It would appear that the School Board is doing its best to bury a request for information regarding the vote on their anti discrimination policy to include Transsexual individuals, at least until after the election. Based upon the law they are obligated to provide a formal response to the request for information by October 27th. What are the odds that they either cannot find anything or discover a reason to delay that response until after the election. Based upon their highly partisan past I would wager that the odds are rather great!

Attachments:

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It would appear that the School Board is doing its
> best to bury a request for information regarding
> the vote on their anti discrimination policy to
> include Transsexual individuals, at least until
> after the election. Based upon the law they are
> obligated to provide a formal response to the
> request for information by October 26th. What are
> the odds that they either cannot find anything or
> discover a reason to delay that response until
> after the election. Based upon their highly
> partisan past I would wager that the odds are
> rather great! Ryan McElveen at work spending your
> hard earned tax dollars!

Pretty high.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ryan McElveen at work spending your
> hard earned tax dollars!

Ummm... It costs taxpayers nothing for FCPS to *not respond* to a FOIA request.

The expense to taxpayers is incurred when *responding* to a FOIA request.

Just a little FYI for those of you incapable of logical thought (AKA conservatives). :-)

Don't vote for anyone who voted for the transgender policy or anyone who abstained from the vote. Send a clear message that this is NOT what the people of Fairfax want!

Simple Answer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't vote for anyone who voted for the
> transgender policy or anyone who abstained from
> the vote. Send a clear message that this is NOT
> what the people of Fairfax want!

Attachments:

No one cares about the bathroom issue people. We're $100M short for next year's budget. Why don't you worry about issues that REALLY impact this community? McElveen is a dumbA$$ no doubt and he won't get my vote. But really, move on to issues that will really driver voters to the polls for the School Board election. Bathrooms aren't it.

No one cares!!! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No one cares about the bathroom issue people.
> We're $100M short for next year's budget. Why
> don't you worry about issues that REALLY impact
> this community? McElveen is a dumbA$$ no doubt
> and he won't get my vote. But really, move on to
> issues that will really driver voters to the polls
> for the School Board election. Bathrooms aren't
> it.

Let's start with $80,000/month on travel to places like Nashville, Orlando, Boston, the Johnson Space Center and Germany.

Some Real Issues… Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let's start with $80,000/month on travel to places
> like Nashville, Orlando, Boston, the Johnson Space
> Center and Germany.

Amen! Why in God's green acre do FCPS students need to travel? You don't learn nothing from traveling except how much better it is to stay home!

Another inexcusable waste of taxpayer dollars!

No one cares!!! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No one cares about the bathroom issue people.
> We're $100M short for next year's budget. Why
> don't you worry about issues that REALLY impact
> this community? McElveen is a dumbA$$ no doubt
> and he won't get my vote. But really, move on to
> issues that will really driver voters to the polls
> for the School Board election. Bathrooms aren't
> it.

+100M

Rabble...er, Citizen! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Some Real Issues… Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Let's start with $80,000/month on travel to
> places
> > like Nashville, Orlando, Boston, the Johnson
> Space
> > Center and Germany.
>
> Amen! Why in God's green acre do FCPS students
> need to travel? You don't learn nothing from
> traveling except how much better it is to stay
> home!
>
> Another inexcusable waste of taxpayer dollars!


They aren't spending this money on students. They are spending most of it on administrators. The students pay for their own trips.

Simple Answer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't vote for anyone who voted for the
> transgender policy or anyone who abstained from
> the vote. Send a clear message that this is NOT
> what the people of Fairfax want!

Could care less. Would you PLEASE send your kids to some sort of provincial religious school so they can grow up to be bigoted old sows like you?

Simple Answer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't vote for anyone who voted for the
> transgender policy or anyone who abstained from
> the vote. Send a clear message that this is NOT
> what the people of Fairfax want!

Correction: it's not what the nasty bigots of Fairfax want.

Carry on.

Some Real Issues… Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let's start with $80,000/month on travel to places
> like Nashville, Orlando, Boston, the Johnson Space
> Center and Germany.

