I want you to put this information out. I am in support of that 100%. I do not, however, agree with all of your commentary (I say this because I darn well please to).

As the undisputed bastion for this cause, you should take a bit more ownership of the role of public servant - you should avoid at all costs comments that detract from the facts or convict those whose only guilt is association. I say that because you seem to take pride in the service you are providing, which is a good one. You will be a more effective reporter if you hold yourself to the same standards as those who wear that title as a profession.

Right now, you come off a bit as an empty-nester who likes numbers, finger-pointing, and wine.

Barbara or whatever your name is....you dole out SOOO much criticism but countless posters have tried to get you to tone down your commentary but you cannot see you are in fact damage your case every time you say 'i can't do this all'. No one asked you to. It is your choice.

I said I will speak my mind if I darn well please. I think it is ridiculous that a public official goes to one of the most expensive restaurants in the county, charges up dinner on the county card, can't provide names of who attended, and I get a half-a## copy of the bill to boot.

And I don't have a problem saying that. You can take your politically correct attitudes and go to the Mike O'Meara thread if you don't like it.

By saying "I can't do it all" I am trying to tell people there is probably plenty more that I am not picking up.

Have a nice weekend.

The focus here should not be on Barbara, but on the bills being presented. Discrediting the messenger does not make the message less credible. What she is putting out here is real, true stuff. Is she perfect? No. But I think she is making a difference in her own way. What are you doing besides attacking her? And trying to distract attention from the matter at hand?

I, for one, am grateful that some of this is coming out. I am not against some of this spending, but I think there is some that has been "over the top". A lack of honesty and poor judgement leads to a lack of respect inside the FCPS system. Some of the people in FCPS do not understand that they are there to serve the public and not there to have the public serve them. If they get away with a little, sooner or later they try to take more and more. We have had enough.

Thanks for all of this info. It is a lot of time and the foils cost money. Thank you again.

No question there is mismanagement and waste going on in schools.

I just paid 60 bucks for art class and 90 for gourmet cooking.

I wonder where that money goes?

I think Fact Checker has done a great service. I agree her rhetoric gets too emotional and too finger pointing, but I am very interested to see how it all plays out. As a long time FCPS teacher I am proud to say I am NOT at one of the Morton's or Magianno schools. (WHAT WERE THOSE PRINCIPALS THINKING???) Hope the public knows that most schools have prudent principals who funnel discretionary funds into student and employee welfare. However, I disagree that employees can't have a food, water bottle or cheap T-shirt treat. Barb makes too many references to bringing a brown bag. It is akin to us being considered factory workers and not professionals. Today more and more duties have been foisted on teachers especially with the Monday schedule change and the public is totally unaware of details. What I DO fear is that Gatehouse will step in and make changes that will harm teachers and students and the excess spending on the part of administrators and the school board will continue. I was clueless about the cost of the principals' retreats. The peons always suffer - just read history. Advice - keep posting Barb, but avoid being sanctimonious and snarky. Facts speak. Editorialzing doesn't.

There's a difference in pointing out facts and taking to another level. Yes, resorts and lavish dinners should go, (I completely agree with you and I am not arguing those points of the idea those points were brought to this forum even) those funds could be redirected for better use, the other stuff doesn't bother me, that's my opinion and I can make when presented with just the facts.

It is however precarious when you start posting peoples names online - Internet Defamation is interstesting. I have been doing some reading on the subject this morning as I looked through the many posts on this thread. Until you have all "the facts" and even if you do, you may want to reconsider what you do here in this forum...... I know, your response will be "I can say whatever I darn well please, I pay thousands in taxes, blah, blah, blah. Have a nice weekend." Don't present yourself as someone who is JUST trying to do a service... You go beyond that, perhaps for attention, shock value, or whatever.... I'm not calling for you to stop, post away, but own what you are doing.

Great job Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for all of this info. It is a lot of time
> and the foils cost money. Thank you again.
>
> No question there is mismanagement and waste going
> on in schools.
>
> I just paid 60 bucks for art class and 90 for
> gourmet cooking.
>
> I wonder where that money goes?


fee money for courses goes into accounts that are separate from the expenditures listed in this thread. The teachers of those classes use that money for various supplies and materials that are 'consumable' by the students. Items that the students will use and dispose of or keep through the year (paint brushes, drawing paper, etc.) That money is not supposed to be used for anything the program keeps for multiple years - just things a kid will use up in the course of their activities, and/or items they'd take home for themselves (a t-shirt, etc).

The fees you listed are legit, and within regulations.

Course fees exist for courses that require more materials/supplies/resources than FCPS allocates. Various elective courses are a good example of this because most of them work with specialized materials that are different than the average academic textbook, calculator, what have you.

It is great that FCPS recognizes the educational benefit of classes in art, music, FCS, drama, and several more elective options, but they really aren't in a position to finance the necessary materials because of the need to be equitable within the school with available funds.

If you pay the course fee and the teacher is worth their salt, know that it is a worthwhile investment in your kid's education.

Yes, barb should stick to the facts and do less editorializing.

Posting names that are public record tied to the information they were involved in is just the way it goes. If you don't want your name tied to a dinner at McCormick and Schmick or George's at the Cove on the public dollar, then DON'T GO. You are supposed to be on per diem, anyway. There is nothing precarious about that at all. If we bought your dinner or a hotel room, or you signed off a PO, you're out there, buddy. I have several more coming on the restaurant tour. Sakura looks like fun, Indigo Landing looks marvelous, and a few others. A sampling of several schools. Yes. WHAT ARE/WERE THEY THINKING? Don't assume your school isn't one of "those schools". You have to get deep into the accounting information to locate some of these soires. They are crafty.

