The Fairfax County school system faces a projected $64 million budget shortfall as it starts to form next year’s budget, Superintendent Karen Garza told the School Board Monday.

Still, Garza said she believes school officials can balance the $2.5 billion budget with “strategic reductions” and avoid the more extensive cuts implemented in the current budget.

Last year, Fairfax County schools faced more dire monetary straits necessitating $98 million in cutbacks. Increases in class size and the elimination of 724 positions made up the lion’s share of the savings.

“It’s been a tough year, and people are still dealing with the effects of that,” Garza said.

So this year, the school system plans to take a scalpel to the budget rather than make slashes across the board.

That more targeted approach will include reviews of how the school system handles technology, employee compensation and federally funded programs.

While these three areas were pinpointed for potential savings, the school district will also form an employee task force to search for other possible money-saving measures.

Yet even with Garza’s “strategic reductions,” the Fairfax County school system will continue to balance its reputation for academic excellence against its budget.

“We won’t be in the same position as last year, thankfully, because we just don’t think our system can handle it again across the board,” Garza said. “But at the same time this is an opportunity to not let people be lulled into thinking everything’s OK now.”

Fairfax County schools have seen enrollment grow by more than 20,000 students since 2008, and the budget struggles to keep pace with the expanding student body. For fiscal year 2015, the school system faces the projected $64 million deficit even with an anticipated 3 percent increase in funding from the county, assistant superintendent of financial services Kristen Michael said.

While technology and salary were identified as areas where greater efficiency could be achieved, Michael also identified them as two of the school system’s biggest priorities.

“We’ve taken significant reductions, and the cumulative impact of those reductions really has us at a tipping point,” Michael said. “Balancing the budget with continued reductions is not sustainable while protecting our instructional programs.”

School officials have been accused in the past of painting a bleaker picture than the budget reality to get more money from the county. The school system’s budget makes up more than 50 percent of the total county budget.

This year, as school officials work with the county Board of Supervisors on the budget, they hope their plan for targeted cuts will help change the dynamic. Garza also hopes this year’s budget process will open the eyes of the supervisors and the community to the needs of the school system moving forward.

“I don’t know that there’s much left that we can cut,” Garza said. “I just think we need to be really honest with the community. Our schools are going to look different if we continue to cut each year.There’s not any low-hanging fruit left.”



If we have 20,000 more students shouldn't we have the corresponding growth in tax paying parents and real estate? Or is there something else going on?

Growth in taxpaying parents? Are you serious? Growth in boarding house, section 8 housing yes. Growth in taxes paying people. Ha hahaha.. you kill me.. that is a funny funny joke.

The problem comes with the way Fairfax County Budget Office deals with budgeting projections for the school system. They "toss" out a number of more money they are going to give to the school system and it is not tied to anything. So, for example FY2016 - which is next year's budget - the county says it will give the school system an extra 3%. But it is not tied to anything in particular. This includes potential growth in student population. So, if the school system grows by more than 3% (might happen given that is only about 5600 students) the system would be short before it did anything. If the school system grows by the 3000 students it has been averaging for the last 5 years, that is 1.6% of its budget to hold everything constant. That doesn't account for the rise in electricity, transportation costs like fuel, replacement, repair, changing out computers (they are supposed to produce 21st century learners) or benefits, etc. That is also assuming that none of those students would be English Language Learners and Students with Disabilities - good luck with that assumption.

The more appropriate budget technique would be to account for the growth in student population first, and then make sure to budget for the general rise in other costs. It is just better accounting.

this is broing what eolse is on?

“I don’t know that there’s much left that we can cut,” Garza said.

Well, she could start with the $7 million for full day Mondays that she endorsed last year. She could also get rid of the pointless effort to make high school start times later - that's another $5 million saved.

I just saved her $12 million in 30 seconds. It's not hard if you try.

Do Not Want Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just saved her $12 million in 30 seconds. It's
> not hard if you try.

It's not hard if you're really STOOPID. Nothjing seems hard when you're really STOOPID.

People need to realize that we have been stabbing our schools in the back. One of our most precious resources -- one of the chief reasons why the county has grown and thrived -- and we are simply trashing it. The state is partly to blame, but the Board of Supervisors simply has to grow a spine and enact the tax increases needed to create the flow of funds that assures that FCPS can be properly funded. Just tell all the TEA Party Tom's that they can go fuck themselves. They don't contribute anything to the county. The schools when properly funded most definitely do.

