From the desk of Karen Garza. And before we get to it, wasn't it recently only a $16 million shortfall? How did this grow six times larger?

FCPS Faces Deficit of More than $100 Million

FCPS Excellence at Risk



Statement from Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen K. Garza following the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passage of the Fairfax County Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 budget earlier today:

“Once again, we find that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has failed to fully fund Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). This is extremely disheartening - we entered this budget year making a good faith effort to work collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors. We worked for nearly a year with the County Executive and the Board of Supervisors to develop a reasonable budget that met only the very minimal needs of FCPS, and in the end they did not deliver.

“Supervisors are sending a clear message that they are unconcerned about the increasing challenges of our students, our teachers, and our schools. The supervisors refused to fully fund our budget for the 2015-16 school year (FY 2016), when faced with a nominal $7.6 million deficit. We have grave concerns as to what will happen in the 2016-17 (FY 2017) school year when we face a devastating shortfall of more than $100 million.

“The entire Fairfax County community has a critical decision to make: either we invest the necessary funds in our students and schools, or we will have to work together to decide what to cut - and we cannot cut our way to excellence.

“Due to years of chronic underfunding coupled with a decade of significant enrollment growth and increasing student needs, we will not be able to sustain the current quality nor the full range of academic programming we currently offer our students. We have sought to protect the classroom to date, but with the scale of the FY 2017 shortfall, we will have to take a serious look at the programs that we must cut starting in the 2016-17 school year. These cuts will likely affect all current academic programming including limiting elective choices, reducing career and technical programs, impacting advanced offerings, and again raising class sizes at all levels. We must make these difficult choices by December 2015 because students begin their course selections in January 2016.

“Since 2008, we have cut 2,175 positions and nearly a half-billion dollars from our budget affecting every school and department. We have fallen so far behind in teacher salaries that we are no longer competitive and are losing talented staff to neighboring school districts. Our teachers are the reason FCPS students excel and achieve. Losing our most experienced teachers will have a significant effect on student performance and will ultimately affect the reputation of FCPS.

“Fairfax County public schools are frequently cited as one of the main reasons that businesses choose to relocate to the county, and Fairfax has some of the highest property values in the country, but without excellent schools as a foundation – corporate investment in Fairfax and property values will decline.

“In the education of our children, every year matters; we cannot hope to make up deficits in their education in their later years. It is critical we take action now.

“I hope our community will join me to #saveFCPS.”

Learn more about the FCPS budget challenges and how you can help at: http://www.fcps.edu/news/fy2016/faq.shtml

There will a brunch planned at the Fairview Park Marriott this Sunday at 10am. RSVP 571-423-1010.

"Our teachers are the reason FCPS students excel and achieve" - I guess students and parents have nothing to with it.

“Due to years of chronic underfunding coupled with a decade of significant enrollment growth and increasing student needs, we will not be able to sustain the current quality nor the full range of academic programming we currently offer our students."

"We do not have a problem with illegal immigration in Fairfax County."

Gerry ConMan

Have you guys really not figured out how this works by now?

Every year they go through the same charade - Throw out a ridiculous budget. Cry and wring their hands when it isn't fully funded (which they never expected to begin with). Whine when it's "only" funded at a reasonable N% increase over the previous year (which they expected). Raise taxes to fund the increase.

Same old, same old...

Same shit, different year Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Have you guys really not figured out how this
> works by now?
>
> Every year they go through the same charade -
> Throw out a ridiculous budget. Cry and wring
> their hands when it isn't fully funded (which they
> never expected to begin with). Whine when it's
> "only" funded at a reasonable N% increase over the
> previous year (which they expected). Raise taxes
> to fund the increase.
>
> Same old, same old...

This is what is wrong with government. It's always try top last years budget, more more more. Never... "the School Board was able to cut costs by %."

This shit needs to stop.

Note that the "big gap" takes place next year, after the elections of the school board and board of supervisors. If they raised the "big gap" issue too soon, it could hurt re-election chances. This way, they can skate back into office and then raise our taxes to pay for all of the wasteful and useless expenditures that the County and schools are so fond of.

The way OUT of this dilemma is to vote out every single incumbent on both the school board and board of supervisors.

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/1849964.html

The plan is to take the hours that are supposed to be used to teach the children and use the kids to raise money during the school day. That'll work, since they are required to be there and have to do whatever they are told to do.