There are a lot of people who brown bag it. I can name two people with Doctoral degrees that I see with an actual brown bag all the time. I know two millionaires who brown bag it every day. Don't get all high and mighty. It's better for your health, saves a lot of money, and it is just the way they like to live their lives. It shows a lot of common sense. Get a fancy bag if you are offended by using a brown bag.

You have the right to pull the records on the art class money and the gourmet cooking class money. They are basically user fees. These are regulated by the state and the School Board. They can charge for "consumables" and some other things. Request to see the records. It is very easy. Send an email to Brandynn.Reaves@fcps.edu. 12 working days later (or sooner) you will have your records. Basic accounting data is generally free. Pulling receipts will cost you.

I will say whatever I darn well please. You all are. A LOT of you are downright crazy. Who are you to tell me what to do? Why don't you all request some information like this and post it?

And if I want a glass of wine I will have a glass of wine and I don't apologize for that, either.

I think there are just a lot of people who wish this all could have gone in secrecy and are not too happy about this. Oh well. Organizations who are in financial trouble are not busy sorting through receipts from Morton's, hotels, etc., buying 45 dozen donuts, and going off per diem in New Orleans and handing the taxpayers a bill for $600+.

a nerve is struck

There you go again!

"I will say whatever I darn well please. You all are. A LOT of you are downright crazy. Who are you to tell me what to do? Why don't you all request some information like this and post it?"

If you were not so paranoid and defensive you would be taken more seriously and your information would be more valuable in achieving reform.

"Who are we?" People who are interested in your findings, but who are more rational than you appear to be!

"Twinge" is correct - a nerve is indeed struck!

Whenever money is a topic of conversation, emotions tend to get involved. It's just how it is.

I am glad that this information is being put out. It took someone who is passionate to do it. That's generally how these things happen. You might not like the passion, but you can look at the evidence and make your own decisions. If all of these expenditures are on the up and up, the people spending the money have nothing to worry about. So far it appears that they are worried and wish to lash out at the person revealing the problem (and blame her for their problem). They created their own problem if there is one. People make their own beds. The door is being opened so that we can see the bedroom.

Facts,
Don't let them get to you--clearly there are people posting here, trying to kill the messenger with ad hominem and faint praise ('...I don't agree with all this spending, but. . . .') who don't want this examined anymore.

They are the ones experiencing a "twinge" because whats been disclosed, far from a few oversights or decisions with bad "optics" is a persistent pattern of blatant abuse of public funds.

The double dipping with the principals association funds proves it!

Just about every post I read asking the facts to tone down the crazy make it pretty obvious (by blatantly saying it) that they want her to continue posting this info.

I'd say its fair to attack the messenger if their antics drive people away from the message.


This type of info is worthy of being treated as real news, not tabloid.

"I'd say its fair to attack the messenger if their antics drive people away from the message."


I don't think people are being driven away . . . don't worry about protecting her so much. You sound like you're her friend or something now . . . you keep changing your tune. What is it---are you worried about people not getting her message or do you want her to stop posting her message? You vacillate.

Toning down the crazy and continuing to provide the info are not mutually exclusive of each other. Both can be done.

^ Or you could just ignore the crazy and look at the attachments. Is that hard for you?

Yes, it is hard to ignore the crazy.

^Then don't come on here.

I have asked for an itemized and legible receipt for Morton's. You all did notice the reimbursement for $56? I think maybe somebody was along for the ride at this boondoggle and their bill was paid on the county credit card.......?

No personal expenses on county credit cards. That is the agreement when you are allowed to use a p-card.....

the facts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have asked for an itemized and legible receipt
> for Morton's. You all did notice the reimbursement
> for $56? I think maybe somebody was along for the
> ride at this boondoggle and their bill was paid on
> the county credit card.......?
>
> No personal expenses on county credit cards. That
> is the agreement when you are allowed to use a
> p-card.....

But, we are probably never going to know since they conveniently "don't any names". Jeez. This just gets messier and messier....

^^^^^^^I think you meant don't HAVE any names, facts. That's okay. This is how it works. I do this all the time when I go to a dinner paid for by another party and I take my spouse along (I travel a lot). I get as much as I can on my meal, my spouse orders just an entree, and then we split the sides/salad/ dessert.

I have been teaching in FCPS for over 15 years and reading these posts is making me crazy. Do I like getting any-shirt every year, and breakfast or lunch a couple of times a year? Sure. It's nice. Would I rather have fewer kids in my classes? You betcha. Would I rather have working technology? Yup. Would I rather have money for classroom supplies? Absolutely, since I spend way more on those each year than I would on a t-shirt and a few mediocre meals.

So, keep it up "the facts." Please stop bashing the teachers, however. We do not ask for any of these things and would much prefer the money be spent on the things I outlined above. When principals are spending thousands to stay overnight at resorts just down the street and then come back with more initiatives for teachers to implement simply to justify their trip, it sucks. Maybe if they are held accountable for some of this money, things will improve for the students.

answer is easy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ^Then don't come on here.


Isn't that the point some posters are making? The crazy drives away the potential audience. I'd think most in support of the facts' efforts would want a large audience base. Maybe not.

