To confused-this is more information on the account mentioned earlier. It is amounts.

To iceberg-
I do agree this looks pretty shaky. Anybody care to pry an explanation out of the school system?

2 1/2 years supplement Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Famous Dave's 136-43, amphora
> 50-115-81-104-33-31-33-51, lucianos' 82-55-215,
> Lakeside Inn 139, Sweetwater 73-91, Anita's
> 357-195-382, Starbuck's 41, Jackson's 125,
> Silverado 120, Tequila Grande 75, Rio Grande 126,
> Ozzies Corner Italian 313, Dogfish 137-46, Uncle
> julios 78, faculty/staff breakfast and function
> 324-175-197-236...................................
> ........!?

Appears that the figures included here are dollar amounts. If that's the case, you'd have to wonder about them. No school luncheon could be purchased for let's say, $43 from Famous Daves; Tequila Grande for $175; etc.

It's pretty evident that much of this money was spent on a meal for a few people, maybe 1 or 2 in some cases.

In addition it would be interesting if any of the money included purchasing alcohol, I'd think that would strictly prohibited.

Does anyone actually review the receipts to make certain the money is being spent appropriately?

If the administration wants to use money on food, why not buy every student a mighty kids meal from mcd's or a pizza party every quarter or something so EVERYONE benefits- not just the staff- it was the STUDENTS and their PARENTS that gave the money...hello????

Or how about using the funds to pay for minor renovations at the school (a fresh paint job in needed classrooms, upgrade the lightbulbs to all-CFL or something like that)

Or how about a REFUND? I'll take that $20 check at the end of the year, thanks!

More fun with Educational Contingency Accounts.

Bazin's $224
Coasters from Creative Designs $996 (maybe they are selling these)
Baby bibs $300 cute (""""")
t shirts for faculty $1016
Boston Market $1840
Coastal Flats $162
Cinnabon $370
Baja Fresh $1838
Popeye's $161
Staff clothing $4602 (I am not making this up-that is $4602)
Staff jackets It is either $613 or $813
Italian Gourmet $443
overnight Principal retreat $253 (lots of these)
200 smoothies for teachers $358 (lots of these)
El Fresco Mexican Grill $546
Maggiano's $2300
BBQ supplies $393 (maybe for the snack bar?)
Umbrellas from 4imprint $1820 ( I am not making this up)
Café Rio $1558
Pane E Vino $858


etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

No wonder there is a budget crisis.

How many staff members does it take to go over to Cinnabon, buy $370 worth of goodies, take them back to the school, and unload them out of the car(s)?

The idea of spending $370 at Cinnabon is hard to fathom. This would make a good math problem. Volume, size of boxes, size of car...

I don't understand what is going on with this.

It is called stealing from children.

unfairfax Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If the administration wants to use money on food,
> why not buy every student a mighty kids meal from
> mcd's or a pizza party every quarter or something
> so EVERYONE benefits- not just the staff- it was
> the STUDENTS and their PARENTS that gave the
> money...hello????
>
> Or how about using the funds to pay for minor
> renovations at the school (a fresh paint job in
> needed classrooms, upgrade the lightbulbs to
> all-CFL or something like that)

There is a LOT that could be done with this money. This sounds like a good Washington Post investigation.
>
> Or how about a REFUND? I'll take that $20 check at
> the end of the year, thanks!

Has this made it to the newspaper yet?

hummer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It is called stealing from children.


No ,its stealing from the taxpayers , there is just a different leader of the school cartel allowing it to happen despite the cries of insufficient funding for schools.

McLean HS-------- Maggiano's and umbrellas

Madison HS---------- Coasters

Oakton HS------- $4600 of staff clothing


Woodson HS-------- Pane E Vino

possible ID Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> McLean HS-------- Maggiano's and umbrellas 3/20/2013 and 5/25/2013>


> Madison HS---------- Coasters 5/30/2013
>
> Oakton HS------- $4600 of staff clothing 11/27/2013
>
>
/> Woodson HS-------- Pane E Vino 6/17/2013

Confirmed.

How do you spend $1500 on COASTERS?

Madison High- Bazin's 4/5/2013 $224.46, Carrabba's 6/7/2013 $2258.25, Panera CATERING 8/26/2013 $1384.56

Oakton High- 9/12/2013 staff shirts $1971.47, 11/7/2013 polos tshirts and sweats (doesn't say who this are for) $2224.70

McLean High- 6/11/2013 Café Rio $1558.17 6/27/2013 Jackets (doesn't say who these are for) $1179.50

Woodson High-4/2/2013 Retreat/offsite HSPA Arundel Preserve $249.56

There is nothing here for anyone but ignorant goober assholes to discuss. What a bunch of henny-penny fucktards.

in the (mid) 90's ? (possibly late 80's) there was a big debate about slush funds being illegal and Congress erecting one and writing new laws to unmake it illegal

gov slush funds had been illegal

-------------------------
$1800 could be ordered pizza for staff meeting.

HOWEVER

ea of them makes enough to pay all that and still make 3x as much as a privately employed hard worker makes (one without connections)

they never loose idiot. and they want you to beleive it.

------------------------
let me guess someone knows the t-shirt shop owner. that's called corruption if it's true

hey i got gov workers around me who order a street plowed on gov money so they get their driveway done free (for the gratis of having ordered the work)

i got gov workers around me who have their siding replaced when it's perfectly new straight and clean, false insurance claims, likely because they are friends with the insurer or company replacing

these sacks of shit won't come to court and want you to fear them

Since when do staff meetings get $1800 of pizza paid for by the taxpayer?