And, with a deficit this big why are we spending tens of thousands of dollars to defend the Ms. Lemmon, Principal of Bailey's who has a pattern of poor behavior and poor treatment of employees and students. Why should tax payers foot the bill for this lady? Somebody needs to be asking Garza about this--let's stop paying lawyers so much to defend a bad principal and put it where it belongs!

you can't complain about insufficient funding 2 weeks after the school board gives itself a 60% raise.

Only 15% of all Fairfax County households have K-12 children residing in them. But FCPS already receives over 53% of the entire local County budget.

Of course we all want and expect great schools. But FCPS needs to live within its budget. Would like to see it cut out many of the fringe and unneeded educational and social programs that only benefit a few.

Get the facts!

http://www.fcps.edu/news/fy2016/faq.shtml

FWIW, excerpts from the most recent "Education Update" from State Delegate Jim LeMunyon:

"The Virginia General Assembly passed a number of bills pertaining to K-12 and higher education during the 2015 session. The session ended in February, and Governor McAuliffe has now signed into law most of the education bills that passed the General Assembly, including amendments to the state budget to support education.

"Among these budget amendments are a pay increase for teachers, provided that local school divisions offer a matching amount, and funding for more in-state students to attend Virginia’s public universities."

and

"You may have heard in the news about the challenges that face local school budgets. I’d like you to know that the state is providing record levels of funding for local school divisions again this year and next year. In Fairfax, state funding for K-12 public education has increased 24 percent in four years to $609 million for the 2015-16 school year. In Loudoun, the increase is 31 percent to $291 million."

http://www.lemunyon.com/education-update/

They always have money for luncheons, pizza, refreshments, etc. They are so broke. And then they plan to take kids out of their classes and use them to raise money.

The parents receiving Dr. Garza's campaign-style messages on school funding are, for the most part, also taxpayers. Our tax assessments keep growing steadily despite the school system's urgent calls for more funding.

What's needed is innovation in the funding model. Instead of spending so many resources on all these communications to push county funding when homeowners are already being squeezed to make up for lost commercial real estate taxes, the superintendent should get her communications staff of approx 50 FTEs (!!!) to work on grantwriting, school-business partnerships, and the like.

As a parent of FCPS students, I'm not impressed by her combative response when the county board just forked over a major increase in school funding despite fiscal challenges. I keep receiving newsletters and e-mails from FCPS that all sing the same tune. The focus needs to move from protesting against the county to finding new solutions that don't try to draw more water from a dwindling reservoir.

FY 2016 Deficit: $7.6 million

FY 2016 cost of later HS start times: $7.6 million (total with FY 2015 is over $14 million)

Coincidence???



FY 2016 Deficit: $7.6 million

FY 2016 cost of later HS start times: $7.6 million (total with FY 2015 is over $14 million)

Coincidence???


FY 2016 Deficit: $7.6 million

FY 2016 cost of later HS start times: $7.6 million (total with FY 2015 is over $14 million)

Coincidence???

yes



YES



YES!!!!

Rule 39: "There is no such thing as coincidence."

If you want to blame the Board of Supervisors, blame them for turning Fairfax County into a sanctuary for illegals.

36,000 ESOL students (18%) is much more than our fair share. As is free lunch for 28% of students.

Diversity,Diversity,Diversity, deep breath, Diversity,Diversithy,Diversity, deep breath!

The 2017 budget will be a real eye opener. Leadership has been talking about it and trying to plan since last year. On the table will be going to a 6 period day for HS. This is not crying wolf as usual. A six period day will effectively gut elective programs, and if they revert to the state requirement of just three social studies classes, many SS teachers will be riffed. You might say, well who needs electives. Students do. Imagine a school with few opportunities for art, music, journalism, debate, creative writing, marketing, business classes. Imagine classes with 40 students. Look at states such as CA and Ohio where this is a reality. Parents - look at the 28 classes your students take now, and take a red pen to four of them. Which will you choose? The number of ELL classes will not go away, neither will state and federally mandated special ed classes. FCPS is beginning an inexorable slide to mediocrity, but hey, at least kids will get 30-40 minutes more sleep next year!

What is causing the more than $100 million projected shortfall for FCPS in Fiscal Year 2017?

Demands on FCPS are growing, including increased enrollment and academic programming choices, coupled with demographic changes while revenue has not kept pace.

FCPS’ enrollment has increased by more than 22,000 students over the last eight years. Developing a budget to meet the needs of our rapidly growing and changing student body with limited revenue growth has required significant reductions totaling nearly half a billion dollars since FY 2008.