Two regulations about employee organizations. Are the HSPA and the MSPA certified employee organizations? Just exactly what are these? Do they have some organizational documents? Again, if they form a separate organization, shouldn't they pay their dues and expenses out of their own pockets? The school system is not allowed to give financial support to employee organizations, I believe. No gifts to employee groups is noted in the published guidelines. If dues and expenses are pulled out of public funds, and routed through these associations, those are gifts, and the staff individually benefit from the money. Thoughts?

I think there is an Elementary School Principals' Association, also.

BTW, people say quit talking about stuff then THEY talk about stuff. You can say whatever you want, people.
Attachments:

Teacher Teacher Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been teaching in FCPS for over 15 years and
> reading these posts is making me crazy. Do I like
> getting any-shirt every year, and breakfast or
> lunch a couple of times a year? Sure. It's nice.
> Would I rather have fewer kids in my classes? You
> betcha. Would I rather have working technology?
> Yup. Would I rather have money for classroom
> supplies? Absolutely, since I spend way more on
> those each year than I would on a t-shirt and a
> few mediocre meals.
>
> So, keep it up "the facts." Please stop bashing
> the teachers, however. We do not ask for any of
> these things and would much prefer the money be
> spent on the things I outlined above. When
> principals are spending thousands to stay
> overnight at resorts just down the street and then
> come back with more initiatives for teachers to
> implement simply to justify their trip, it sucks.
> Maybe if they are held accountable for some of
> this money, things will improve for the students.


I haven't been bashing teachers. I have been pointing out that a lot of processes need to be evaluated.

> I haven't been bashing teachers. I have been
> pointing out that a lot of processes need to be
> evaluated.


Intention and perception often do not align.

At least have the integrity to see that you have in fact bashed teachers for accepting tshirts sandwiches and pizza. Over and over.

pretty sure you called teachers 'peons' a while back in this thread

<At least have the integrity to see that you have in fact bashed teachers for <accepting tshirts sandwiches and pizza. Over and over.

Yes! Those purchases are the action of an administrator. Why would you fault a teacher for taking a slice of pizza when someone announces over the intercom that it is available in the work room?

Yet the facts keeps on saying things like, "you have to brown bag it like the rest of us."

At my firm if the expense report isn't legible than you don't get reimbursed. No exceptions.

These sloppy reports are obscene. If they doubt itemize everything with who attended events than no obey back.

These principals will learn oce they are personally charged for these outings.

Facts hasn't bashed teachers--this is principals trying to lump in teachers, who they were taking the money from--with their own problems. Teachers have no say in whether there are t-shirts or end of year meals or whatever. The people who have oversight--the principals--are using the teachers to justify the graft. more cross referencing needs to happen with industry conferences and similar events. Do you think George's at the Cove was happenstance?

Intention and perception are certainly very different. Good point. Everybody filters things a different way.

I made it very clear that if you are offered a present, party, etc. then take it. Making that decision is not up to the individual teacher, to a point. If somebody offers you a $500 "gift" then something is obviously very wrong and you need to talk to somebody about this. The people who are making the decision to offer and purchase things like $4000 parties and $100 dinners for themselves and others are to be held accountable and need some restrictions.

Anybody who works for the government is basically a government peon, meaning they have certain rules to follow, no matter what role they have in the organization. Per diem, bribes, gifts, inappropriate use of resources, things like steering purchases to a company owned by you, etc. are examples. These all apply to everybody from the School Board on down to the wonderful hardworking people who clean the bathrooms and mow the grass.

The sloppy reports are indeed obscene. Thank you. They generally have been fairly clear. I have some ugly but probably accurate suspicions why "names [conveniently] aren't available" on a few of these....I personally think the best way to handle this is to say no individual local meals on the pcards. They already aren't supposed to be there for non-local travel. Pay for them yourself (which is probably what you are supposed to be doing anyway). If you are lucky, you get reimbursed or get the $11.50/mileage. As far as the group things, you can't tell me there are several meetings a week that require all these people to be fed and entertained. These need to be very few and far between. Just because you meet with the entire staff for an hour or two one morning or afternoon a week doesn't mean you need to put out a spread from Panera. It's WORK-not a party. People need to learn to (yes) pack a brown bag or have breakfast before they leave the house or stop by the cafeteria or make a quick run to Subway on the way to or from some of these meetings. That applies to everybody. Maybe keep some sustenance in your car or desk drawer if you are that desperate. (Every school has a cafeteria, as does Gatehouse.) That is what the rest of the government and private sector "peons" do. The citizens don't owe you three meals a day. Just quit doing it-right now-and people will figure out really fast what they need to do. Nobody is going to starve-trust me. It will save a ton of money on personnel costs, also. The keeping of receipts, the setting up, cleaning up, partaking of the stuff, the researching and planning and ordering....It will be a mountain of work lifted from the shoulders of a LOT of people. It might also make for shorter meetings!!!!!! I fail to see why some of these schools are routinely dropping $2000+ a month on this stuff.

The new guidelines have cleared the way for appropriated funds to be used for some of this. I know they already were, according to the audits I saw. More accounts to check........


***********I asked for the organizational documents on the HSPA/MSPA. This will be interesting. I don't understand why the citizens are paying for golf and nice restaurant meals for the members of these associations when services to the children are being cut. Can somebody please explain this to me???? The principals make six-figure salaries. They carry a huge responsibility with that, but that is an impressive salary. If they want to go golfing or go to a nice restaurant with a few of their co-workers and maybe their spouses they should be able to afford that. Their meetings could probably be held in a lecture hall, school library, or large classroom. You can't tell me every single one is booked every evening of the school year.