Amen! Why in God's green acre do FCPS teachers and administrators need to travel? Because FCPS values its employees and pays for their continuing professional education like thousands of other employers? Poppycock! To meet and learn from other educators and school systems how to make FCPS better? Balderdash! We taxpayer don't pay FCPS drone to learn! To improve our schools!

We don't care about the quality of our schools; All we care about is how little we can spend on them!

Stop this inexcusable waste of taxpayer dollars NOW!

Spoken like a true government tit-sucker.

w3vCW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Spoken like a true government tit-sucker.

Conserva-tards!

LoLz!

The schools are suffering because the School Board is obsessed with social issues rather than the cost and quality of the schools. The transsexual issue is just one more issue that represents the source of the problem. We do not even know how much the change in policy will cost the school because they voted to change the policy before discovering how the policy should be implemented.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/19/2015 05:45PM by Inquisitive One.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The schools are suffering because the School Board
> is obsessed with social issues rather than the
> cost and quality of the schools. The transsexual
> issue is just one more issue that represents the
> source of the problem. We do not even know how
> much the change in policy will cost the school
> because they voted to change the policy before
> discovering how the policy should be implemented.


+1,000

And when they think they are thinking about the kids, their judgment is often flawed, consider the $9,000/day consultants that get no results, but have impressive marketing materials.

If for no other reason than "this and now isn't working," we must clean house! The at-large members need to go FIRST! What fools.

A vote for an incumbent is a vote for an entrenched and partisan school board that is more interested in their own political future than your kids. Most of them are doing nothing but using the School Board as a stepping stone to higher political office or an appointment to a Democratic administration. Moving several of the School Board Members out of office will have little effect on the daily operations of the Board and additional dissenting voices will force debate on issues that have been curtailed through parliamentary procedures in the past.

Blah, blah blah. Stfu.

Zzzzzzz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Blah, blah blah. Stfu.


You must be a School Board Member because that is precisely the same thing that they told any constituent that defied their authority by asking any relevant question regarding the school board budget or the transgender anti discrimination policy.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The schools are suffering because the School Board
> is obsessed with social issues rather than the
> cost and quality of the schools.The transsexual
> issue is just one more issue that represents the
> source of the problem. We do not even know how
> much the change in policy will cost the school
> because they voted to change the policy before
> discovering how the policy should be implemented.

"Social issues" are part an parcel of the quality of our schools.

If you want to have quality schools, it's gonna cost ya.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A vote for an incumbent is a vote for an
> entrenched and partisan school board that is more
> interested in their own political future than your
> kids. Most of them are doing nothing but using
> the School Board as a stepping stone to higher
> political office or an appointment to a Democratic
> administration. Moving several of the School
> Board Members out of office will have little
> effect on the daily operations of the Board and
> additional dissenting voices will force debate on
> issues that have been curtailed through
> parliamentary procedures in the past.

You start populating the School Board w/self-styled "conservatives" and pretty soon they start messing with the curriculum (e.g.; 'intelligent design', sex education = abstinence, etc.), cutting spending at the expense of the students and the quality of their education, etc. Ultimately, FCPS schools becomes just as shitty as the public schools in Texas or Kansas.

No thank you, I'll keep voting Democratic.

Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Inquisitive One Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A vote for an incumbent is a vote for an
> > entrenched and partisan school board that is
> more
> > interested in their own political future than
> your
> > kids. Most of them are doing nothing but using
> > the School Board as a stepping stone to higher
> > political office or an appointment to a
> Democratic
> > administration. Moving several of the School
> > Board Members out of office will have little
> > effect on the daily operations of the Board and
> > additional dissenting voices will force debate
> on
> > issues that have been curtailed through
> > parliamentary procedures in the past.
>
> You start populating the School Board
> w/self-styled "conservatives" and pretty soon they
> start messing with the curriculum (e.g.;
> 'intelligent design', sex education = abstinence,
> etc.), cutting spending at the expense of the
> students and the quality of their education, etc.
> Ultimately, FCPS schools becomes just as shitty as
> the public schools in Texas or Kansas.
>
> No thank you, I'll keep voting Democratic.

