Editor's Note: Karen Wanamaker is a Mount Vernon resident.

Since my husband and I do not have children, the school board race is not one I generally follow, but your paper did such an excellent job of interviewing the candidates the article drew me in.

Lin-Dai Kendall’s grasp of details about the overall budget and per-pupil spending was impressive. Her statements that “demographics do not define your child’s destiny” and encouraging a concentration on “basic knowledge” while “enriching with the arts” showed she has a focus on fundamentals while recognizing the importance of a balanced approach to learning and a caring-touch toward children.

In talking about pre-school programs, Sheree Brown-Kaplan made a point new to me, which is that these programs are mandated by the federal government yet the federal government is only providing the county 15 percent of the funding necessary. Ms. Kaplan had a practical outlook, however, indicating that while they are underfunded, these programs “are vital and they should be funded.” Like Ms. Kendall, Ms. Brown-Kaplan seemed to have a clear grasp on the budget realities and an understanding of the priorities for our county.

When asked about elimination of the current three-tiered curricula, several of the candidates suggested this three-tiered approach should be kept. I liked the response of Lolita Mancheno-Smoak who said the Fairfax County schools “should have multi-tiers, and not pin it down to only three.” She said “we should have customization for every child.” Her broad approach to creating more options and opportunities for the varied needs of children in our diverse county is the right one.

Each of the candidates I’ve mentioned supports an audit of the school system’s budget. I work for a not-for-profit association and regular audits are not only fiscally responsible, but also serve as a helpful management tool for assuring limited resources are wisely spent. I applaud Ms. Kendall, Ms. Brown-Kaplan, and Ms. Mancheno-Smoak for their intention of applying prudent business practices to the school system.

Thanks to your paper’s insightful interviews, I intend to follow this race. I hope you will do more in-depth articles on the candidates.