I work for a small firm managed by a person who monitors every detail. Hours have to be very carefully logged in daily, all receipts have to be legible and present and appropriate, things have to be turned in and they want them on time and until all this is done-YOU DON'T GET PAID. Payday will come and go for you. So sad. That's life in the real world. I say make them pay for some of this stuff and beg to get reimbursed instead of charging it up and then waiting for somebody to figure out what they have been up to. That leads to lots of problems, as we are seeing here.

100 dollars at Morton's? this is what can be bought for $100.
2 cases of copy paper, or
3000 pages of construction paper,or
400 pencils,or
700 pens, or
150 highlighters

Don't want to hear about it.

the facts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I made it very clear that if you are offered a
> present, party, etc. then take it.

Wrong. I was on a non-profit board that treated themselves to a big Thank You dinner every year. I didn't think it was right and was not justifiable. I never attended a single one.

Assuming that teachers should just take whatever is offered absolves them of the ethical requirements of their position as an employee. Just because you are at the bottom of the ladder doesn't give you a free pass to take whatever is offered. Perhaps a little shaming from the front line troops would make the administrators a bit more ethical themselves.

^^^I don't have a problem with them accepting a pizza lunch or a mug. The new guidelines do allow things like this, with restrictions. They are not in a position to mouth off at their boss.

I will tell you one thing, if I had gone to New Orleans and was told we were going off of per diem and bilking the taxpayers for a $63 dinner instead of staying on per diem, I would have said "no" and stuck to my per diem and asked for a separate check. THAT set a really bad example.

$100 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 100 dollars at Morton's? this is what can be
> bought for $100.
> 2 cases of copy paper, or
> 3000 pages of construction paper,or
> 400 pencils,or
> 700 pens, or
> 150 highlighters
>
> Don't want to hear about it.


How many were at this thing at Morton's? I couldn't afford to go there in my wildest dreams.

hitting my nerve Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> $100 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 100 dollars at Morton's? this is what can be
> > bought for $100.
> > 2 cases of copy paper, or
> > 3000 pages of construction paper,or
> > 400 pencils,or
> > 700 pens, or
> > 150 highlighters
> >
> > Don't want to hear about it.
>
>
> How many were at this thing at Morton's? I
> couldn't afford to go there in my wildest dreams.





Probably a bunch. We were buying, not them. 20+?

hammer/nail Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ^^^^^^^I think you meant don't HAVE any names,
> facts. That's okay. This is how it works. I do
> this all the time when I go to a dinner paid for
> by another party and I take my spouse along (I
> travel a lot). I get as much as I can on my meal,
> my spouse orders just an entree, and then we split
> the sides/salad/ dessert.



Then again, the $56 reimbursement might be for a round of cocktails or a bottle of wine. Interesting that there isn't an itemized receipt.

Teacher Teacher Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been teaching in FCPS for over 15 years and
> reading these posts is making me crazy. Do I like
> getting any-shirt every year, and breakfast or
> lunch a couple of times a year? Sure. It's nice.
> Would I rather have fewer kids in my classes? You
> betcha. Would I rather have working technology?
> Yup. Would I rather have money for classroom
> supplies? Absolutely, since I spend way more on
> those each year than I would on a t-shirt and a
> few mediocre meals.
>
> So, keep it up "the facts." Please stop bashing
> the teachers, however. We do not ask for any of
> these things and would much prefer the money be
> spent on the things I outlined above. When
> principals are spending thousands to stay
> overnight at resorts just down the street and then
> come back with more initiatives for teachers to
> implement simply to justify their trip, it sucks.
> Maybe if they are held accountable for some of
> this money, things will improve for the students.


Agree with this poster. Except, instead of tshirts and big breakfasts, I'd much prefer a real raise! I've been teaching for 20 years, and in the past several years the cost of living, cuts to VRS contributions,etc have surpassed my ability to live like a normal human being. At this stage in life, i should not be going backwards in debt, despite my frugality!!

Regarding the tens of thousands of dollars we are paying for state associations, local associations, etc. and the associated costs-

Reg 5810-page 42

"Individual memberships in any professional, educational, or community organizations or associations shall be at the personal expense of the individual applying for membership. Memberships in the name of the school may be approved by the principal, in accordance with the current version of Reg. 5115. When institutional memberships are in conjunction with personal memberships, only the additional cost of the institutional membership may be paid from school activity funds."

So, what about the Rotary club memberships/fees/expenses, the $536 fee per principal for Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals and the associated conferences, these local principals' associations, etc.?

More to argue about.

Lunch for 230 at Edison. $18 a person.

Thank you for your hard work. Really. I am just pointing out what lunch for 230 looks like. There are lots and lots of these at other schools, also.
Attachments:

Barbara Brown- you can dish it but you can't take it. Still waiting for you to answer the 3 questions?



Have you ever FOIA your bosses at Reston Hospital?


Have you ever been given a t-shirt or free meal?



Is your life that empty that you spend time harrassing civil servants? Not enough attention from your kids or husba

Now we have an example of an EOY luncheon for the entire staff at $15 a person including a $195 tip.

Something about Sophomore Class College Planning Night necessitated an evening trip to Bazin's on Church in Vienna. Dinner for 5 at $45 a person. Our public dollars at work. Lovely place.

I don't know why 300 baby bibs were needed but I had to see it to believe it.
Attachments:

^^^^^. Typo. 30 baby bibs, not 300. Still don't know why.