Your lack of knowledge is showing regarding the FC School Board is showing! Most issues pass 10-1 or 9-2 because of the liberal coalition (cannot use Democratic because it is SUPPOSED to be non partisan). Even another conservative voice on the Board will not affect a single outcome but it will force a debate which is not taking place with the current Board. Please educate yourself by watching a meeting on You Tube or the FFX County website. I am sure it will be enlightening unless you are as closed minded as the Board.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Your lack of knowledge is showing regarding the FC
> School Board is showing!

Show-'nuff! lol.

> Most issues pass 10-1 or 9-2 because of the liberal
> coalition (cannot use Democratic because it is
> SUPPOSED to be non partisan). Even another conservative
> voice on the Board will not affect a single outcome
> but it will force a debate which is not taking place
> with the current Board. Please educate yourself by
> watching a meeting on You Tube or the FFX County
> website. I am sure it will be enlightening unless
> you are as closed minded as the Board.

I don't have a problem with how the Board operates today.

In my experience, increasing conservative input to any deliberative process = unproductive and distracting, making every decision more difficult, etc.

No thank you, I'll keep voting Democratic.

The board's decisions have resulted in wasteful and unwise spending during the past five years and eventually that wasteful spending is going to result in a substantial bill. Even though the BOS may act as a backstop from their unwise spending it will eventually result in a bill that will be paid by everyone. Real Estate taxes will only pay for so much especially with a commercial real estate market in a deep recession. Currently, the School Board is widely spreading the word of a $100 million dollar budget gap. In order to close this budget deficit gap an increase of approximately 5 mils would be necessary. In layman's terms, if you live in a $600,000 home a 5 mil increase would increase your real estate tax by about $3000.00. This only addresses the school budget which is around 50 percent of the Fairfax County Budget. If you have no problem writing out that check congratulations because most of Fairfax County residents would have trouble fitting that bill into their family budget.

­



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2015 12:29PM by chuckhoffmann.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The board's decisions have resulted in wasteful
> and unwise spending during the past five years and
> eventually that wasteful spending is going to
> result in a substantial bill. Even though the BOS
> may act as a backstop from their unwise spending
> it will eventually result in a bill that will be
> paid by everyone.

Please be specific with regard to the 'wasteful' and 'unwise' spending you allege the FCPS Board to have pursued.

Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Inquisitive One Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The board's decisions have resulted in wasteful
> > and unwise spending during the past five years
> and
> > eventually that wasteful spending is going to
> > result in a substantial bill. Even though the
> BOS
> > may act as a backstop from their unwise
> spending
> > it will eventually result in a bill that will
> be
> > paid by everyone.
>
> Please be specific with regard to the 'wasteful'
> and 'unwise' spending you allege the FCPS Board to
> have pursued.

1) Spending $80,000/month in travel

2) Allowing, on average, $15,000/school using Boosterthon to be consumed

3) Hiring unqualified, "no results" consultants-some charge as much as $9,000 a day!

4) Building up a bloated, useless, administrative hierarchy

5) Passing initiatives (e.g., transgender) without first knowing the cost

6) Funding turf fields instead of science books

7) Too many "perks"-luncheons, dinners, retreats, housing allowances, etc. for administrators

The list is long and goes on and on.

Each year the School Board has pet projects to purchase with the end of year budget surplus rather than establishing a rainy day fund or actually budgeting correctly and giving the teachers a proper pay raise. However, the transgender issue is the worst case. Without a required mandate of any kind the Board rammed through the anti discrimination amendment without the benefit of a consultant's report that was due in the fall or proper debate which was curtailed in a parliamentary move. Without the benefit of the report the School Board obligated the School System to a potential capital construction program that may require the modification of rest rooms and locker rooms through out the system in over 250 buildings. In my opinion the obligation of potentially millions of dollars without the benefit of discussion or expert guidance was a reckless action by the board that is responsible for the proper management of the School System.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Each year the School Board has pet projects to
> purchase with the end of year budget surplus
> rather than establishing a rainy day fund or
> actually budgeting correctly and giving the
> teachers a proper pay raise. However, the
> transgender issue is the worst case. Without a
> required mandate of any kind the Board rammed
> through the anti discrimination amendment without
> the benefit of a consultant's report that was due
> in the fall or proper debate which was curtailed
> in a parliamentary move. Without the benefit of
> the report the School Board obligated the School
> System to a potential capital construction program
> that may require the modification of rest rooms
> and locker rooms through out the system in over
> 250 buildings. In my opinion the obligation of
> potentially millions of dollars without the
> benefit of discussion or expert guidance was a
> reckless action by the board that is responsible
> for the proper management of the School System.