Wonder if the HSPA Principal retreat was overnight. The hotel at Arundel Preserve is a luxury hotel with chilled sparkling wine and chocolates waiting for you in your room when you check in.

I am sure this was very educational and the children got a lot out of it.

More ECA information. Had to pull credit card statements as the schools were just putting "charge card" payments on the accounting data.

Langley HS- SA2 JP Morgan Chase card. A few-

1/15/2013 Honeybaked Ham $1280
1/30/2013 Pulcinella $486.86
Multiple trips to Listriani's Hundreds of dollars.
5/8/2013 Hilton Alexandria $300
7/18/2013 Hilton Alexandria $361.54
6/14/2013 Hilton Alexandria $482
7/2/2013 Hilton Alexandria $1400 (yes, $1400)
7/5/2013 Lansdowne Resort $1500
7/10/2013 Joe Theismann's $410.87

6/23/2013 Pulcinella $582.75
6/27/2013 Lansdowne Resort $2014.17
9/6/2013 Famous Dave's $847.25

Somebody was in Florida with receipts from 1/2014 2/2014 and 3/2014. Orlando and Lake Buena Vista.



Madison HS JP Morgan Chase

Lots and lots of Amazon purchases. No details.
Somebody was in Myrtle Beach in March, 2013
Somebody went to Las Vegas in 4/2013.
Somebody rented a car in Orlando 4/20/2013.

6/9/2013 Vienna Inn $1080.


Westfield HS
Jersey Mike's Subs 2/20/? $2772.00 FCPSSA
3/20/2013 Grillfire Hanover MD $483.43 SA2 JP Morgan Chase
5/23/2013 Milwaukee Frozen custard $600 SA2

6/18/2013 St. Germain Catering $3266.22 SA 4 JP Morgan Chase
8/20/2013 St. Germain Catering $330.36 SA4
8/26/2013 St. Germain Catering $3138.27 SA4
8/26/2013 St. Germain Catering $50 SA4

12/12/2013 Morton's of Arlington $156

Somebody was in Virginia Beach 11/2013 enjoying Buffalo Wild Wings and Captain George's, home of the endless seafood buffet.

12/2014 Papa John's about $600

Somebody left for California 12/27/2013. Might be with the Rose Bowl trip.



Forgive any typos. You get the idea. I don't have any more details. You all are more than welcome to help deal with this.

Receipts are being pulled on Hilton, Lansdowne, and St. Germain. I am sure there is an explanation.

So when you pay your child's parking pass fee, your kids lose their books, you rent a room at the school, or you buy something out of the vending machine, this is where it goes.

Wasn't the Orlando visit related to the band performing there?

Is this the band booster hater on the rampage now?

babs? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is this the band booster hater on the rampage now?

No, I remember reading an article here on FFU about the band going down to perform at Disney earlier this year. I can't remember the date.

I don't know any details. You all can take this up with your school staff and your school board person. I just pulled some records. I read the article about "where does your parking pass money go" and I knew where it went and I couldn't stand to sit on the sidelines and keep my mouth shut. If this was something with a band trip that should probably have been applied to the band trip account and the cost absorbed by the travelers. The deposits into the accounts are not clearly marked as to their source, so I would have to pull more details to follow the money.

Westfield Papa John's was 12/2013, not 2014. The statement was from 1/2014. Sorry.

I know there is a lot involved in running busy schools. I just don't see where some of this is necessary and appropriate use of public funds, when all we hear about is that they don't have enough money.

Parents, pull the ECA accounting information (or anything else) on your schools, ask to see credit card statements and receipts. All you have to do is send an email to Brandynn.Reaves@fcps.edu and you will get some records. I paid about $90 for the credit card statements on these three schools. About 80 pages. The accounting data printouts were free. I have pulled 7 schools and they are working on another batch. You don't have to say why you want it. Just put your name and address on there and do it.

It's your money and you have a right to know. This isn't meant to be threatening or ridicule people. These people need to be held accountable for what they do with your money. It takes a village. Funds are tight and everything is on the table, including whatever went on out at Lansdowne and with St. Germain catering and at the Alexandria Hilton. So, let's all talk about it. We need to look at things differently.

Oh missed Wildfire up at Tyson's Galleria. 7/17/2013 $304.77. Great chopped salad. Langley SA2 JP Morgan Chase.

St. Germain Catering?

Sounds like a wedding reception.

Why would a local administrator need a local hotel room?

morons, you willing gave up extra money to the schools? What did you think was going to happen?

once you CHOOSE to give someone money (vending machine, parking pass, missing books) IT ISN'T YOURS TO CONTROL ANYMORE.

it makes for seemingly good drama by a lonely new Internet vigilante but it's a non story. It really is.

When you pay your property tax bill, which do you prefer it to go for-

A. soires and trinkets for staff

B. educational materials for students

There are supposed to be controls over what is done with public money, contrary to what toomuchdrama is saying. And there are. And there are things called audits, which are supposed to monitor for fraud, waste, and abuse, which appears to be rampant. And the records are open and public in order for the citizens to see what is being done with their money, and they have the right to speak up and say what their opinion is.

Everything is on the table!

I think most people would like to think that their parking pass money is going to maintain the parking lots. Lots of people would like to think that the missing book money is going to pay for new books. Maybe they can keep the vending machine money for the slush fund, but I think the parking fee and the missing book fee should not be up for grabs. It seems pretty unethical to charge for things and then use the money for "fun".

Only a portion of the parking pass money is retained by the school. That is an interesting point-where does the rest of it go? Does it go into a Reserve account to take care of the lots?

Speak up, folks. Ask to see some records.