The enrollment increases along with changing student demographics also contribute to the shortfall. Students receiving English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services and students eligible for free or reduced-price meals have increased at a faster pace than the special education and general education populations over the last five years. In school year 2015-16 (FY 2016), 6,704 students are projected to receive the most intensive ESOL services, an increase of approximately 1,222 students, or 22%. Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals are projected to make up more than 28% of the general population. Additional staffing is the primary driver of higher per-pupil costs for students receiving services beyond the general curriculum.

FCPS must have attractive salaries to remain competitive. The school system ranks fifth in starting teacher salaries, eighth in mid-career teacher salaries, and ninth in the maximum teacher salary among school divisions in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. FCPS’ future success is contingent upon keeping its outstanding employees. FCPS is also anticipating an increase in health insurance rates for 2016-17 (FY 2017).

An increase in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) contribution rates, which will increase from 80% to 90% of the actuarial rate, as required by the State, will mean FCPS must contribute more to the retirement plan in FY 2017.

The state adjusts the education funding it provides to individual school divisions according to a Local Composite Index (LCI). Because Fairfax County’s LCI is higher than many other jurisdictions, the state provides only 23% (state aid and sales tax) of FCPS’ funding. This is significantly less than the 45% received on average by other Virginia school divisions; and as a result, FCPS must rely on Fairfax County for nearly 72% of its FY 2016 advertised operating revenue. The recalculation of the Local Composite Index may mean a decrease in funds allocated to Fairfax County from the state.

How can the deficit be addressed?

The deficit can be addressed by either increased investment in FCPS or through budget cuts.

Since FY 2008, FCPS’ budget reductions total nearly half a billion dollars, including more than 2,175 positions eliminated. Continued reductions are not sustainable without significant impact on student achievement. Unless FCPS receives additional revenue, we will be forced to cut instructional programs and services, increase class sizes, and further reduce central office support. In addition, without increased funding, FCPS cannot offer competitive salaries compared to surrounding school divisions. Over time, these factors will erode the quality that Fairfax County residents have come to expect from their schools.

The average Virginia school division receives 45% of its funding from the State of Virginia, but FCPS receives only 23% of its funding from the state, and less than 10% from other sources, which forces it to rely on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for nearly 72% of its revenue, compared to 45% for the average school division.

Why doesn’t FCPS operate more efficiently?

FCPS is already cut to the bone. Since FY 2008, the school system has cut 2,175 positions and nearly a half-billion dollars from its budget, affecting every school and department. Reductions to central support have resulted in the lowest ratio of nonschool-based positions to students in decades. FCPS simply cannot cut its way to excellence.

Adjusted for inflation, FCPS is spending less per pupil than in FY 2009. It has the lowest ratio of leadership team and management positions to total positions as compared to surrounding districts that participate in the Washington Area Boards of Education (WABE) Guide.

A state school efficiency review conducted by an independent firm in September 2013 found that FCPS is one of the most efficient school divisions in the Washington metropolitan region. The year-long study resulted in recommendations for a net savings of $10.8 million over a five-year period, which is a small fraction of FCPS’ $2.6 billion annual budget. FCPS has already achieved the yearly savings target through recommendations implemented in the FY 2015 budget.

Will teacher positions be cut?

Without additional revenue, we will have to work together to decide what to cut. Due to chronic underfunding, we will not be able to sustain the current quality nor the full range of academic programming we currently offer our students. We have sought to protect the classroom to date, but with the scale of the FY 2017 shortfall, starting this summer we will begin to engage the community in a serious discussion about the programs that we must cut starting in the 2016-17 school year. These cuts will likely include limiting elective choices, reducing career and technical programs, reducing advanced programs, and raising class sizes at all levels.

FCPS is so far behind in teacher compensation that it is losing experienced, innovative educators to neighboring school districts—particularly Arlington. If this continues, the result will be a decline in student achievement, including lower test scores and graduation rates.

Which programs will be cut and how will decisions be made?

We know students enjoy a wide variety of electives offered in our schools. We know that parents and school staff want smaller class sizes. While FCPS does not know exactly what programs and services will be reduced in FY 2017, trying to find a solution for a shortfall of more than $100 million is one of the most challenging budget scenarios the school division has ever had. However, this summer we will begin engaging the community in a serious look at programs that must be cut starting in the 2016-17 school year. This may include options such as reducing elective choices and raising class sizes again.

How can I get engaged and help?