I heard the baby bibs which have the school mascot on it are given to staff who have babies as a gift. I cannot believe this selfish school is using vending machine and parking lot money to do such an irresponsible thing like give its staff who have newborns a baby bib as a gift!

Is it just possible that they purchase these items for fundraising? 30 bibs seems a lot for staff.

^^^^^^^^^^^
Oh there's lots bigger fish in this sea than adorable baby bibs. Trust me. I thought maybe it was a fundraiser, also. I don't know. Cute idea.

I am pressing on with the restaurant tour sampler and maybe a couple other things...

I have Sakura, Clyde's, more Maggiano's, McCormick and Schmick, and some others. Problem I am seeing is no names and no itemized receipts and illegible receipts on some of this stuff. I have asked for some clarifications.

Today I got to school at 7:10am. I finished the tasks I considered critical and left at 6:15pm. I've done about 90 minutes of non-critical school work since getting home tonight. No gifts or free meals were received today.

today Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Today I got to school at 7:10am. I finished the
> tasks I considered critical and left at 6:15pm.
> I've done about 90 minutes of non-critical school
> work since getting home tonight. No gifts or free
> meals were received today.

Well I have been busting a gut and I come here and read about how public employees are going to restaurants and staying at hotels I can only dream about, and I am paying for it. No sympathy.

Let's see.
These were really nice records. Thank you, Fairfax. Names, itemized receipts, legible documents, etc.

IC retreat at Old Town Hall, Coyote Grill about $18 a person with take home boxes.

Admin Assistants lunch at Artie's about $29 a person. Thank you Admin Assistants.

Admin Dinner at Maggiano's about $42 a person. Happy Holidays, Administrators.
Attachments:

tomorrow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> today Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Today I got to school at 7:10am. I finished the
> > tasks I considered critical and left at 6:15pm.
> > I've done about 90 minutes of non-critical
> school
> > work since getting home tonight. No gifts or
> free
> > meals were received today.
>
> Well I have been busting a gut and I come here and
> read about how public employees are going to
> restaurants and staying at hotels I can only dream
> about, and I am paying for it. No sympathy.

No sympathy asked for. You can keep it, along with the funds that you and taxpayers don't have to contribute toward all the time that is donated by teachers. The busting my gut receives is worth it. I choose to do it each day.

Today I got to school at 7:15am. I finished the tasks I considered critical and left at 5:30pm. I have about an hour's worth of work planned for later this evening. No gifts or free meals were received today.

Three college letters of recommendation written this week outside of school hours at no extra charge to anyone and with the great hope they make a difference for those students. I even used my own stamps - oh the injustice! But hey, we are ALL greedy freeloaders, right?

Don't worry, I'm not expecting donuts tomorrow and I'm busy finding my brown bag.

So far this year I've gotten a Kashi bar, for which I do not know the financial origins.

This is terrible. Kashi is WAY too high end. Who do you think you are? A Quaker or Nature Valley bar is much cheaper.

If I bike to work, is it permissible to use the shower at school? Perhaps FCPS needs a regulation on fees for water usage by employees, especially if the school launders the towel with detergent.

I sometimes skim the washpo website during the last moments of my 25 minute lunch if I finish catching up on parent emails. I'll switch to doing this on my phone with only 4g enabled so I don't drain any FCPS (taxpayer-funded) bandwidth.

What I really want to know is how many squares of TP did you use today? I have reports that say some people use more than two per visit to the restroom and some people might use the restroom more than once a day. I think teachers should bring their own rolls, I mean really.....why should the tax payers pay for that kind of luxury.... OR just use the bathroom at home the way the rest of us do.

We need to know.... some people are using way too many squares. This abuse must end. It must be wiped away.

but how many squares? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What I really want to know is how many squares of
> TP did you use today? I have reports that say some
> people use more than two per visit to the restroom
> and some people might use the restroom more than
> once a day. I think teachers should bring their
> own rolls, I mean really.....why should the tax
> payers pay for that kind of luxury.... OR just use
> the bathroom at home the way the rest of us do.
>
> We need to know.... some people are using way too
> many squares. This abuse must end. It must be
> wiped away.

FCPS allocates two squares for a #1. If you are dealt the last square of a roll, it is ok to take your squares from a fresh roll and not count the depleted roll. Teachers are granted one #2 restroom usage for every six workdays. If you have an existing condition, such as Chipotle consumption, you can apply for the $11.50/mileage option to have your extended deposit reimbursed.

^^^^^Chipotle consumption at Back to School Night, per the regulation, is not eligible for $11.50/mileage.

I agree with Tomorrow, Today. I arrived on this thread fairly recently, but the reports tell very clearly what has been going on.
It looks like the administrators have been the problem with the high-end restaurants and the overnight meetings. Unfortuntately, it affects everybody. When the bosses are spending that much money that recklessly, something isn't right. It is highly unethical. It is very sad that they were spending so much and the teachers saw so little of it. These seem to be very selfish and unrealistic decisions on their part. It looks like a lot of the administrators tried to make up for a difficult situation by also going totally overboard with some of the things for staff, which is not a sustainable thing to do in the long run. Hopefully they will get their priorities straight and some of the things like free golf for the principals and the hotels and stuff will disappear. It would be nice if they could now make sure the teachers had what they needed for their classes instead of telling them they don't have any money and having surf and turf be their (the administrators) major priority and it would be nice if people could focus on maintaining services for the kids.

a question Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I bike to work, is it permissible to use the
> shower at school? Perhaps FCPS needs a regulation
> on fees for water usage by employees, especially
> if the school launders the towel with detergent.