+1,000

VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS

The List Is Long… Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Please be specific with regard to the
> 'wasteful'
> > and 'unwise' spending you allege the FCPS Board
> to
> > have pursued.
>
> 1) Spending $80,000/month in travel

This is a silly complaint. In virtually any organization, travel is a necessary expenditure.

> 2) Allowing, on average, $15,000/school using
> Boosterthon to be consumed

Huh?

> 3) Hiring unqualified, "no results"
> consultants-some charge as much as $9,000 a day!

You're close enough to the work of consultants hired by FCPS to assess their qualifications & work product? I just don't believe that.

> 4) Building up a bloated, useless, administrative
> hierarchy

Show me, as a comparison, another $2.6 billion organization that runs leaner.

> 5) Passing initiatives (e.g., transgender) without
> first knowing the cost

In some decisions, the cost is not among the most important considerations.

> 6) Funding turf fields instead of science books

Judgment call which which you disagree. Oh well.

> 7) Too many "perks"-luncheons, dinners, retreats,
> housing allowances, etc. for administrators

Again, you're close enough to the day-to-day operations of FCPS to assess the reasonableness of expenditure line items? I just don't believe that.

> The list is long and goes on and on.

In your mind, I'm sure, the list will never end.

...
Attachments:

Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The List Is Long… Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Please be specific with regard to the
> > 'wasteful'
> > > and 'unwise' spending you allege the FCPS
> Board
> > to
> > > have pursued.
> >
> > 1) Spending $80,000/month in travel
>
> This is a silly complaint. In virtually any
> organization, travel is a necessary expenditure.
>
> > 2) Allowing, on average, $15,000/school using
> > Boosterthon to be consumed
>
> Huh?
>
> > 3) Hiring unqualified, "no results"
> > consultants-some charge as much as $9,000 a
> day!
>
> You're close enough to the work of consultants
> hired by FCPS to assess their qualifications &
> work product? I just don't believe that.
>
> > 4) Building up a bloated, useless,
> administrative
> > hierarchy
>
> Show me, as a comparison, another $2.6 billion
> organization that runs leaner.
>
> > 5) Passing initiatives (e.g., transgender)
> without
> > first knowing the cost
>
> In some decisions, the cost is not among the most
> important considerations.
>
> > 6) Funding turf fields instead of science books
>
> Judgment call which which you disagree. Oh well.
>
> > 7) Too many "perks"-luncheons, dinners,
> retreats,
> > housing allowances, etc. for administrators
>
> Again, you're close enough to the day-to-day
> operations of FCPS to assess the reasonableness of
> expenditure line items? I just don't believe
> that.
>
> > The list is long and goes on and on.
>
> In your mind, I'm sure, the list will never end.


When I was in school, the "administration" consisted of:

Principal
Asst Principal
Secretary and some office staff
Guidance counselor
Teachers


Anything else is a waste of money.

The solution to the "transgender" problem is simple. If you have a penis you use the boys room. If you don't you use the girls room. If you go into the wrong bathroom, you get your ass kicked. You won't make the same mistake twice. Lesson learned.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2015 01:13PM by LetsRock.

