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Bob Beard for School Board

I pledge to fight for excellence in our public schools. Our twin sons graduated from Western Albemarle High School and received a great public education in Albemarle County, starting with kindergarten.While our public schools are a source of pride, there is room for improvement.&nbsp;Every dollar invested in our public schools brings four to seven dollars back to the local economy.Albemarle families value rigorous academics for all kids, including a strong foundation in reading and math. Albemarle doesn’t want precious tax dollars going to private schools, which would degrade public education. We don’t ban books. I support family engagement. And we will celebrate our perseverance and successes along the way!

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Candidate for Albemarle school board

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Bob Beard for Albemarle School Board

Albemarle co. School board, samuel miller district

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Albemarle co. school board, at-large

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The Samuel Miller district is one of the most rural in Albemarle County. One of six magisterial districts, it includes the communities or neighborhoods of Ivy, Batesville, Red Hill, Esmont, Ednam, Bellair, Covesville and North Garden, among many others.

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I bring the experience of being a parent to the School Board

<h3>I have lived in Ivy with my wife, Ellen, for more than twenty years.</h3>Our twin sons, Ryan and Wes, graduated from Western Albemarle High School after attending Ivy Elementary and Henley. I own a small real estate investing company and Ellen owns Patina, a home furnishing business.&nbsp;I have long been involved in ACPS affairs. I was co-President of the PTO at Ivy Elementary (Meriwether Lewis) and served on various committees, including search committees that recommended new Principals at WAHS and Ivy ES. I have been a substitute teacher at local middle and high schools.&nbsp;I have a deep knowledge of our community and its needs. I am a former news anchor at CBS19 in Charlottesville and worked in public affairs as a spokesperson and science writer at the UVa Health System. I am currently a member of the Albemarle Co. Equalization Board, where I hear property owner appeals of their values for county taxes. I am a member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Rotary Club, a volunteer advocate for abused and neglected children at Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a volunteer member of the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), member of the Charlottesville Committee on Foreign Relations, former board member of the Virginia Senior Statesmen and a current vice-chair of the Albemarle Democrats.&nbsp;As a longtime broadcast journalist in Washington, DC, I worked as a reporter at CNN, NBC News, WRC-TV, Reuters, and as a producer at C-SPAN, among other channels. I have degrees from Vanderbilt University (BA) and Georgetown University (MA).&nbsp;

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"Education is the key that unlocks the golden door to freedom" - George Washington Carver

<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>These are some of the top issues our campaign is focused on. Learn more about our issues <a href="/issues" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

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No family member should fear for their kids' safety when they drop them off at school. Now is the time to act to make sure our students are always protected in our schools. ACPS has made strides in hiring more mental health counselors and psychologists and that needs to continue. I support providing free gun locks to ACPS families and collaborating with state and local leaders on common sense gun safety measures. Every student at ACPS needs to be treated with dignity and respect.&nbsp;

Now is the time to act to make sure our students are always safe in our schools.

Keeping Our Students Safe

As your School Board member, I will work hard to make sure ALL 14,000 students enrolled in ACPS (no matter their economic situation or needs) have the resources and support to be challenged in class, excel academically, and have access to arts and recess, as well as mental health services.&nbsp;I am committed to working with the Board of Supervisors to fully-fund our public schools to eliminate post-pandemic-related academic gaps, especially those in math and reading.&nbsp;I am committed to the importance of small class sizes. We need to develop strong literacy and critical thinking, so EVERY student graduates from ACPS with the skills for success, to go to college, join the military or learn a trade. Every student deserves a bright future.

I will work hard to make sure ALL 14,000 students enrolled in ACPS (no matter their economic situation or needs) have the resources and support to be challenged in class, excel academically, and have access to arts and recess, as well as mental health services.