Pack some deodorant. I don't have to pay for your hygiene!

Why is the PTA at my child's school paying for flu vaccines for the staff? That money could be going toward classroom needs.

Don't vaccinate! It makes autism!

Lets see arrived at work at 800 and bought my own breakfast. Had lunch at 300 due to Many calls and left at 800 pm.

No overtime or free meals.

Do I get a friggin medal?

Private sector reality Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lets see arrived at work at 800 and bought my own
> breakfast. Had lunch at 300 due to Many calls and
> left at 800 pm.
>
> No overtime or free meals.
>
> Do I get a friggin medal?


No, you do not get a friggin medal. We've made it clear that any type of gift/award/freebie is unacceptable.

Private sector reality Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lets see arrived at work at 800 and bought my own
> breakfast. Had lunch at 300 due to Many calls and
> left at 800 pm.
>
> No overtime or free meals.
>
> Do I get a friggin medal?


However, if you do this most days of the week, you do have statistics that should be persuasive for a salary increase (or departure for a different job).

If working conditions are so tough in FCPS, why don't you take some of the money being spent on principals playing golf and eating at pricy restaurants and spend it on facilities

CVS is cheap Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is the PTA at my child's school paying for flu
> vaccines for the staff? That money could be going
> toward classroom needs.


Flu shots? That should be covered under the health plan. What? That PTA is very gullible.

So you think the school system/taxpayers should provide thousands of staff with towel service and breakfast? In addition to the massages, filet mignon, beach towels and beach bags, crystal...I pack a towel in my gym bag. I work in a federal facility.

Private sector reality Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lets see arrived at work at 800 and bought my own
> breakfast. Had lunch at 300 due to Many calls and
> left at 800 pm.
>
> No overtime or free meals.
>
> Do I get a friggin medal?


If you ever mentioned working weekends, holidays, overtime to a teacher, they would faint. Those who have never worked in the real world cant even begin to understand those concepts. At my kids school, several refused to even work back to school night. Go to your local high school during the last period of the day and observe the exodus during the coveted "planning period" Work to the rule would be ok, just work when you are getting paid to do so.

the facts-FairfaxHS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let's see.
> These were really nice records. Thank you,
> Fairfax. Names, itemized receipts, legible
> documents, etc.
>
> IC retreat at Old Town Hall, Coyote Grill about
> $18 a person with take home boxes.
>
> Admin Assistants lunch at Artie's about $29 a
> person. Thank you Admin Assistants.
>
> Admin Dinner at Maggiano's about $42 a person.
> Happy Holidays, Administrators.

How does a $2.4B "world class" organization get away with handwritten anything? If this stuff was automated and required approvals, it might not ever get spent.

^^^I am indeed finding that clarity and consistency of records is a huge problem. I will take handwritten records over no records any day. It looks like the principals are the approvers on the PO's, which means if they think lobster is indicated, they are all set. There has to be a better way to monitor whether people are taking county credit cards and heading out on the town than ME pulling records. This has been a very interesting adventure. The principals are ultimately responsible for whatever goes on the cards. So, if runs to the deli and Panera and Starbucks (yes, I saw Starbucks-no idea what they were buying) are considered appropriate, they can charge it up. It is then between the principal, the Superintendent, the School Board and their various auditors. My personal idea is to say no restaurants on the cards, period. If there is an occasional group meal, they can write a check or do a carefully approved charge. There really shouldn't be that many. That would put the brakes on pretty fast. But then there are the Giant runs, Costco runs, Weggie's, etc.

Can somebody explain to me why Sophomore College Planning night warrants a trip to Bazin's? I am not seeing this. If anything, it is an $11.50 or mileage situation.

Is anybody else having trouble opening the attachments? They were working fine until yesterday when FFU had a huge problem that messed with the system for hours.

unsympathetic taxpayer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If working conditions are so tough in FCPS, why
> don't you take some of the money being spent on
> principals playing golf and eating at pricy
> restaurants and spend it on facilities


I think that is the whole idea.

lkjhf Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> unsympathetic taxpayer Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If working conditions are so tough in FCPS, why
> > don't you take some of the money being spent on
> > principals playing golf and eating at pricy
> > restaurants and spend it on facilities
>
>
> I think that is the whole idea.



yes. if you skip one prime rib dinner at $75 each, you can buy at least 100 rolls of toilet paper, probably more. a lot more productive.

CVS is cheap Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is the PTA at my child's school paying for flu
> vaccines for the staff? That money could be going
> toward classroom needs.



This is frequently totally or at least partially covered by the preventive care portion of a health plan. Why is a parent group shouldering the expense of something like this? That money SHOULD be going for classroom needs. What school is this? Who is handling the administrative work, the screening process required, etc. You don't just hand out vaccines like lollipops. Who is actually giving the shots?

zxcv^&( Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CVS is cheap Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why is the PTA at my child's school paying for
> flu
> > vaccines for the staff? That money could be
> going
> > toward classroom needs.
>
>
>
> This is frequently totally or at least partially
> covered by the preventive care portion of a health
> plan. Why is a parent group shouldering the
> expense of something like this? That money SHOULD
> be going for classroom needs. What school is this?
> Who is handling the administrative work, the
> screening process required, etc. You don't just
> hand out vaccines like lollipops. Who is actually
> giving the shots?


