A complaint was filed with the Department of Education about the McLean illegal Marching Band fee. After several weeks of messing around with it, the head of Financial Services and the FCPS legal people now have a homework assignment.
"Please describe the difference between [a class] and a voluntary additional workshop and get back to us."
This is easy.
That can be summed up like this-
1. A class is something in the course catalog. Check.
2. A class is something that you charge a course fee for. Check.
3. A class is something that receives appropriated funds for assessments and additional instructors, etc. Check.
4. A voluntary additional workshop is something that goes on during the summer, something that isn't in the course catalog, something that you haven't already charged a course fee for, something that doesn't receive appropriated funds for required assessments and additional instructors, etc. Examples-trips to theme parks, out of town trips besides the required assessments, summer Marching camp.
Oh-let's add in the definition of "what is optional". Something is "optional" when the teacher has not told the kids and the parents in writing it is required/mandatory and the kids/parents have not signed an agreement agreeing that something is required/mandatory.
Done.
The after school rehearsals were part of the course. A course that parents paid a course fee for, that was clearly and specifically in the course catalog, that received appropriated funds, that FCPS illegally charged the parents for additional instructors for. The parents and kids signed an agreement saying they understood the kids were supposed to show up at all rehearsals and performances.
McLean parents-you were charged an illegal fee for Marching Band. FCPS was not compliant with the Virginia Administrative Code. They owe you a refund....
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