Gaza....you can cut Language Immersion in ELEMENTARY School....The children are confused....that is why they cannot pass the Immersion MATH SOL....how stupid.

Children being instructed in math in a foreign language and being administered the SOL test in ENGLISH. How unreliable is that?

Why is it that children do not have to know the multiplication tables...they are using inventive math strategies to perform an operation....I guess this method falls into the category of "inventive spelling." How productive was that? One will find out on the next math SOL test!

Resource teachers who are not serving children....just sitting around drinking coffee...try cutting that!

Teachers who cannot teach....nobody is CHECKING! Who is responsible for checking if teachers really teach?

Try cutting principals' jobs....that will stir up the masses.

....what about all those alternative schools? What is the deal with that? Bad behavior feeding off the other....it makes for a culture of badness with no good example to model.....

Garza and FCPS.....please get with it.....it is now 2014! It appears the school system is performing a 360.....FCPS has seen all of this before....

Altering the time for high schoolers to arrive is NOT the answer....they will still be sleepy and still be late and still not pay attention in class and still use their cell phones while the teacher is talking! We are passed the point of no return....

It appears that school is becoming out-of-control.....what will the next decade bring?

Budget Problem makes some good points.

However, about $30 million per year could be "saved" if FCPS used more accurate revenue and especially expenditure budget assumptions in its budgets.

There also is the potential to shave other costs. For example, $5+ million probably would be saved if the School Board voted for minimum class sizes of 20 without increasing class sizes overall. This would reduce teacher positions and trailers at schools that currently have small class sizes. FCPS also has more assistant principals than the state requires, and some are paid for 12 months when the state only requires that they be paid for 11 months.

Other changes would save a few million here and there, such as reducing the number of paid contract days for administrators. That might also help reduce incentives for teachers to seek administrative positions just to give themselves a 20% pay raise by moving from a 10-month to a 12-month contract.

But, FCPS still needs money to avoid a decline in quality. Teachers matter - and they are leaving FCPS in droves. Even when over 700 classroom teacher "positions" are eliminated, FCPS still has to hire about 1000 new teachers. Reducing teacher attrition will require FCPS to improve classroom teacher compensation as well as to improve teacher working conditions.

FCPS could also eliminate a couple dozen employee positions held by people who create administrative burdens for classroom teachers. Even if eliminating those administrative positions would only save $3 million in salary and benefits, it might reduce teacher attrition and thus save more on teacher recruiting and training costs.

Budget Problem Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The problem comes with the way Fairfax County
> Budget Office deals with budgeting projections for
> the school system. They "toss" out a number of
> more money they are going to give to the school
> system and it is not tied to anything. So, for
> example FY2016 - which is next year's budget - the
> county says it will give the school system an
> extra 3%. But it is not tied to anything in
> particular. This includes potential growth in
> student population. So, if the school system
> grows by more than 3% (might happen given that is
> only about 5600 students) the system would be
> short before it did anything. If the school
> system grows by the 3000 students it has been
> averaging for the last 5 years, that is 1.6% of
> its budget to hold everything constant. That
> doesn't account for the rise in electricity,
> transportation costs like fuel, replacement,
> repair, changing out computers (they are supposed
> to produce 21st century learners) or benefits,
> etc. That is also assuming that none of those
> students would be English Language Learners and
> Students with Disabilities - good luck with that
> assumption.
>
> The more appropriate budget technique would be to
> account for the growth in student population
> first, and then make sure to budget for the
> general rise in other costs. It is just better
> accounting.

Imbecile Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do Not Want Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I just saved her $12 million in 30 seconds.
> It's
> > not hard if you try.
>
> It's not hard if you're really STOOPID. Nothjing
> seems hard when you're really STOOPID.
>
> People need to realize that we have been stabbing
> our schools in the back. One of our most precious
> resources -- one of the chief reasons why the
> county has grown and thrived -- and we are simply
> trashing it. The state is partly to blame, but
> the Board of Supervisors simply has to grow a
> spine and enact the tax increases needed to create
> the flow of funds that assures that FCPS can be
> properly funded. Just tell all the TEA Party
> Tom's that they can go fuck themselves. They
> don't contribute anything to the county. The
> schools when properly funded most definitely do.