Can the facts do some digging on this one?

zxcv^&( Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CVS is cheap Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why is the PTA at my child's school paying for
> flu
> > vaccines for the staff? That money could be
> going
> > toward classroom needs.
>
>
>
> This is frequently totally or at least partially
> covered by the preventive care portion of a health
> plan. Why is a parent group shouldering the
> expense of something like this? That money SHOULD
> be going for classroom needs. What school is this?
> Who is handling the administrative work, the
> screening process required, etc. You don't just
> hand out vaccines like lollipops. Who is actually
> giving the shots?

Here's the problem with FFU. Just because someone writes something doesn't make it true. FCPS provides onsite flu shot programs across the system so staff can stay healthy when sick children go to school. No cost to PTAs. Healthy staff make it easier to work 60 hour weeks.

By the way. I hope none of the posters are employees of government contractors - we wouldn't want our tax dollars going to waste.

A brief look at WSHS. Glory Days, "Admin Team Lunch". No names. No stated purpose for using their employer's credit card to buy themselves lunch. I saw dozens of these at numerous other schools (maybe hundreds).

Prom Night at Sakura. For the Admin Team. No names. Apparently the ADULTS get dressed up and go out to a nice dinner as well as the KIDS. No itemized receipt. I have asked for it. Somehow, I think it is not to be found. This looks like an $11.50 or mileage kind of night, unfortunately. This is a work night for them.

Hopefully Adobe Reader is cooperating...
Attachments:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This isn't the only school where I found this. There was another one that had dinner at Westwood Country Club. I would bet there are probably more. Don't know the answer to this.

Thursday
7-5, and my planning period was even at the end of the school day. I stayed and worked til 5:00 which I guess is "overtime" but don't worry, I didn't faint, I was quite ok. Also, I guess I'm lucky cause I get to work in the real world too having a part time job. Thankfully schools are closed on Holidays so I can work that job too. Clearly, I'm a lazy slug who has no idea what it means that to work hard.

Influenza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> zxcv^&( Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > CVS is cheap Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Why is the PTA at my child's school paying
> for
> > flu
> > > vaccines for the staff? That money could be
> > going
> > > toward classroom needs.
> >
> >
> >
> > This is frequently totally or at least
> partially
> > covered by the preventive care portion of a
> health
> > plan. Why is a parent group shouldering the
> > expense of something like this? That money
> SHOULD
> > be going for classroom needs. What school is
> this?
> > Who is handling the administrative work, the
> > screening process required, etc. You don't just
> > hand out vaccines like lollipops. Who is
> actually
> > giving the shots?
>
> Here's the problem with FFU. Just because someone
> writes something doesn't make it true. FCPS
> provides onsite flu shot programs across the
> system so staff can stay healthy when sick
> children go to school. No cost to PTAs. Healthy
> staff make it easier to work 60 hour weeks.
>
> By the way. I hope none of the posters are
> employees of government contractors - we wouldn't
> want our tax dollars going to waste.


Teachers need to suck it up and pay for this themselves. If they get sick, they can use allotted sick days. Parents shouldn't be paying for vaccines so teachers can bank all their sick days.

I don't think Influenza is making this up, in spite of the snarky remarks. I think they are having flu shot clinics provided by the school system. That is very typical of large organizations like this. It is part of their preventive health care benefit. You can miss up to two weeks of work if you get influenza.

Admin Assistants Appreciation-we do so appreciate you-really. Clyde's, $18per person. McCormick and Schmick's $40 a person. We do have names and receipts.

PISA meeting (?) Sweetwater $13 a person. Don't know what this is.

The information on the final transaction is basically illegible. Something going on at Clyde's. I have asked for clearer records. I am not holding my breath.

If you aren't scanning in receipts please copy them on a sheet of paper because they fade. These records are supposed to be held and available for 5-6 years.
Attachments:

Updates Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thursday
> 7-5, and my planning period was even at the end of
> the school day. I stayed and worked til 5:00
> which I guess is "overtime" but don't worry, I
> didn't faint, I was quite ok. Also, I guess I'm
> lucky cause I get to work in the real world too
> having a part time job. Thankfully schools are
> closed on Holidays so I can work that job too.
> Clearly, I'm a lazy slug who has no idea what it
> means that to work hard.


You are a miserable self-centered whiny-ass who thinks you are entitled to some unrealistic things.

cvcvcvc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Updates Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thursday
> > 7-5, and my planning period was even at the end
> of
> > the school day. I stayed and worked til 5:00
> > which I guess is "overtime" but don't worry, I
> > didn't faint, I was quite ok. Also, I guess
> I'm
> > lucky cause I get to work in the real world too
> > having a part time job. Thankfully schools are
> > closed on Holidays so I can work that job too.
> > Clearly, I'm a lazy slug who has no idea what
> it
> > means that to work hard.
>
>
> You are a miserable self-centered whiny-ass who
> thinks you are entitled to some unrealistic
> things.

Actually, I'm really quite happy, love my job(s) and work hard. Just pointing out that your generalization about everyone leaving early and not being able to work "in the real world" is not correct.

So which principals are getting their hands slapped? I bet the former WSHS principal Mr. Greenfelder is worried right now.

They are probably just circling the wagons and doing damage control. Smokescreen. Scrambling signals. They probably like their $100 dinners just they way they are. Wouldn't you? I don't know how they can sleep at night doing this kind of crap. They have been screwing the citizens and children and taxpayers and they probably don't give a flying fart. Greedy bunch of thieves they are. Utterly pathological. Money magnets. Cash vacuum cleaners.

all teachers are trash. this is disgusting. why do they think they are entitled to live the good life on our dime?