LetsRock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The List Is Long… Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Please be specific with regard to the
> > > 'wasteful'
> > > > and 'unwise' spending you allege the FCPS
> > Board
> > > to
> > > > have pursued.
> > >
> > > 1) Spending $80,000/month in travel
> >
> > This is a silly complaint. In virtually any
> > organization, travel is a necessary
> expenditure.
> >
> > > 2) Allowing, on average, $15,000/school using
> > > Boosterthon to be consumed
> >
> > Huh?
> >
> > > 3) Hiring unqualified, "no results"
> > > consultants-some charge as much as $9,000 a
> > day!
> >
> > You're close enough to the work of consultants
> > hired by FCPS to assess their qualifications &
> > work product? I just don't believe that.
> >
> > > 4) Building up a bloated, useless,
> > administrative
> > > hierarchy
> >
> > Show me, as a comparison, another $2.6 billion
> > organization that runs leaner.
> >
> > > 5) Passing initiatives (e.g., transgender)
> > without
> > > first knowing the cost
> >
> > In some decisions, the cost is not among the
> most
> > important considerations.
> >
> > > 6) Funding turf fields instead of science
> books
> >
> > Judgment call which which you disagree. Oh
> well.
> >
> > > 7) Too many "perks"-luncheons, dinners,
> > retreats,
> > > housing allowances, etc. for administrators
> >
> > Again, you're close enough to the day-to-day
> > operations of FCPS to assess the reasonableness
> of
> > expenditure line items? I just don't believe
> > that.
> >
> > > The list is long and goes on and on.
> >
> > In your mind, I'm sure, the list will never
> end.
>
>
> When I was in school, the "administration"
> consisted of:
>
> Principal
> Asst Principal
> Secretary and some office staff
> Guidance counselor
> Teachers
>
>
> Anything else is a waste of money.
>
> The solution to the "transgender" problem is
> simple. If you have a penis you use the boys room.
> If you don't you use the girls room. If you go
> into the wrong bathroom, you get your ass kicked.
> You won't make the same mistake twice. Lesson
> learned.


If that would be the solution we would definitely on the same page but you can be assured that this "enlightened" Board will not solve it that way. Hence the parent's objections to the transgender issue.

Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The List Is Long… Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Please be specific with regard to the
> > 'wasteful'
> > > and 'unwise' spending you allege the FCPS
> Board
> > to
> > > have pursued.
> >
> > 1) Spending $80,000/month in travel
>
> This is a silly complaint. In virtually any
> organization, travel is a necessary expenditure.
>
> > 2) Allowing, on average, $15,000/school using
> > Boosterthon to be consumed
>
> Huh?
>
> > 3) Hiring unqualified, "no results"
> > consultants-some charge as much as $9,000 a
> day!
>
> You're close enough to the work of consultants
> hired by FCPS to assess their qualifications &
> work product? I just don't believe that.
>
> > 4) Building up a bloated, useless,
> administrative
> > hierarchy
>
> Show me, as a comparison, another $2.6 billion
> organization that runs leaner.
>
> > 5) Passing initiatives (e.g., transgender)
> without
> > first knowing the cost
>
> In some decisions, the cost is not among the most
> important considerations.
>
> > 6) Funding turf fields instead of science books
>
> Judgment call which which you disagree. Oh well.
>
> > 7) Too many "perks"-luncheons, dinners,
> retreats,
> > housing allowances, etc. for administrators
>
> Again, you're close enough to the day-to-day
> operations of FCPS to assess the reasonableness of
> expenditure line items? I just don't believe
> that.
>
> > The list is long and goes on and on.
>
> In your mind, I'm sure, the list will never end.

One presumes that "reasoned opinion" is so close to the internals of FCPS that he or she can vouch for every single expenditure. This is preposterous, and makes it clear that the poster has an extreme pro-FCPS, pro-entitlement that no end of logical reasoning cannot change.

The undeniable fact of the matter is that County residents will not accept higher taxes when, in the view of so many, FCPS wastes vast amounts of money.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The transgender issue is the worst case.

Here we go.

> Without a required mandate of any kind the Board
> rammed through the anti discrimination amendment

Was a mandate required?

> without the benefit of a consultant's report that
> was due in the fall or proper debate which was
> curtailed in a parliamentary move.

I thought that you said the consultants were 'unqualified'...