Your support is critical to ensuring that all children in Fairfax County public schools continue to receive the excellent education to which they are entitled. Here are some ways you can help:

Tell your friends, business leaders, or anyone who resides in Fairfax County about the challenges the school system is facing. If FCPS is no longer able to provide a best-in-class education, not only will FCPS families be impacted—the repercussions will ripple throughout the entire Fairfax community.
Contact the Board of Supervisors. Let them know how disappointed you are about their decision to not put our children first. Tell them that by choosing not to fully fund FCPS, they are ignoring a very simple fact: a sub-par school system will negatively impact the entire county—especially when large employers start taking their businesses to neighboring counties, property values decline, crime rates increase and Fairfax County is no longer a desirable place to live. They must find a way to increase revenues necessary to support all county services - including schools - if they wish to maintain the quality of living that residents demand.
Contact your Virginia General Assembly legislator and let him or her know that Richmond needs to make increased investments in K-12 education, especially in Fairfax County, if it expects to maintain excellence in the Fairfax school system and to continue to bring business investment to Fairfax and to Virginia.
Contact your federal representative–ask them to support Fairfax County Public Schools and to seek additional revenues for the investment in our children.

"Tell your friends, business leaders, or anyone who resides in Fairfax County about the challenges the school system is facing. If FCPS is no longer able to provide a best-in-class education, not only will FCPS families be impacted—the repercussions will ripple throughout the entire Fairfax community."

This has already happened. Time to start lowering expectations.

The Devil is in the details. It is time to micromanage the money. Look at every receipt and expenditure and ask if it is really necessary. Why are we spending tens of thousands of dollars a year or more on snacks and meals for meetings? They were dropping major money on fancy local hotel "retreats". I'll bet you miss that now. Do they really need to travel so much? What DO they do at Gatehouse with all those administrators? Are they using equipment efficiently?

After a year-long review...one of the most efficient.

"A state school efficiency review conducted by an independent firm in September 2013 found that FCPS is one of the most efficient school divisions in the Washington metropolitan region. The year-long study resulted in recommendations for a net savings of $10.8 million over a five-year period, which is a small fraction of FCPS’ $2.6 billion annual budget. FCPS has already achieved the yearly savings target through recommendations implemented in the FY 2015 budget.

“Since 2008, we have cut 2,175 positions and nearly a half-billion dollars from our budget affecting every school and department." Great this is what the Republicans want. Take all the good things government provides and destroy them! Roads, Fire Stations, Parks - just defund them till they are no longer worth having.

Every jackass in the county that supports slashing the school budget as enrollment goes up and up and up deserves the drop in property values that will follow the cuts. Oh, and the kids get less because homeowners wont skip one Grande Latte and a muffin a week to fund our schools. Time to roll back the huge cut in RE taxes as a result of the bubble and go back to a sane level of RE taxes in this area.

"A state school efficiency review conducted by an independent firm in September 2013 found that FCPS is one of the most efficient school divisions in the Washington metropolitan region. The year-long study resulted in recommendations for a net savings of $10.8 million over a five-year period, which is a small fraction of FCPS’ $2.6 billion annual budget. FCPS has already achieved the yearly savings target through recommendations implemented in the FY 2015 budget."


From what I have seen, the reviewers need eye exams. What did we pay for this? Common sense is FREE.

Curmudgeon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> you can't complain about insufficient funding 2
> weeks after the school board gives itself a 60%
> raise.

1st, the school board is elected and the school does not control that.

2nd the raise will cost what 200k or something - the budget is 25,000,000,000.00

3rd I think the folks on the board made like 20k a year for their services and they have to fund elections - its a break even.

If they are broke, why are they dropping money on $300-$600 per night hotel rooms with all the accoutrements?

Someone's gotta pay for my beloved illegals. Now STFU and gimme more money!

Time to cut the budget bitches !!!!!

until folks wake up and start voting out the politicians who do NOTHING about the illegals all of the kids in FCPS are screwed. It will only get worse. Bulova and her cronies need to get voted out. Same with Hynes, McElvyn, Velkoff, Moon, and the others who want to give 100% of the funds to illegals - vote them out. they will suck us dry just like what happened in California....

2 questions
Where will the Principals "retreat" be this summer?
How much will it cost?

They have many hundreds of buildings with auditoriums and they can't have a meeting there , why?

Gov. Center Pkwy, and around the county gotta be staffed, bitchez! Who else is gonna sit and play on their iShit and stuff while bitching about all the hard work they do?
Fuck you taxpayers, gimme a raise, fuck the schools n' shit.

Now shut up, I got a morning coffee break. And lunch to think about.