Why are they trimming things for the students left and right while the staff are dining at Capital Grille, getting presents, etc. on our dime? I didn't see too many "computers, copy machines, and extra staff" being paid for out of the slush funds. I know they work hard but this is a government job. Oh well.

"Everything is on the table."

Oakton High School 9/10/2012 Capital Grille $744.81.

And it isn't just Oakton. I am pulling records on over half the high schools.

What could have been bought for the students for $744.81?

Speak up!

Stop paying for kids to drive to school.
Stop losing books.
Leave the Payday in the vending machine.
or Stop complaining.

Madison High School-2/10/2014 Baby Warhawk bibs $300. I am not making this up.

Chantilly HS- 4/9/2013 Subway $1470

Westfield HS- 3/28/2013 Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals
(probably annual dues) $536. An institutional membership only offers privileges to one person. Remember, this is government, NOT private industry.

Woodson High School 8/27/2013 visitor parking fines paid to Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration $150. There must be an interesting story behind this.

Several thousand dollars for staff flowers between the 7 schools looked at. Flowers are supposed to be paid for out of a staff Sunshine Fund. It is very clearly stated in a school regulation.


"Everything is on the table!"

Parking fines? Wait a minute. if you receive a parking tickets, you have violated a parking law of some type. So Woodson is bailing out people who violate local laws using public dollars?

Seems like there should be some more detailed explanations coming.

But I would not assume all the items listed are necessarily just for "fun" for admin/staff. Some of the expenses may have been to purchase incentive awards for students (e.g. Milwaukee Custard) and can not help but notice the big catering bill coincides with the date of the school wide barbeque event.

I certainly agree to not jump to any conclusions until all the information has been gathered. There is more coming on a few of these. The accounting data is not clear as to purpose of expenditures, source of funds for deposits, etc. I am not going to be able to research everything. I don't have time for that. People need to start looking at these accounts and asking some questions.

The question here is, is this the most effective use of public dollars or not?

I think there needs to be some clarification of policies and probably some limits set. Throwing a $7000 bbg for 1700 students is a bit over the top for a public school, if that is what went on. Do you really want public dollars used for something like that? I didn't see any corresponding deposits near that date. Do you really want to get into providing thousands of dollars of incentives for students using public funds? Their incentive is their GPA. It is really up to the parents to reward for grades if they choose to do so.

parking tickets? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Parking fines? Wait a minute. if you receive a
> parking tickets, you have violated a parking law
> of some type. So Woodson is bailing out people who
> violate local laws using public dollars?


Good points. I ordered up some records on this.

When I was in high school, there were no parking fees. I understand that parking fees may be a good idea because we also have buses, but only if the funds are used to maintain those lots. I thought that the idea was that the parking lots cost money and that driving to school is a luxury (even though some students have after school activities or jobs they need to go to). What money is used to maintain the lots if the parking fees go to a slush fund? Or are they overcharging for those parking fees and only some students who pay those parking fees are subsidizing the food for the staff?

what gives on this? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When I was in high school, there were no parking
> fees. I understand that parking fees may be a
> good idea because we also have buses, but only if
> the funds are used to maintain those lots. I
> thought that the idea was that the parking lots
> cost money and that driving to school is a luxury
> (even though some students have after school
> activities or jobs they need to go to). What
> money is used to maintain the lots if the parking
> fees go to a slush fund? Or are they overcharging
> for those parking fees and only some students who
> pay those parking fees are subsidizing the food
> for the staff?

15% of the parking fees are retained by each school for whatever the principal thinks is appropriate. The money goes into the Educational Contingency Account (ECA). The Slush Fund. The rest goes into a central fund. You can request records on that from the foia office. I can't do everything.

The ECA also consists of vending machine profits, monopole rental, a percentage of lost textbook fees, interest on non-student accounts, and building rental fees. Maybe a couple of other things. All this is still public money.

The issue here seems to be what the principals consider appropriate to spend this on and what the general public seems to think is appropriate. Gifts and flowers for the staff are supposed to be paid for from a staff sunshine fund, which is supposed to be a privately run account, with a separate EIN, with the money not in a school account. That is written in the regulations. The other issues are not quite so clear. That is the problem.

The only recourse you have is move to a county who uses funds to your liking.
Blabbing on an anonymous website which is 80% lies and heresy is sad. Just is.

Lamelame Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The only recourse you have is move to a county who
> uses funds to your liking.
> Blabbing on an anonymous website which is 80% lies
> and heresy is sad. Just is.



I think it works really well! It reaches a lot of people, people can make a comment about whatever, and you just ignore the trash-like you.

Oakton HS 12/4/2012 Artie's $495.89

What could have been bought for the school or students for $495.89????? I can think of a few things.

the facts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what gives on this? Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > When I was in high school, there were no
> parking
> > fees. I understand that parking fees may be a
> > good idea because we also have buses, but only
> if
> > the funds are used to maintain those lots. I
> > thought that the idea was that the parking lots
> > cost money and that driving to school is a
> luxury
> > (even though some students have after school
> > activities or jobs they need to go to). What
> > money is used to maintain the lots if the
> parking
> > fees go to a slush fund? Or are they
> overcharging
> > for those parking fees and only some students
> who
> > pay those parking fees are subsidizing the food
> > for the staff?
>
> 15% of the parking fees are retained by each
> school for whatever the principal thinks is
> appropriate. The money goes into the Educational
> Contingency Account (ECA). The Slush Fund. The
> rest goes into a central fund. You can request
> records on that from the foia office. I can't do
> everything.
>
> The ECA also consists of vending machine profits,
> monopole rental, a percentage of lost textbook
> fees, interest on non-student accounts, and
> building rental fees. Maybe a couple of other
> things. All this is still public money.
>
> The issue here seems to be what the principals
> consider appropriate to spend this on and what the
> general public seems to think is appropriate.
> Gifts and flowers for the staff are supposed to be
> paid for from a staff sunshine fund, which is
> supposed to be a privately run account, with a
> separate EIN, with the money not in a school
> account. That is written in the regulations. The
> other issues are not quite so clear. That is the
> problem.