It looks like the problems are with the administrators, NOT the teachers.

I think we all agree the big money retreats and admin dinners need to stop, and I think they will. My problem with the facts lady is her disgust with any money spent on teachers and staff. She'll say she loves the teachers, but then immediately(and repeatedly) denounces a school for buying them a shirt, or a lunch. My guess is her response to me will be to make yet another announcement that she really loves and respects the teachers, but the next day we'll see a receipt where a school dared to spend $8/person for a breakfast during teacher appreciation week.

Don't shoot the messenger!!!!!!!!!

I am merely pointing out that I think the amount of money spent on scrambled eggs and all the trimmings for 300 staff members, beach bags and beach towels for 200, clothing for 250, $2000 of flowers, $4000 BBQ's needs to be looked at in terms of sustainability, appropriateness, and in view of existing laws and regulations and standards of ethics. I think some teachers and staff need to do some math on what all this is costing and how realistic this is. 250 of anything (per school) isn't going to come cheap. Reality check. *****I don't know of anybody who works for the government who thinks a $30 restaurant lunch, a $50+ restaurant dinner, flowers, presents, candy, and a full BBQ for 200 twice a year is due them.

The $75-100 dinners and the $600 hotel rooms are pretty obviously a problem. I am sure the administrators love those but who else thinks these are essential to the functioning of government and the "fostering of student success"? Speak up. Let's hear your side!!!!!!!!!!!

It's always easier to spend somebody else's money and it always nice when it is spent on YOU.

The frustration with records continues.

Page 1-a letter explaining that four Administrators went out to dinner because the school was being given an award. $45 a person. Congratulations. I think maybe this was a mileage or $11.50 kind of night? No itemized receipt!!!!! No names!!!!!

Page 5-illegible.

About $1000 for 34 dozen Whoopie Pies for teacher appreciation. Just how do they find this stuff?

An AP dinner for 7 at $28 a person. The 20 ounce Porterhouse is a remarkable use of public funds. This also sounds like an $11.50 or mileage kind of night. No names.

Page 9-illegible.

A dinner for "wrestling/basketball". No names, specific purpose. The coaches are on a salary supplement and not even eligible for the $11.50 or mileage. Oh well.
Attachments:

$181 dollars for a dinner for four administrators? That is outrageous! That principal should be ashamed! This is going on ALL OVER THE COUNTY. It is why there is no money for anything else! It needs to STOP and the administrators spending money so frivolously need to be seriously reprimanded!

More frustrations with records. Oakton and FCPS have been working on explaining a $350 meal at George's at the Cove and a $600 dinner at Morton's since early September. They have asked for an extension on the extension. I believe George's is in La Jolla. Their website proclaims awards that include "Fodor's/Top 10 Restaurants in the World", "Best Place to Propose", "Top 100 Restaurants in America". Do a search and take a look. We all know about Morton's. This is not looking good for records. You can find these two on the extended ECA report posted earlier.

What I have shows hundreds of dollars of "working lunches" at Artie's for $20-$30 per person, including pecan crusted trout and baby back ribs. A few names. I don't understand why these were necessary. I had a hard time with the PO's.

There is also a whopper of a meal at Capital Grille. About $750. Yes, $750. NO NAMES. I couldn't understand the PO. The receipt is conveniently illegible, but from what we can read looks impressive. I have asked for a clearer receipt.

West Potomac is coming up. I found more massages. This masseuse had a heated chair. I have to do some analysis on these before I post them. I looked up about 20 grand of generic charge card payments. Give me a few days.
Attachments:

This kind of stuff reinforces the unbelievable hubris on the part of the administration. I'm sure that while they are eating they are having very professional conversations about helping teachers in the classrooms.

I believe they can use the school gyms for free. I would assume there is a gym at Gatehouse. They need them desperately.

its time to get teachers out of education. make things all online so kids can do it all at home. why do we need some moocher babysitting and doing the grading, taking a salary and getting an absurd amount of holidays and summers off. kids would get things done quicker online and then go to football or dance or whatever earlier in the day and have the evening to spend with family.

As I sit at home on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon willingly writing letters of recommendation for six of my seniors, I say to myself: "I have never been treated to Arties, had a massage, been taken to Mortons or been given anything pricer than a T-shirt." My administration has not gone to La Jolla or New Orleans or Vegas, nor to my knowledge treated themselves to Sweetwater before a school board meeting. I am very happy with my profession and with my employment.Yet, I despair when I read the negative posts on this particular thread implying that all teachers are lazy, worthless, taking the public dime for an easy job and whine, whine, whine. My sarcastic suggestion is that all of us wear habits like the nuns who taught me, take a vow of poverty, work for nothing and offer up for a higher seat in heaven all the crap that we are subject to by members of the public, including those who campaigned for 30 minutes more sleep at the cost of 4.7 million and extending our commutes by up to an hour a day. OK - no more whining as it is so offensive, and back to writing the letters. I love my school, my students and my job, and am appalled at what certain administrators are doing at select schools. As far as I can tell, the existence of this thread and fact checkers investigation will cut out the T-shirts, the candy bars before faculty meetings, and the VERY MODEST retirement trinkets which we have been told must now be funded by our own donations. That is fine. Let's just stop the junkets to pricy restaurants. Administrators should be able to split a check and pay their own way if they want to dine together. I sure hope that all of the copies of the expenditures are landing on Karen Garza's desk as I doubt she reads Fairfax Underground.