Concerns vary by district in Fairfax election for school board

In the race for Fairfax County School Board, voter concerns and candidate promises vary from place to place. But there is a consensus countywide that one of the most important issues is the selection of a successor to Superintendent Jack D. Dale after he retires in 2013. Each of the 15 candidates for nine district seats in the Nov. 8 election says the next schools chief must be an excellent listener and communicator. Some say he or she must have a record of closing achievement gaps in diverse communities. Others want someone who can foster a culture in which teachers aren’t afraid to challenge policies.