Jeff Platenbergstaffby voiceThank you very much and if we could then Mr. Rick Harrington with the City of Fairfax Electoral Board to present the frame certificates if we could have the school board members come down to receive your frame certificate and following that we'll have some photographs and I'd like to take a minute to recognize the mayor of the City of Fairfax who is with us also this evening Mayor Reed

Speaker 1Yeah.

Rick HarringtonEverybody hear me all right? Yes. I'm Rick Harrington. I'm the secretary for the city of Fairfax electoral board. Is there anybody in the room that knows what the electoral board is for the City of Fairfax?

Speaker 4I do.

Rick HarringtonOh, and with me tonight is the chairman of the City of Fairfax Electoral Board. All right. The electoral board. We're not elected officials. Guess what? We are appointed by the chief judge of the 19th Circuit Court to make sure that the elections in the city of Fairfax are done accurately, ascertained. They're done with purity and legality to make sure that the voter's choice is recorded properly. That's what your electoral board does. And now part of that is when an election is done, it's unofficial until the electoral board certifies the election. on the 5th of December with all the paperwork. With that, I would like to now present the certificates of election to the school board members.

Speaker 4This is a grip and

Rick Harringtongrin, and we're going to start with Mr. Bartellini. I'll get you now. Please, right here. We need a photograph. There we go. It's called a grip and grin because now, with your I'm holding on to this. All right, good on it. Great. Congratulations. Congratulations. Let's just assessorate this. And again, this is a great congratulations so much. And here we go. Congratulations.

Speaker 4Ms. Hickman, congratulations. Thank you. All right. Can I strip him again? No. No. Wonderful.

Rick HarringtonMs. Kupsey, please, congratulations. We'll think we'll have one more. Ah, now, Mr. Chase, and for all of you, to all to whom these presidents shall come, Greetings. This is to certify that at a meeting of the Electoral Board of the City of Fairfax, held on November 15, 2024, upon an examination of the official records, in the office of the General Registrar, it was ascertained and determined that at the election held on November 5, 2024, Carolyn, Hitchens, and all other members of the school board have been doing the election. Congratulations.

Jeff Platenbergstaffby voiceCongratulations one more time. Thank you.

Speaker 1start our regular meeting at 7 o'clock in the council's work session room if anybody's

Speaker 4interested in staying for that. So we are going to adjourn to the atrium so the planning commission can

Speaker 1come in and get started.