If you think that rules are followed in FCPS by the written regulations, try working there awhile, anything but...

Well, I guess they are going to see some of their antics described here!

Two admins at Langley HS, as I thought.

#1 Lansdowne Resort 8/20/2013

Instructional Council retreat- 19 people. The principal, 3 Assistant principals, two directors, an Admin Assistant, the head librarian, the assessment coach, and 10 Department chairs.

We paid for 20 (not 19) day guests at $155 each, which included meeting room, "seasonally crafted lunch" (what the hell is that), continuously replenishing refreshment break "kiosks" with unlimited beverages and snacks all day, "18 hour" chairs, an ergonomic room (thank God), in-room climate/sound/lighting controls, a podium with microphone, 2 flipcharts (wow), and one whiteboard with markers (thank goodness for that). It ran from 8-5. Don't know if pool and golf privileges were available for add-on. Grand total-$3514.17 including service charge and $200 of tax.



#2 Langley HS Admin retreat-Alexandria Hilton, July 10 through the 11th, 2013.

We paid $350 for a conference room and snack/breakfast room, a $95 labor surcharge for less than 20 people, seven rooms at $226.51 each with tax and parking (parking was $32 a person and they all drove their own cars). The banquet check shows that we paid for 8 continental breakfasts at $26 each, 8 all day coffee services (tea and coffee) for $15 per person, a flip chart presenter package ($40 plus $11.67 in admin charge and tax-that must have been quite a flip chart), and the $350 meeting room, etc. With fees and admin charges and taxes it came to $941.02. Add in the guest room charges of $1602.52 for a grand total of $2543.54. Names-Ragone, Amico, Statz, Meier, Bowerman, Noto, Williams.


So the Langley parking pass money paid about $6100 for two meetings. I guess we don't have enough real estate right in FCPS that could have been used? They were so exhausted they HAD to stay overnight rather than drive up the road and go to bed at home? I am sure this was a real bonding experience but really now. I thought this school system was in dire straights.

And no I am not making this up. And I think this is a great place to put this out.

the facts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Two admins at Langley HS, as I thought.
>
> #1 Lansdowne Resort 8/20/2013
>
> Instructional Council retreat- 19 people. The
> principal, 3 Assistant principals, two directors,
> an Admin Assistant, the head librarian, the
> assessment coach, and 10 Department chairs.
>
> We paid for 20 (not 19) day guests at $155 each,
> which included meeting room, "seasonally crafted
> lunch" (what the hell is that), continuously
> replenishing refreshment break "kiosks" with
> unlimited beverages and snacks all day, "18 hour"
> chairs, an ergonomic room (thank God), in-room
> climate/sound/lighting controls, a podium with
> microphone, 2 flipcharts (wow), and one whiteboard
> with markers (thank goodness for that). It ran
> from 8-5. Don't know if pool and golf privileges
> were available for add-on. Grand total-$3514.17
> including service charge and $200 of tax.
>
>
>
> #2 Langley HS Admin retreat-Alexandria Hilton,
> July 10 through the 11th, 2013.
>
> We paid $350 for a conference room and
> snack/breakfast room, a $95 labor surcharge for
> less than 20 people, seven rooms at $226.51 each
> with tax and parking (parking was $32 a person and
> they all drove their own cars). The banquet check
> shows that we paid for 8 continental breakfasts at
> $26 each, 8 all day coffee services (tea and
> coffee) for $15 per person, a flip chart presenter
> package ($40 plus $11.67 in admin charge and
> tax-that must have been quite a flip chart), and
> the $350 meeting room, etc. With fees and admin
> charges and taxes it came to $941.02. Add in the
> guest room charges of $1602.52 for a grand total
> of $2543.54. Names-Ragone, Amico, Statz, Meier,
> Bowerman, Noto, Williams.
>
>
> So the Langley parking pass money paid about $6100
> for two meetings. I guess we don't have enough
> real estate right in FCPS that could have been
> used? They were so exhausted they HAD to stay
> overnight rather than drive up the road and go to
> bed at home? I am sure this was a real bonding
> experience but really now. I thought this school
> system was in dire straights.
>
> And no I am not making this up. And I think this
> is a grethey have at place to put this out.


That's actually one of the cheaper boondoggles for FCPS, they have had admins go overseas and out of state en mass for conferences. So if you see that the lines of the parking lots have not been touched up recently, at least you will have an idea as to why....

Oh I am sure there have been some doozies. Wish I was this broke.

Oh, and the Hilton made sure there were pads, pens, candy, and water for all the attendees.

Moving on...

This is all just wrong. Stop giving them a kickback on the parking fees! Is this the central admin. feeling guilty about taking the out of state and overseas trips?

Speak up, folks! It's your money.

Everything is on the table.

Shut up folks!
if it were your money you would still have it.

This is what the parking pass money goes for at Westfield. Brandynn Reaves and the staff have been churning out a lot of information.

6/18/2013 Breakfast for 275. Delivery time 0630-0700. "Call upon arrival, will meet up front". Breakfast sandwiches, potatoes, fruit, condiments, baked goods (assorted), scrambled eggs, coffee/tea etc. St. Germain gave the school a 10% discount, total of $3266.22.