> The School Board obligated the School
> System to a potential capital construction program
> that may require the modification of rest rooms
> and locker rooms through out the system in over
> 250 buildings. In my opinion the obligation of
> potentially millions of dollars without the
> benefit of discussion or expert guidance was a
> reckless action by the board that is responsible
> for the proper management of the School System.

'A potential capital construction program that may require'

Sounds awfully loosy-goosy. Why don't we wait to see that the implementation committee comes back with before we freak out?

LetsRock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When I was in school, the "administration"
> consisted of:
>
> Principal
> Asst Principal
> Secretary and some office staff
> Guidance counselor
> Teachers
>
> Anything else is a waste of money.

Other than the positions you list, what 'excess' personnel have you encountered @ the school level?

> The solution to the "transgender" problem is
> simple. If you have a penis you use the boys room.
> If you don't you use the girls room. If you go
> into the wrong bathroom, you get your ass kicked.
> You won't make the same mistake twice. Lesson
> learned.

It seems that the Board & FCPS administration disagree w/you.

Presumption of Intimacy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One presumes that "reasoned opinion" is so close
> to the internals of FCPS that he or she can vouch
> for every single expenditure. This is
> preposterous,

It's really no more 'preposterous' to assume that the FCPS Board & administration make reasoned decisions than it is to assume that FCPS Board & administration are incompetent, wasteful spendthrifts.

> The poster has an extreme pro-FCPS, pro-entitlement
> that no end of logical reasoning cannot change.

Plenty of posters here are extremely anti-FCPS, so...

> The undeniable fact of the matter is that County
> residents will not accept higher taxes when, in
> the view of so many, FCPS wastes vast amounts of
> money.

The fact is that some County residents see thing your way and some do not. We shall see who prevails.

Are all conservatives this potty obsessed? Sounds like they never got over the anal stage of development. They certainly act like toddlers.

Face it, right wingers - you don't really care about the hypothetical cost of bathrooms; you just don't want transgendered people to be recognized as human beings. If you could find a way to make 'the gays' dissappear, too, all the better.

Grow Up Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are all conservatives this potty obsessed? Sounds
> like they never got over the anal stage of
> development. They certainly act like toddlers.
>
> Face it, right wingers - you don't really care
> about the hypothetical cost of bathrooms; you just
> don't want transgendered people to be recognized
> as human beings. If you could find a way to make
> 'the gays' dissappear, too, all the better.

+1,000!

'Tards gonna 'tard!

Conserva-tards!

LoLz!

Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Inquisitive One Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The transgender issue is the worst case.
>
> Here we go.
>
> > Without a required mandate of any kind the
> Board
> > rammed through the anti discrimination
> amendment
>
> Was a mandate required?
>
> > without the benefit of a consultant's report
> that
> > was due in the fall or proper debate which was
> > curtailed in a parliamentary move.
>
> I thought that you said the consultants were
> 'unqualified'...
>
> > The School Board obligated the School
> > System to a potential capital construction
> program
> > that may require the modification of rest rooms
> > and locker rooms through out the system in over
> > 250 buildings. In my opinion the obligation of
> > potentially millions of dollars without the
> > benefit of discussion or expert guidance was a
> > reckless action by the board that is
> responsible
> > for the proper management of the School System.
>
> 'A potential capital construction program that may
> require'
>
> Sounds awfully loosy-goosy. Why don't we wait to
> see that the implementation committee comes back
> with before we freak out?

Because the Board made the commitment before any information is available which is my point. The policy amendment is already made and FFX County is bound regardless of what the consultant says. Keep in mind, none of this was required at this time.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Because the Board made the commitment before any
> information is available which is my point.

There was plenty of information available. The board's decision was just and correct. Implementation is a detail, not a decision point.

> Keep in mind, none of this was required at this
> time.

The right thing to do is the right thing to do, regardless what is 'required.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The schools are suffering because the School Board
> is obsessed with social issues rather than the
> cost and quality of the schools.

That is certainly part of the problem. Another part is wasteful spending. The biggest problem though was the failure of the County and School Board to address developing problems before they got out of hand.