How can the it be a "nominal $7.6 million deficit" when attacking the County Board, but be the end of the world for the school system? Either it's nominal, or not. Note how no numbers are include from which someone could make a comparison. The total deficit is 0.3% - a true disaster. Next years is 4% - much larger to be sure, but not insurmountable.

Quote

1st, the school board is elected and the school does not control that.

2nd the raise will cost what 200k or something - the budget is 25,000,000,000.00

3rd I think the folks on the board made like 20k a year for their services and they have to fund elections - its a break even.

the budget is 2.5 bil, not 25 bil, but i'm assuming that was just a typo on your part.

even so, it doesn't matter. your argument can be applied to any expense -- it's only $25 million for assistant principals. or it's only $X million for travel. all of those "only so much's" add up.

in any event, you just cannot argue that we're broke right after you give yourself a 60% raise. you look like a cynical buffoon if you do that, and they did it.

school board is full of un-serious people. it's downhill from here folks.

roll back the huge cut in RE tax Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> “Since 2008, we have cut 2,175 positions

All without laying off a single teacher. Good job!

Add 2,000 more positions this year without funding or filling them and you can cut them again next year.

See how it works?

Curmudgeon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>

Quote

1st, the school board is elected and the
> school does not control that.
>
> 2nd the raise will cost what 200k or something -
> the budget is 25,000,000,000.00
>
> 3rd I think the folks on the board made like 20k a
> year for their services and they have to fund
> elections - its a break even.

>
> the budget is 2.5 bil, not 25 bil, but i'm
> assuming that was just a typo on your part.
>
> even so, it doesn't matter. your argument can be
> applied to any expense -- it's only $25 million
> for assistant principals. or it's only $X million
> for travel. all of those "only so much's" add
> up.
>
> in any event, you just cannot argue that we're
> broke right after you give yourself a 60% raise.
> you look like a cynical buffoon if you do that,
> and they did it.
>
> school board is full of un-serious people. it's
> downhill from here folks.

yea typo-o sorry. I agree the board is sort of useless. I think it was the super saying they would be short 100 million and I dont think she got a 60% raise. The larger point is we have been cutting and in my opinion have done a great jog meeting shrinking budgets while enrollment goes up. My other point is the tax cuts from the boon of the real estate bubble were never adjusted back after the crash - that doesnt make sense in the long term.

Mind you all of this comes with the understanding that unlimited funds leads to waste. At this point though I feel like we have squeezed all the blood we can from the turnip - the school budget needs to grow with enrollment.

parents no green card - kids no school

If FCPS would stop wasting money, for example on six figure administrators with worthless Ed.D. degrees, the foreign kids could be taught. FCPS just does what is best for it, not for the kids. FCPS looks to be spending millions of dollars a year on consultants to improve teaching, there's no evidence any of it does any good.

And, we can't forget, they decided to spend money on turf fields instead of science textbooks.

business as usual suckers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 2 questions
> Where will the Principals "retreat" be this
> summer?

------------->Someplace really nice.


> How much will it cost?

-------------->A whole bunch.
>
> They have many hundreds of buildings with
> auditoriums and they can't have a meeting there ,
> why?

-------------->Because Maggiano's has a special room with jammers and stuff so they can have their meetings that are technically supposed to be open there. A SCIF with fettuccini alfredo.

This is probably just the tip of the iceberg. Massages, lots of presents, clothing for staff, flowers, fancy "retreats". They have a whole department that schedules building use. Put them to work scheduling meetings. They can also develop a handout on how to have Brown Bag Meetings.

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/1365219.html

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/1766399.html

I like how she completely blames the lack of funds.
Shes trying to bypass the question; "are you a shitty superintendent?"

What about all the paper-pushers at Gatehouse and the ten failed-on-the-job principals who have been put out to pasture at Gatehouse?????

Garza's method has been to ignore complaints and hard questions. Many people just forget.

Well it seems people are not forgetting. FCPS just wastes too much money, and people are tired of it. The shortfalls are just going to get bigger. FCPS needs to learn to live within its means, and that is probably going to mean cuts. A good place to start as pointed out above is the Gatehouse paper pushers and the other failures working there.