No, stupid would be to continually cry that you're underfunded while also enacting unnecessary costly new programs. I named two such programs. Your bright idea is just to raise taxes, which would just allow such waste to flourish.

Actually I had the same thought years ago, but I finally realized that.....

There has never been a shortfall in paying the bills for the school system.

The shortfall is in their greedy projections. If the school system budget doesn't increase by half a billion dollars each year they consider that there has been a cut. If they are able to convince the Board of Stupidvisors to agree on a much higher budget and the revenues don't quite add up for them to actually receive the total they had requested in excess of the previous year's budget, they consider that a shortfall.

They put out these scare tactic news flashes to make the community think that if they don't pay more taxes their children won't get an education.

Most fairfaxcountians eat that shit for breakfast and practically beg the county to take more of their money!LOL

Cut foreign language in all elementary schools

Make parents provide transportation if they choose to send their kids to school not in their neighborhood.

Cut music for elementary aged students grades 4 and up. The curriculum is dated and kids hate it. Kids are losing appreciation for music.

Stop allowing so many students into the AAP programs.

No more field trips.

Stop testing pilot programs and trying to reinvent the wheel. Teach spelling, math, reading, science, etc. the traditional way.

"So this year, the school system plans to take a scalpel to the budget rather than make slashes across the board."


This. This should have been done long ago, but it was much more politically appealing to raise class sizes and threaten to cut music. Maybe we are seeing progress.

They are finally realizing that the immigrants can't pay their way and there are fewer and fewer "majority" clients willing to pay higher taxes. Just look at the school demographics and you'll see that reality is hitting.

Do. Not. Want Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, stupid would be to continually cry that you're
> underfunded while also enacting unnecessary costly
> new programs. I named two such programs. Your
> bright idea is just to raise taxes, which would
> just allow such waste to flourish.

Fucking dumbshit. Full-day Mondays and switching start times around are not "programs" They are admin crap. Meanwhile, as you were paying no fucking attention at all, the schools have been severely underfunded by the state and by the county every year since the doofus Great Recession that moron right-wing economics bought us came along. As recovery from that disaster finally gathers some steam, one of the first things we need to do is put the schools back on solid financial footing. Our high quality schools are the linchpin to area employment and incomes. You mees with the schools only at your own grave peril, even if you are just plain too dumb to figure that out for yourself.

"Fucking dumbshit. Full-day Mondays and switching start times around are not "programs" They are admin crap. Meanwhile, as you were paying no fucking attention at all, the schools have been severely underfunded by the state and by the county every year since the doofus Great Recession that moron right-wing economics bought us came along. As recovery from that disaster finally gathers some steam, one of the first things we need to do is put the schools back on solid financial footing. Our high quality schools are the linchpin to area employment and incomes. You mees with the schools only at your own grave peril, even if you are just plain too dumb to figure that out for yourself."


Full-day Mondays and late start times are not the big problems. The schools have been underfunded by the state since way before the recession. They have always been underfunded compared to what we pay in state taxes---that's not anything new. How much the schools have been underfunded since the Great Recession is really up for debate. Although the recession happened, there has never been less revenue available to the schools during those years (the budget has always increased). How the recession occurred (who is to blame) is not germane to the topic of local school funding (unless you will be asking the ones at fault to pay). It does seem that higher than normal student number increases may have more to do with the under funding situation than you would like to admit here. Also, stating that our high quality schools are the linchpin to area employment and incomes may be a bit of an overstatement. Our high quality schools are certainly funded by those jobs and incomes, but causing them to exist is not necessarily so. Many people with the jobs and incomes were educated elsewhere and moved into this area (a huge percentage actually). As the federal government (which is a huge source of jobs here---both directly and indirectly through contractors and spin offs) spending stagnates (and those people do not get raises), it is pretty predictable that there will be less money available for our schools. The private economy is improving, but the recession hit the feds late in the game and, as usual, the federal government lags behind. I would not necessarily say that the steam has gathered locally. This is the problem. People don't feel wealthier and more taxes are being requested. It would be great if the highly educated FCPS graduates would fuel some private entrepeneurship in the area. We could use that type of diversification in our local economy. Many of the private enterprises that we do have here are tied to federal spending. Some of the immigrants may provide that type of thing, but many are too new to do it. As Garza asks, "where is the corresponding growth in tax paying parents and real estate"? We need smart growth, not just growth.