In the early 2000s nobody in the County or government gave a crap about the growing number of immigrant families in the County. It only affected a few neighborhoods and a few schools, which was seen as a low price to pay for the increased profits businesses could make from paying those immigrants less. Likewise we were happy to defer maintenance and put off updating schools so that the County could continue to expand high profile programs which benefitted relatively few students. And we were happy to borrow money to help pay for it all. Then the economy tanked, but the demand for services did not.

Reasoned Opinion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Inquisitive One Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Because the Board made the commitment before
> any
> > information is available which is my point.
>
> There was plenty of information available. The
> board's decision was just and correct.
> Implementation is a detail, not a decision point.
>
> > Keep in mind, none of this was required at this
> > time.
>
> The right thing to do is the right thing to do,
> regardless what is 'required.

Dig deep in your pockets my friend. Dig very deep!

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>Dig deep in your pockets my friend. Dig very deep!

Predictably, you are wrong again. See below.


chuckhoffmann Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Inquisitive One Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > In order to close [the $100 million] budget
> > deficit gap an increase of approximately 5
> > mils would be necessary. In layman's terms,
> > if you live in a $600,000 home a 5 mil
> > increase would increase your real estate
> > tax by about $3000.00.
>
> Your math is faulty.
>
> Real estate tax is calculated per $100 of assessed
> value and is currently set at $1.09 per 100
> dollars. 5 mills would add 1/2 of one cent to this
> rate, changing it to $1.095 per 100 dollars, and
> increase the tax rate by $30 on a $600,000 house,
> not $3000.
>
> To get the kind of increase you're talking about
> the county would have to jack the rate to over
> $1.59 per $100 of value, or 500 mills,
> which would lead to an uproar of the kind that'd
> wind up with the entire BoS' heads on pikes (and
> possibly not figuratively). It would be political
> suicide.
>
> AFAIK, the highest the tax rate has ever been was
> about $1.74 per $100 back in 1978.

You are correct, however, chuck was wrong as well. To be precise, the deficit would add five cents to the RE tax per $100 in value so the bill would be an additional $300. This would be in addition to the annual increase in annual assessments so an increase of $500-600 should not be unexpected.

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are correct, however, chuck was wrong as well.
> To be precise, the deficit would add five cents
> to the RE tax per $100 in value so the bill would
> be an additional $300. This would be in addition
> to the annual increase in annual assessments so an
> increase of $500-600 should not be unexpected.

The chart below shows fluctuations in the base FFX Cnty property tax rate from 1968 - 2011. Clearly, as the county's tax base has broadened, the tax rate has fallen dramatically. The current base tax rate is nearly 37% lower than in 1978.

Attachments:

­



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2015 10:24PM by chuckhoffmann.

Originally there was one real estate tax rate, and it applied to everyone in the county regardless of location or type of property. If that tax chart was accurate, starting in the late 1980s you would see that single line begin to break up into several different lines as special tax districts, add on taxes and different rates for different types of property took effect.

When discussing the real estate tax burdens to the owner, the actual rate should be used, because that is what the owner pays. $1.09 is merely the base rate, not the actual one. I currently pay more than $1.09 and I suspect the same is true of most Fairfax homeowners. There are commercial properties in the county paying at close to $1.50.

Bill.N. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When discussing the real estate tax burdens to the
> owner, the actual rate should be used, because
> that is what the owner pays. $1.09 is merely the
> base rate, not the actual one. I currently pay
> more than $1.09 and I suspect the same is true of
> most Fairfax homeowners.

I pay 1.116 instead of 1.09, which adds about $190/yr. to my tax bill ($725,000 assessment).

Robert Heinlein wrote "secrecy is the keystone of all tyranny" and he was right.

FCPS sandbags FOIA and other requests because they are afraid of what would happen if certain information came out. They get paid well have tons of benefits, and they don't have to work very hard at all. How hard can it be to rubber stamp a contract for an unqualified consultant? How hard can it be to make reservations for a conference at Disney World?