8/20/2013 Breakfast for 30. Delivery time 0700-0730. Baked Quiche (assorted!), hashbrowns, sausage or bacon, condiments, coffee/etc. Total with tip about $355 (got cut off).

8/26/2013 Breakfast for 325! Delivered! 260 flour breakfast tortillas (50 no meat), potatoes, salsa, fruit, assorted breakfast breads, butter and jelly, coffee and tea. Total of $3188.27 with tip.

That's all I have on that! Total of almost $7000. Yes, $7000.

Sounds just yummy.

Thoughts? Speak up. This wasn't any student BBQ.

This is public school.

And I assure you I am not making this up.

Oh and 8/26 also had three full pans of scrambled eggs. $195 (already included in price)

the facts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is what the parking pass money goes for at
> Westfield. Brandynn Reaves and the staff have been
> churning out a lot of information.
>
> 6/18/2013 Breakfast for 275. Delivery time
> 0630-0700. "Call upon arrival, will meet up
> front". Breakfast sandwiches, potatoes, fruit,
> condiments, baked goods (assorted), scrambled
> eggs, coffee/tea etc. St. Germain gave the school
> a 10% discount, total of $3266.22.
>
> 8/20/2013 Breakfast for 30. Delivery time
> 0700-0730. Baked Quiche (assorted!), hashbrowns,
> sausage or bacon, condiments, coffee/etc. Total
> with tip about $355 (got cut off).
>
> 8/26/2013 Breakfast for 325! Delivered! 260 flour
> breakfast tortillas (50 no meat), potatoes, salsa,
> fruit, assorted breakfast breads, butter and
> jelly, coffee and tea. Total of $3188.27 with tip.
>
>
> That's all I have on that! Total of almost $7000.
> Yes, $7000.
>
> Sounds just yummy.
>
> Thoughts? Speak up. This wasn't any student BBQ.
>
> This is public school.
>
> And I assure you I am not making this up.


I know you are not making it up, the only thing wrong is there a bunch of catered affairs that you missed listing for 2013

I can't do it all. I am just picking highlights and snippets.

Just got more on McLean.

One point of interest-since 5/16/2013, a total of $50,000 has been moved over to this discretionary account, an account that supposedly can only be funded by certain things, with the explanation of "cover purchases/orders". Yeh.

It is pretty much all gone, spent on clothing/trinkets/flowers/restaurants.

The highlights-

9/23/2013 charge card Loews Hotel $1983.60 my guess is it pairs up with the 9/5/2013 charge for "dinner Admin retreat" $370.32.

12/17/2013 Maggiano's $2223.09 a McLean tradition? That is numero dos.
3/27/2014 beach towels $2324
4/10/2014 key tags $1149.48
4/10/2014 beach bags $1344.13
5/7/2014 Red Hot and Blue Catering $2554.95
11/8/2013 Hard Times Café $872.25 (Hard times? WHAT hard times?)
12/23/2013 Famous something my guess is Dave's because it was for $2097.97
10/23/2013 shirts $3486.31
1/21/2014 sweatshirts $586.50
3/13/2014 MORE shirts $1425.25
5/2/2014 UnderArm (?Armour) $985.75

Everything is on the table!
We have to cut services to the children!
We are broke!
Parents, we need some fundraisers!

Maybe they are doing a summer retreat in Ocean City. Keep your eyes peeled.

This is bull!@#$.

This is where monopole rental, vending profits, parking pass $, etc. goes at TJ-

(a few examples)

The usual endless supply of donuts and bagels, flowers, etc.
A monthly birthday lunch group.

5/7/2013 Teacher appreciation massages. $360 to Capitol Rehab of Annandale (now there's a new one)

6/7/2013 lunch Westwood Country Club $1630

6/11/2013 Jefferson cups for staff $365

6/18/2013 lunch 4/3 $1417.40
6/19/2013 Retirement clocks $1168.20

5/8/2014 Waterford retirement clocks $682

5/8/2014 lunch 4/2/2014 $1366.01

5/14/2014 Jefferson cups for staff $365

6/12/2014 Staff lunch Westwood Country Club 6/20 $1340

6/23/2014 Staff appreciation massages (paid to FCPS) $455.90



Did not see much for the students.

something missing Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I recall correctly, these principals promised
> that the surveillance cameras would be paid for
> from these accounts.
>
> Anyone see that?
>
> These cameras cost like $80k. Huh.
>
> $80k times 25 high schools and schools wonder why
> there is no money in the maintenance budget to pay
> for needed repairs.
>
> I guess they lied. What a shocker.




I can't believe it!!!!!! Money spent on something important!!!!!! I found it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fairfax HS spent about $14,000 on security cameras in March of 2013!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

But, then I took at a look at the rest of the report, and it's the same old stuff. I'll put more out later on. Another luxury admin retreat/conference, etc. etc. etc.

A few to liven up the holiday weekend! I need to pull receipts on some of these to see what is going on, but it makes for fun reading.


Fairfax HS- 6/17/2013 cookies and water $2419.38 (cookies and water?), 6/24/2013 portfolios $2938.57. A trip to Harbourtowne in St. Michael's, MD in 8/2013 that totaled at least $1500 and included a $344.50 meal at the Crab and Claw.

Herndon HS- 11/2013 a trip to the Inn at Charlestown, WV ("overlooking the thoroughbred racetrack") than ran well over $1000. A $1000+ bill to Hyatt House in 8/2013.