A week long offsite meeting about the budget problems will be held at the Marriott Marquis starting 10-20. Dinner is scheduled at The Prime Rib for Monday evening. RSVP 571-423-1010.

Until the illegal immigration problem is solved (make them legal if they've been here for 10 years or so), we will continue to have funding problems. Why? Because many of them work "under the table" and don't pay taxes, don't spend much because they are sending money home, and double up on housing (and have many children). This causes higher taxes for the legals and causes less opportunity to get ahead for the illegals (who could someday pay a lot more in taxes if they had citizenship and its ensuing opportunities). Reagan dealt with it. A Democrat cannot deal with this. Once we elect a Republican, we will be able to get the Dream Act, etc. passed. It was the same way with welfare and getting more of those people to work. It took a Democrat to pass welfare reform (Clinton). So, while we wait for the Republicans to get power, we will suffer this situation.

We could have solved the illegal immigration situation years ago, but we had no will to do so. We were happy to have cheap labor when we needed it. Now, like with so many other things, we need to pay for it.

To the credit of some supervisors in PW, Loudoun and Fairfax, there is an effort to get some federal money to help pay for the influx of unaccompanied minors. But that money is probably not even half of the true cost.

Oh no a 3% shortfall - the world will surely end. How about removing the tax rate reduction from the early 2000's so we can get back to a reasonable budget for our growing school system. Fiscal conservatives are great until things start to break and fall apart then they are all 'wha happened?'/'its Obama's fault...'

Step 1: Deport all of the fucking wetbacks

Step 2: Sit back and see FCPS financial problems begin to disappear

Maybe if they hadn't thrown so much money away on cancer causing artificial turf for sports fields.

"How about removing the tax rate reduction from the early 2000's"


Please enlighten me on this because my taxes have more than doubled since that time. You mean part of that doubling was not a removal of some "reduction"? What??

Ah, man. You can see my dong when my bathing suit gets wet.

Good luck KG with getting joy from the BOS after you tried to snooker them out of the 7 mil cost for doing away with the early Monday close. They will never believe you after that ill- fated move. And since you are enamored with the SLEEP folks, why don't you ask them for the cash that you are spending on the precious few more moments of sleep their snowflakes will be getting. You chose the wrong friends and it will be hard for you to be taken credibly. It is a shame that classes are packed and teachers' stress is growing. NO ONE wants to hear about the shortfall any more!

yawnnn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> this is broing what eolse is on?


Based on your response above maybe we need to increase special eds funding. Or at least spelling.

Hvv7U Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ah, man. You can see my dong when my bathing suit
> gets wet.


Pics?

explain it Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "How about removing the tax rate reduction from
> the early 2000's"
>
>
> Please enlighten me on this because my taxes have
> more than doubled since that time. You mean part
> of that doubling was not a removal of some
> "reduction"? What??

Property tax bills equal the assessed value of the property multiplied by the property tax rate. In Fairfax County, assessed values went up a lot since 2000, so property tax bills also increased rapidly until about 2007.

This document compares current local property tax burdens for FY 2015 in Fairfax County, Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax City, Falls Church City, Loudoun County and Prince William County, and includes data on mean assessed values and tax rates:

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9PPRTK68BA46/$file/comp_taxrates_ci_percent.pdf

more to it Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Full-day Mondays and late start times are not the
> big problems.

So why do the imbeciles keep railing about them? Is all that explained entirely by their stupidity?

> The schools have been underfunded by the state since
> way before the recession. They have always been
> underfunded compared to what we pay in state taxes
> --- that's not anything new.

State aid to K-12 was deeply slashed after 2009. It has STILL not recovered to 2009 levels, even when stated in nominal dollars. The job grows, the money shrinks. That's NOT a formula for success. The state also refused to wave its nonsense imposition of mandatory extra payments into the Virginia Retirement System. This is simply sucking funds out of the system.

> How much the schools have been underfunded since the
> Great Recession is really up for debate. Although
> the recession happened, there has never been less
> revenue available to the schools during those
> years (the budget has always increased).

Holy math error, Batman! The concept of a FIXED budget for FCPS is the very definition of BRAINDEAD STUPID. Once again, the job gets bigger and harder every year. That's the nature of the beast. It will always cost more, year over year. What matters is how well the state and county step up to address those simple facts, and they have both been doing one super-piss-poor job of it over the past five years.

> How the recession occurred (who is to blame) is not
> germane to the topic of local school funding (unless
> you will be asking the ones at fault to pay).