The Department of Communications and Community Outreach has become the Department of Propaganda.

­



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2015 10:24PM by chuckhoffmann.

chuckhoffmann Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Secrecy and Tyranny Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Department of Communications and Community
> > Outreach has become the Department of
> Propaganda.
>
> You're a fool if you think it was ever anything
> but.

But it has gotten worse under Guilfoyle, he's so self-important he doesn't even put his email on the FCPS website. He must spend a lot of time at retreats and conferences and in meetings figuring out how to spin the latest begging for money.

Change for the Worse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But it has gotten worse under Guilfoyle...he
> must spend a lot of time at retreats and
> conferences and in meetings figuring
> out how to spin the latest begging for money.

That $80K/month FCPS travel budget ain't gonna spend itself, yo!

Maybe Guilfoyle oughta bring in
s some more '$8,000/day' )or is it $9,000/day) consultants to help him figure out how to get his email address in the website. lol.

FCPS travel = $80,000/month

Eric Jensen = $9,000/day

Why is school board member Megan Mcgloughlin always sticking her nose in woodson and threatening to fire teachers? I understand she attends meetings of students who are not hers, harasses teachers, and flaunts her perceived power at teachers who dont do and grade the way she wants them to. This is a violation of her code of ethics as a school board member. Someone needs to check this out.

seriously5678 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is school board member Megan Mcgloughlin
> always sticking her nose in woodson and
> threatening to fire teachers? I understand she
> attends meetings of students who are not hers,
> harasses teachers, and flaunts her perceived power
> at teachers who dont do and grade the way she
> wants them to. This is a violation of her code of
> ethics as a school board member. Someone needs to
> check this out.

She is a community activist and that is what community activists do. Change the community in her image whether it is proper or not.

There's no accountability. There's no external audit function. School board members, administrators etc. respond to concerns as they see fit, which means often not at all. They use their positions for personal gain. Some such as McLaughlin want to exert power over schools. Some want to travel and dine well. Others want, and may even get, other things. It all takes place on taxpayer dollars and to the detriment of students.

What a load of crap.

The lack of discipline, focus and a social issue driven School Board are the issues of this School Board campaign. They have passed a transgender policy initiative without discussion, refused to answer question about the transgender decision, voted to double their salary for the next term and conspired with the Schools Superintendent with the budget negotiations in order to extort additional funds from the County. The next term initiatives will be to acquire independent taxing authority (WATCH OUT!!!), gain more independence from the County and more social engineering using your kids as their personal guinea pigs!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/1/va-school-board-blocks-release-gender-identity-doc/

Inquisitive One Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The lack of discipline, focus and a social issue
> driven School Board are the issues of this School
> Board campaign. They have passed a transgender
> policy initiative without discussion, refused to
> answer question about the transgender decision,
> voted to double their salary for the next term and
> conspired with the Schools Superintendent with the
> budget negotiations in order to extort additional
> funds from the County. The next term initiatives
> will be to acquire independent taxing authority
> (WATCH OUT!!!), gain more independence from the
> County and more social engineering using your kids
> as their personal guinea pigs!


Taxation authority will be hard to get; but the best way to make sure it NEVER happens is to get rid of Reed and Velkoff!

+1000

The next thing to do is to FOIA this consultant. If he's another Eric Jensen (UNQUALIFIED) it will show what a joke FCPS has become.

You sir/ma'am are a fool.

Name calling does not make it. Explain yourself!

Some FCPS supporter out there can explain how spending tax dollars to comply with FOIA benefits the kids.

Right?

I mean, the schools don't spend a cent that doesn't benefit the kids, right?

Travel to Germany, dinner at Morton's, school board working sessions, Garza's $2,000 a month housing allowance, $9,000 a day for Eric Jensen, that all helps the kids, right?

Now this. There must be something nasty in there, someone is afraid of what it will do to little Johnny and his pee-pee if it leaks out. Likewise, the details of the transgender consultant must be scary stuff, too. We can't have that made public, someone might have a stroke or something.

So yes, FCPS continues to use its funds to protect people…sure they do…