Centreville HS- 9/29/2013 About $6000 for staff lanyards and tshirts

Lake Braddock- 4/15/20213 payments to Talented Touch, The Pain Away, and Vitality with Valerie. Each received $250. Looks like massage therapy. Just where and why are people (maybe taking off their clothes) getting massages in the school? Joe Ragan's coffee got about $2000 over 15 months.

Robinson-nice change of pace with a lunch for military families $1381.25 in 4/2013. But they will have to explain 8/26/2013 charges to The Mason Inn at GMU for about $2600 and $441 of tickets to the Nationals. The 9/10/2013 charge of $2254.63 for imprinted pens is noted.

South County- 3/13/2013 paid Infinity Promotions $2910 for teacher appreciation somethings. 10/16/2013 staff shirts $4858.

Lots and lots of people attend the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals conferences. They of course are held in lovely places like The Homestead and Williamsburg, and we pay for it all. The memberships are over $500 and we also pay those. That only covers one person even if we pay for a membership for "a school". And it comes out of the ECA.

Have a nice weekend!

MoCo officials have to pay back their slush

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/montgomery-school-officials-made-additional-reimbursements-for-spending/2014/07/03/be6f35aa-02d2-11e4-8fd0-3a663dfa68ac_story.html

Thank you mom245!

Maybe we should all meet up somewhere.

I am pulling records on all the high schools, for the last 15 months or so. The ECA accounting data is free. You pay about $31 an hour for the finance techs to prove their work with receipts and credit cards statements (they are just putting down "charges/purchases" and other creative names for some of the money pulled out of these accounts). Uh uh uh. Put it out there! Do it right the first time. They aren't proving their deposits, either. Regulation 5810 page 35 explains the limitations on those.

They have to save records for five years following the summer audit. State law. Jump in, people! Brandynn.Reaves@fcps.edu. Brandy is doing a superb job with producing records. Shoutout to Brandy and the DCCO staff.

Are they getting massages on company time, both of which we are paying for? This sounds totally decadent. Nothing like spa time on FCPS time and property.

If you will excuse me I am going to go set a few things on fire today.

Found another $1000 deposit on Harbourtowne. Total of at least $3000 on this. Just lovely, I'm sure.

Maybe they are doing the massages after or before school. Maybe they are also fed grapes (that we paid for) whilst doing this.

The image of staff ducking into a classroom that has been turned in a taxpayer funded massage parlor is just too much to handle.

maybe they are sending them to a clinic and charging it on the company card.

this is ridiculous.

I believe I speak for everyone when I say, you are an idiot.

I agree with Pfffff. Aaaaaahw is an idiot.


Langley HS- 8/23/2012 Pulcinella $685

Fairfax HS-4/29/2014 teacher appreciation bags $4514.70 [we do appreciate you-really] 6/20/2014 luncheon PJ Skidoo's $2000

Herndon HS, Centreville HS both spent over $6000 on staff clothing [they aren't the only ones-McLean and some others spent more]

Robinson HS-4/28/2014 $995.27 on Whoopie Pies (I am not making this up-it says Whoopie Pies). They also set the record at Milwaukee Frozen Custard [for staff] at $1500 on 3/15/2013.

Chantilly HS- 3/20/2014 Jason's Deli $2449.31

Everything is on the table!
We have to cut services to your children!
We are broke! You need to do more!

Our ECA funds go for copiers, computers, extra teachers, etc.! I am not seeing much of this. I would say 90-95% of the money in the accounts is not spent on students or the school or anything educational whatsoever. Some of the schools are raking in $30-40,000 a year.

I am pulling the massage therapy contracts, the Nationals tickets, etc. next week.

I am going to point out a few of the very few situations that I found that were obviously school or student-related.

TJ- 2/5/2013 2nd semester activities support $3000. 9/25/2013 support student activities 1st semester $2615. 4/28/2014 2nd semester program support $3000. 6/19/2014 replace gymnastic mats $3094 except it also says "posting error s/be athletics".

Robinson- 5/19/2014 blankets for special ed $140. 6/19/2014 refrigerator for custodians $787.44 (they deserve it)

Centreville- 4/24/2013 assistance for SGA activities $1000.

Fairfax HS- 3/14/2013 security cameras $13,993.95

There are a pitiful few that might be in support of students or the school, but if they aren't labeled as such, I can't be sure. I would have to pull a lot of receipts to find out if some of this stuff is for students or the school. But, they were so grossly overshadowed in dollar amounts by the entries for the staff, it wasn't worth pursuing. It is pretty obvious what has been going on.

I pull another 11 schools in the next week or two.

Feel free to speak up!

You really have to work to spend $1500 on ice cream. How do you even distribute that before it all melts? Does the staff line up out front as the delivery arrives? Do they have a Fireman's Brigade and load it into a freezer?

Who is in the classrooms and manning the front office?

It looks like we also pay for golf. The ECA entry on some says "HSPA meeting/play". Others says "Top Golf Association" and others mention a tournament. Don't know what all that is. A sampling-


Robinson 10/25/2013 $260

Herndon 8/20/2012 $89

Oakton 11/8/2012 $35

Mount Vernon 9/4/2012 $89 and a "faculty outing" payment dated 8/29/2012 for Top Golf Alexandria $1065.65.

Stuart 8/20/2012 $89

Woodson 8/17/2012 $89.

This is an example of what an annual principal's retreat costs, which we also pay for out of the parking pass and etc. money. This was held at the The Hotel at Arundel Preserve in Hanover, MD. You can look it up on the web. Nice place. March 19-20, 2013.

22+ rooms at $152 each.

Breakfast, all day beverages and munchies at about $40 a person. $1055. We paid for 24 people.

Lunch at $31 a person plus 28% service charge and tax. $1068. Based on 24 people.