In this case, it is the ones at fault who try to REFUSE to pay. Dumbo anti-tax, anti-social, TEA Party Republicans.

> It does seem that higher than normal student
> number increases may have more to do with
> the under funding situation than you would like to
> admit here.

It does if you listen to lying nativist assholes instead of looking at actual numbers and trends. FCPS enrollment (aka, membership) has increased since 2000 not at some astronomical rate, but at an annual rate of almost exactly 1.1%. It was a little lower than that prior to the Great Recession and has been a little higher since. But that's it. There have been no big changes and no sudden tidal waves of boys and girls from anywhere. Of course, that's not what hate-groups will tell you. Stop listening to them.

> Also, stating that our high quality schools are the
> linchpin to area employment and incomes may be a bit
> of an overstatement.

It most certainly is not. The quality-of-life factor here is what drives the willingness of individuals (and hence businesses) to locate here. We are talking quite significantly now about our appeal to bright and successful 25/40-year olds who have or are planning to have a family. They and the companies who employ them are the target. Quality schools are a key issue for this demographic. We tarnish the abilities and reputation of our schools only by running very serious economic risks for the region. Schools are not the only goose that has been laying golden eggs for the region, but they may very well be the most important one.

> Many people with the jobs and incomes were educated
> elsewhere and moved into this area (a huge percentage
> actually).

Duh! And they all moved here in some significant part because we could offer the high quality schools that they wanted for their own children. Pretty simple, really.

> As the federal government (which is a huge source of jobs
> here---both directly and indirectly through contractors
> and spin offs) spending stagnates (and those people do not
> get raises), it is pretty predictable that there will be
> less money available for our schools.

Seriously, dude, that's just whacko nonsense. The federal government is not nearly the great local monolith that you try to paint it as. It is also not going away. Federal spending is not stagnating, and federal workers are not selling apples on street-corners. Maybe you should sell your condo in Right-wing Delusionville before the market crashes.

> The private economy is improving, but the recession hit
> the feds late in the game and, as usual, the federal
> government lags behind.

Further simpleton drivel. The recession hit the federal sector immediately. New programs, new jobs. It is the wind-down from that you detect but completely fail to understand.

> I would not necessarily say that the steam has
> gathered locally.

Local unemployment is down. Local incomes and sales tax receipts are up. Consumer confidence is up. Home listings and prices are both up. Days on the market are down. What exactly is it that you are looking for here?

> This is the problem. People don't feel wealthier
> and more taxes are being requested.

LOL! County taxes were slashed. The government took the hits so that you wouldn't have to. The worst of that belt-tightening got passed onto the schools. Increasing class sizes. Declining real wages. Losses of top teachers and other personnel to other jurisdictions. Today, more than just the worst of the economic mess is over. You and whatever bozos you talk to should try to understand that you go out and repair the roof as soon as the storm has passed. You don't sit around in the living room and pretend that all those holes up there aren't going to matter.

they say that every year

and yes we're all aware foreigners are using fx co pub schools they never paid taxes on: as a way to funnel millions into private accounts

fucking facists - hope i don't catch up with you

they say that every year since pathological liars conolley / bullova, <$1M shoftfall, then over $1M, now several tens of Millions

they used NOT do that at all - even claim surpluses

fuck you all

"Many people with the jobs and incomes were educated
> elsewhere and moved into this area (a huge percentage
> actually).

Duh! And they all moved here in some significant part because we could offer the high quality schools that they wanted for their own children. Pretty simple, really."


No, we moved here because we could get a job here. That was the significant part. It had NOTHING to do with the schools. If we could have gotten a job where we were, we NEVER would have moved here. Same thing with the immigrants. They are here for the JOBS and not because of the schools.

" Today, more than just the worst of the economic mess is over. You and whatever bozos you talk to should try to understand that you go out and repair the roof as soon as the storm has passed. You don't sit around in the living room and pretend that all those holes up there aren't going to matter."


Well, I'm not sure this is the week to be talking about the storm being over. The economy seems to be slowing a bit.

And by the way, the values of houses are not up and the days on market have actually increased. Either that or Zillow is lying.

no not even close Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, we moved here because we could get a job here.
> That was the significant part. It had NOTHING to
> do with the schools.