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Success For Our Students

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Campaign Coverage on CBS19 News

Albemarle County must recruit and retain the best teachers in Virginia. As a member of the American Federation of Television &amp; Radio Artists (SAG/AFTRA), I strongly support collective bargaining with the Albemarle Education Association (AEA) and believe our world-class teachers should be valued with support and competitive compensation.&nbsp;But teachers are overworked. I've heard they don't get enough training and support in new curricula in language arts and math. ACPS should provide dedicated time to plan their work and communicate with families. Teachers and staff deserve a positive, collaborative work environment, where they get their needs met with action.

Albemarle County must recruit and retain the best teachers in Virginia.

Valuing Our Teachers

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia— Former CBS19 news anchor Bob Beard has announced his campaign for the Albemarle County School Board from the Samuel Miller district. If elected, Beard will succeed Graham Paige. Paige is retiring after ten years on the board. Beard’s twin sons attended Albemarle County Public Schools, from kindergarten through high school.“The school board needs more input from ACPS parents,” Beard said. “We need to ensure that Albemarle schools remain the best in Virginia and that every kid, no matter their circumstances, succeeds academically and graduates on time with the knowledge and skills to be a productive member of society. It is critical to hire and retain the best teachers and staff in the nation to keep ACPS moving forward.”Graham Paige is endorsing Beard’s campaign. “I thank Bob for stepping up to run for this important office in our community,” he said. “I support his candidacy and know that he will be a valuable member of the board.” Samuel Miller includes the communities of Ivy, Batesville, Red Hill, Esmont, Covesville and North Garden.Beard said his priorities on the Board include improving literacy and math skills in elementary and middle schools, closing the achievement gap, valuing ACPS teachers and staff with raises and support, modernizing school buildings and listening to families and the broader community on how ACPS can improve.Beard has lived in Albemarle County for more than twenty years. He owns a small real estate investing company. He was co-President of the PTO at Ivy Elementary (Meriwether Lewis) and served on various committees, including search committees that recommended new Principals at WAHS and Ivy ES. He has been a substitute teacher at local middle and high schools.&nbsp;Beard is a former news anchor at CBS19 in Charlottesville and worked in public affairs as a spokesperson and science writer at the UVa Health System. He is currently a member of the Albemarle Co. Equalization Board, which hears appeals of property values from county taxpayers. He is a member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Rotary Club, a volunteer advocate for abused and neglected children at Piedmont CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates,) former board member of the Virginia Senior Statesmen and a current vice-chair of the Albemarle Democrats.&nbsp;Beard was a broadcast journalist in Washington, DC at CNN, NBC News, WRC-TV and Reuters. He earned degrees from Vanderbilt University (BA) and Georgetown University (MA).&nbsp;

Bob Beard Runs for Albemarle School Board

I'm Running for our Students, Families and Teachers!

We need to address capacity issues and overcrowing. The majority of ACPS students attend schools that are at or surpassing 95% capacity and several are beyond 100%. ACPS hasn’t built a new school in 25 years. Too many students are forced into portable classrooms or "cottages." ACPS has more than 70 right now.Too many schools have inadequate, poor or borderline facility ratings. All our high schools, Monticello, Albemarle and Western, are over capacity and there needs to be a plan to address this. We’re finally celebrating a new building as Mountain View Elementary expands. A new Elementary School is also on the five-year plan for funding in the Northern Feeder Pattern. But too many schools, from elementary to high school, need significant upgrades.I absolutely support using more funds from the county’s Capital Improvements (CIP) budget to fix our overcrowding issues, especially at Western and Monticello.

The majority of ACPS students attend schools that are at or surpassing 95% capacity and several are beyond 100% capacity.

Modernizing Our Spaces

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The School Board must listen to our students, teachers, families and the broader community. Then actually act on their concerns and suggestions to make sure our schools are the very best in Virginia. As a journalist, I made my living listening, and asking tough questions, and I will do the same as your School Board member from Samuel Miller.

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Listening To Our Students &amp; Teachers

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Our public schools make Albemarle the best place in the nation to raise kids, work and live.

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Bob Beard

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