There was a service charge for less than 25 people, which added about another $4 a person.

There was a banquet room rented at $250.

Grand total about $6700, not including any fancy dinners or extra activities.

There was at least one pricey meal at Grillfire in Hanover. Westfield HS, $483.

This proves you can think more clearly and really get things done when it's on the taxpayer's dime. Just think of all the brainstorming that occurred which translated into improving your children's educational opportunities.

The website says there are chocolates and wine waiting in the rooms when you arrive at the Arundel Preserve.

I am waiting on the massage contracts. They are due around the 23rd. So are the documents on the tickets to the Nationals.

I know FFU is full of lies, vulgarity, and everything else. But, everything that I am putting out is off of public records. Feel free to double-check me. It is easily done. This is as good a way to get the word out to the public as anything else. It works.

I am not making up any of these numbers. If I goof on a date or a minor typo here and there I am sorry.

I am just putting out numbers. You folks can make your own decisions and form your own opinions. I can't possible present everything. I have another 11 schools to go.

Hot off the press.

8/15/2013 Loews Annapolis, no less. I have stayed there. It is lovely. It is expensive. It is 60 miles away.

It ran around $2200. They got a really good rate on the rooms for 11 people. $134 a night. Probably a government discount. Names-Stavish, Nowak, Lane, Patrick, Stansbery, Zook, Reilly, Belli, McNamara, Whitlock, and Humbert.

We are also looking at about $30 a person-for breakfast. Plus an additional $18 a person for something called Fruit and Fanciful. They paid $219.85 for Audiovisual equipment. It looks like there was a projector support package required which consisted of a safelock cover, a safelock stand, a 6 foot screen, and a small video cable lot and ran $170.

I can assure everybody there are also lots of lovely restaurants in that area of town. I am not researching those charges.

Found Purchase order for dinner-$375.

retreat costs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is an example of what an annual principal's
> retreat costs, which we also pay for out of the
> parking pass and etc. money. This was held at the
> The Hotel at Arundel Preserve in Hanover, MD. You
> can look it up on the web. Nice place. March
> 19-20, 2013.
>
> 22+ rooms at $152 each.
>
> Breakfast, all day beverages and munchies at about
> $40 a person. $1055. We paid for 24 people.
>
> Lunch at $31 a person plus 28% service charge and
> tax. $1068. Based on 24 people.
>
> There was a service charge for less than 25
> people, which added about another $4 a person.
>
> There was a banquet room rented at $250.
>
> Grand total about $6700, not including any fancy
> dinners or extra activities.
>
> There was at least one pricey meal at Grillfire in
> Hanover. Westfield HS, $483.




The retreat was actually in 2014. Sorry. Grillfire was last year, so they probably did the exact same thing last year.

I would like a massage and ice cream. How do I get a job with the school system?

I also like to play golf.

The wine and chocolates at Arundel Preserve are part of the Romance Package.

give them a break Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The wine and chocolates at Arundel Preserve are
> part of the Romance Package.


Ya apparently there has been a little of that at the conferences, ask around for who has been quickly and mysteriously transferred from one school to another without making a request to do so

You have to pay extra for the Romance Package.

This is getting better and better.

Maybe they need to quit having conferences like this.

I could pull more receipts........ ;).

Go ahead, you clearly have nothing else important going on in your life...

Robinson Secondary Admin retreats-

Two half day retreats at Mason Inn, July 23 and 24, 2013. Ran about $2600 total. 13 people each day. It included lunch in the lovely Boxwoods Dining Room, one round table for 13 people, an LCD projector with screen, and a white board with markers. What a deal! They were approved to spend as much as $3500 on the purchase order (#140180).


They also had to purchase meeting space on 6/26/2014 and 6/27/2014 from Carr Workplaces for another Admin retreat. It looks like it ran $440 per day. I am not going to pursue meals and extras on this. The purchase order 14-2828 was approved for up to $2000.

FCPS has at least 200 buildings, with dozens of conference rooms, auditoriums, and lecture halls. That is all I am going to say about this kind of stuff.

$44 per person? For LUNCH? For PRINCIPALS?
No wonder we're broke!!!!!!!

Every single time FCPS cries poor mouth that they squeezed as far as they can and that all the money is for salaries at something like 88%, I just can't believe them. Now I know why.

I'll bet if they had to pay for it, it would be a $10 lunch. Instead we pay more than 4x as much because we're the mooks who get stuck with the bill as taxpayers.

Breakfast, munchies, and beverages was another $40 a person, don't forget.

EffinBroke Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> $44 per person? For LUNCH? For PRINCIPALS?
> No wonder we're broke!!!!!!!
>
> Every single time FCPS cries poor mouth that they
> squeezed as far as they can and that all the money
> is for salaries at something like 88%, I just
> can't believe them. Now I know why.
>
> I'll bet if they had to pay for it, it would be a
> $10 lunch. Instead we pay more than 4x as much
> because we're the mooks who get stuck with the
> bill as taxpayers.


You forgot that we also probably had to pay for at least one if not two fancy dinners. Add it on to the taxpayer's tab.

I don't think we're the top of the heap or the neediest, but Kindergarten IAs were on the chopping block. We help and love these kids to the best ability to give the a great start in FCPS.

How can Principals in any good conscience go on retreats with some of their staff or teachers knowing FCPS and people's jobs and livelihoods are in trouble?

The Cluster Assistant Superintendents or someone should have done something if they could or knew.

I feel helpless. How does this stop?

"It's good to be King/Queen." "Let them eat cake." "We deserve it."