I don't mean to be too blunt about this, but you are not the target demographic. The people we target are the upscale creative and imaginative types who are easily going to have a job wherever they are. We just want it to be here, so they can help improve and expand our brand, thereby attracting even more such people in the future. This is how Fairfax got prosperous to begin with, and it is the only way for us to maintain that success.

> If we could have gotten a job where we were, we
> NEVER would have moved here.

No one will miss you when you out-migrate again.

> Same thing with the immigrants. They are here
> for the JOBS and not because of the schools.

They are an entirely separate matter, but "immigrants" is a very diverse group, the members of which are here for all sorts of different reasons. The people you are trying to refer to here are simple economic refugees. They are the least important aspect of our ridiculously failed southern border policies. It should be as easy for them to get here as it is for us to renew our auto registrations.

The fact remains however, that we desperately need to shore up our badly battered school systems if we wish to continue to attract the individuals and businesses who will be the keys to our economic future. Quality of life -- centrally driven by quality educational systems -- is what we have to offer. Letting that slide even a little bit is like telling little kids to go play with matches.

You couldn't be more wrong

You seem like a smart guy though :-p

The DC area has lots of jobs because of the federal government and all the contractors associated with it

This area has never been about creative or imaginative type people

This isn't SF or NY or Austin or even Chicago etc

For the elite college educated/grad set the holy grail is NW DC then North Arlington then certain parts of Fairfax County which are increasingly shrinking

The majority of the people around here are what I call the wannabe rich/contractor drones. These people bought in Ashburn or South Riding or Gainsville. Why because its the only place they could get a big house I guess

As far as school are concerned the majority of elementary schools are in the toilet. Its a demographic fact. As soon as a school district has a majority of ESOL/FARMS which roughly equates to blacks and or hispanics its done. This is happening in more and more areas around the county and the country.

I really don't know what the solution is. You continue to have an exodus of the haves for the takers

I don't like Mitt Romney but he did have a point with his 47% comment.

This whole area is dealing with the consequences. MoCo is basically done Fairfax is at a crossroads.

One things is for sure. You cant spend money to change culture. Its been over five years that money has been dumped in to the lesser areas and what do we have to show for it. Continual decline and now the richer areas are finally starting to say enough is enough with the higher class sizes. Something has to give and it aint gonna be pretty.

Imbecile Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> The fact remains however, that we desperately need
> to shore up our badly battered school systems if
> we wish to continue to attract the individuals and
> businesses who will be the keys to our economic
> future. Quality of life -- centrally driven by
> quality educational systems -- is what we have to
> offer. Letting that slide even a little bit is
> like telling little kids to go play with matches.


Yeah, cause the economic refugees won't come if we don't have good free schools other social support for them to sponge from.

it's o-o-o-over Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, I'm not sure this is the week to be talking
> about the storm being over. The economy seems to
> be slowing a bit.

If you are measuring things at the absurdly granular level of a week, you are very likely just too plain stupid to have a clue in any case. Hours > minutes > seconds.

> And by the way, the values of houses are not up
> and the days on market have actually increased.
> Either that or Zillow is lying.

Zillow? That's pathetic. Get some real numbers from some real sources. Try to keep in mind that the discussion is at county-level.

Gracias for all the moneys you pays for me ninas and minos to go to school... we just come from El Salvador... we get a ride from the department des homeland security right to Culmore. And now all me children go to school. They get vaccines too..Gracias and you fucking white people owe me..

" No, we moved here because we could get a job here.
> That was the significant part. It had NOTHING to
> do with the schools.

I don't mean to be too blunt about this, but you are not the target demographic. The people we target are the upscale creative and imaginative types who are easily going to have a job wherever they are. We just want it to be here, so they can help improve and expand our brand, thereby attracting even more such people in the future. This is how Fairfax got prosperous to begin with, and it is the only way for us to maintain that success."

Well, I'm really sorry I'm not your target demographic. I teach in FCPS and have for the past 15 years. I do get the idea that they don't appreciate me, but you just confirmed it. And yes, I suppose I'm not in a very creative or imaginative job . . . I understand that I am not contributing to Fairfax's prosperity or success.

Imbecile wrote:

it's o-o-o-over Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, I'm not sure this is the week to be talking
> about the storm being over. The economy seems to
> be slowing a bit.

If you are measuring things at the absurdly granular level of a week, you are very likely just too plain stupid to have a clue in any case. Hours > minutes > seconds.



I have a feeling you would write anything to support your agenda.