Kindergarten IA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't think we're the top of the heap or the
> neediest, but Kindergarten IAs were on the
> chopping block. We help and love these kids to the
> best ability to give the a great start in FCPS.
>
> How can Principals in any good conscience go on
> retreats with some of their staff or teachers
> knowing FCPS and people's jobs and livelihoods are
> in trouble?
>
> The Cluster Assistant Superintendents or someone
> should have done something if they could or knew.
>
> I feel helpless. How does this stop?



How can you teach a kindergarten class without an assistant? The little ones are forever needing help.

You can run a high school and hold admin meetings in a school facility. You don't need a $3500 meeting at Lansdowne.

I have a copy of a purchase order 14-0226 dated 7/23/2013 for 18 $20 tickets to the Nationals game (vs Pirates) 7/25/2013. There were also three parking passes purchased at $27 each. Total of $441. Robinson SS.

At least it was a home game!

I am awaiting the list of attendees.

That's all I know.

Robinson SS staff who went to or approved the purchase should be fired. Period.

There is NOTHING about attending a professional baseball game on the county taxpayers' dime which is necessary to deliver education in Fairfax County. Nothing.

The School Board needs to stop Fraud Waste and Abuse in the system.

This makes me feel sick. Those IA people are so poorly compensated. Without the IA, the teacher cannot focus on instruction to nearly the same extent.

7/25/2013 was a Thursday and the game was at 1235. The request was by Matt Eline and I can't read the approving signature but the line reads "approved by principal". I think the first letter is an M.

I really don't know the details. I don't have any names yet.

I thought the $1100 Mount Vernon faculty golf outing was rather bizarre, also, but I am trying to stick to just putting out the facts.

Feel free to help out! I am just putting out what I am seeing on the papers and will have to leave addressing all this up to the general public. I can't wrestle with 25 high schools and the entire school board and the business office and the Supers etc. etc. etc. over all this. Perhaps a responsible parent from each school could request ECA records and work up a team to analyze what has been going on.

Good luck.

Please be assured I am not making up any of this. I don't have time to post hundreds of pages of documents. You can always get them. They are in the FOIA office. Brandynn.Reaves@fcps.edu. She has been very busy and very helpful. I have several more things coming and 11 more schools to go.

To "The Facts" - Thanks for all of the info. The things you have posted should outrage any tax paying citizen in FFX County. It doesn't matter if you have kids in the schools or not. Thanks and keep posting!

I see South County was mentioned in a few of your notes. It's well-known at SoCo if you need t-shirts then you go to Wendy, a woman who works in administration as the finance clerk. Some family connection with t-shirts and spirit packs. It's amazing how expensive these things can ge and why there is never a competitive bid to see who may have cheaper products and service…and no one questions things. The Dance Team, which is coached (advised, whatever) spends a fortune on all this stuff….directly to Miss Wendy. Go figure.

Keep 'em coming!

I have copies of three parking tickets issued by Officer S. Furman on 8/22/2013 between 1126 am and 1139 am at Woodson High School. I was told they were issued to three band clinicians (they don't have the names). The violations are $50 each, for being parked/stopped in fire lane. The remarks say signs clearly posted and curbs painted yellow.


A decision was made that these could be paid out of the ECA, and they were. These band clinicians are paid employees or IC's, I believe, probably supporting the Marching Band camps that are going on about that time. I don't know for sure.

The license numbers are all Virginia- 7175BH (a silver RAV4), CURLYWW (Green RAV4), and KTCOOP (White Toyota Sienna). Ticket numbers 119433156, 119433160, and 119433145 respectively.

Thank you, Surprise!

So that you understand how enormous this is- I have superficially screened 14 high schools over a 15 month period. I estimate at least $200,000 has been spent on restaurants, bagels, donuts, catered lunches, pizza, subs, ice cream treats, Admin retreats, etc. Probably lots more. Another $150,000+ has been spent on clothing (mostly for staff), presents, flowers, etc. All coming from the ECA accounts. I can't do it all. Some of the schools I have to pull credit card statements and then move on to detailed receipts. I am paying for this out of my own pocket. I have a job and a family and a house to tend to. When I figured out what was going on I reported this to the Comptroller, the Deputy, and Patty Reed on the School Board. That was a year and a half ago. I have heard nothing back. Not one word, other than "we are working on it".

I think they need to get the lead out.

Unless you want to be taunted a second time by FCPS, suggest you send request to Board Member Shultz who's the only one who we've seen ask real questions.The rest of the hotair windbags make meaningless comments and puff up their reputation of do nothing pass everything ask little and rubber stamp all. Meghan Mclaughin does some but not enough and Dan Storck (Abe Lincoln) used to but not so much anymore.

Regarding the clothing and other purchases at SoCo-The records I have show the following-

3/13/2013 teacher appreciation somethings $2,910. Infinity Promotions
4/5/2013 rugby for Admin $304 Infinity Promotions
10/16/2013 Staff Shirts $4858 Burke Sporting Goods
11/13/2013 Polos $62 Burke Sporting Goods

There are also thousands of dollars of generic credit card payments that Surprise is more than welcome to check out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-ends-the-year-with-million-in-unspent-cash-again/2014/07/17/239f1dda-0dca-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html

The SB can spend this however they want?

poverty in schools Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fair
> fax-ends-the-year-with-million-in-unspent-cash-aga
> in/2014/07/17/239f1dda-0dca-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23
> _story.html
>
> The SB can spend this however they want?

Just think of how many staff they could pay for..........so many people lost their jobs.
every time I think of the little kindies and one teacher handling a whole room full of 5 year olds without an assistant...
Parties? Bullcrap.

So the school system pays for parking tickets? Would they pay my speeding tickets?