Then we move to instructional coaches, consultants, and conferences.

the problem is that's never the stuff that gets cut. all they know how to do is raise class size and hold teacher pay steady.

i know teacher pay is a controversial topic on this site (but not for 98% of people in the real world), but class size is already ridiculous at about half of the schools. 30 kids in a first grade class? that's an abdication -- nobody learns shit in that environment.

if the school board had any fucking integrity they would cut any of the administrative positions. we don't need 3 assistant principals in every high school. we don't need technology specialists in every school. we don't need more than a couple of secretaries in elementary schools.

the meaningful cuts require some people to lose their jobs, so it's never going to happen. they'll just keep raising class size because they're too cowardly to look at the teacher allocation formula which keeps classes at high ESOL and FRM lunches close to 15 while the more affluent schools have class sizes of 30+

they're cowards and should all resign.

If everyone in Gatehouse took a day or two off without pay that $7 million deficit would be erased.

Linda Greenfelder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What about all the paper-pushers at Gatehouse and
> the ten failed-on-the-job principals who have been
> put out to pasture at Gatehouse?????

You make it sound like there is a set of cubes on the third or fourth floor, Southwest corner, behind a locked access door, where all those fired senior people hang out until they can retire.

Oh wait....

Purge the mother fucking illegals already!

It is time for the teachers to walk out. How do they justify spending millions on busses just to switch opening times for jr and sr high schools and then tell the teachers that although they are "valued" there is no money to give them raises. the teacher unions here are worthless and are only interested in taking dues. This time change is so bogus - kids will just go to bed later netting no additional sleep time.

Do we want excellence in our school system? If we do, we have to fund it. That means competitive salaries. That means central office support. That means opportunities for staff development. That means opportunities for electives.

Sure...cut central office. Cut instructional coaches. Cut staff development. If that is the will of the community, it will continue to prevail. But after $500 M in cuts since 2008, there isn't anything left, and the efficiency study cited backs this up! The reasonable nickel and dime savings suggested in this thread do not add up to even a million, much less $100M.

So know then you are accepting less than excellent. You are accepting less than competitive. You will have the bare minimum to offer to those who stay, and many will go...staff and families, because they can make a better deal elsewhere. So forget our housing values and the corporations that choose this area for your employment in part because of the strong school system. It just won't hold up.

Thanks, BOS...

Save FCPS.

Re: FCPS non-local travel report

Posted by: Counting beans ()

Date: January 22, 2015 11:56AM


The total is about 1.2 million dollars over 15 months.





Re: FCPS non-local travel report

Posted by: Counting beans ()

Date: January 22, 2015 12:56PM


The one Orlando trip alone (June 2014) tallied up at around $160,000.
$80,000 per month was the average.

Assuming your numbers are true, and a fiscal year is 12 months, not 15, an we all ages that whatever staff development gained from that travel did not benefit learning, we still have 99 MILLION TO GO. This isn't about minor cuts anymore, people. It's about programs and quality.

*agree, not ages. Damn auto-correct.

When we compromise excellence, we risk economic flight. With economic flight, we increase the stress on other resources (police, fire/rescue, etc.). The money will still be spent. Invest now in great schools, or pay later with an entirely different set of problems.

You mean like Baltimore?

FCPS has no credibility. Let them stop wasting money and start answering questions. They need to restore their credibility before money will just be thrown at them.

No BS, we in the trenches are getting screwed. FCPS needs serious help when it comes to teacher salary and classroom sizes especially. However, if anothe Orlando trip happens for admin, everyone should raise holy hell.

Get out your brimstone and pitchfork.

Zuluaga's deputy went to Denmark.

Open your eyes! Does anyone understand that Garza's message is full of half truths and omissions?

There has been no cut of 2,175 positions! FCPS may have (repeatedly) asked for additional positions in proposed budgets and then not funded or hired or needed them, but there has been no cut of FCPS positions anywhere near this magnitude.

A fair and objective way to receive her announcement is that Garza believes your Fairfax County real estate taxes must be significantly increased to fund more school desires. The average county property owner would have to pay about $150 per year more every year for life to fund what she is asking for. That is the reality.

Another reality -- funding local schools is supposed to be the responsibility of the state. But the County already sends over 52% of its total revenue over to fund FCPS. This has gotta stop.

^ You're insane. Thousands of positions have been cut. Most have been absorbed not by riffing, but rather not rehiring after employees leave. But many have been riffed and others demoted. Every time class sizes increase, it means there are fewer positions and classes are bulging. There have been deep cuts by every department and in every school. Time to wake up, people. This has been going on for YEARS now. Dr. Garza'so budget is more transparent than any previous superintendent in memory. It's time for funding to match the need. No more blood in this turnip. Pay for schools now, or pay the price later!

Garza lies!

There's plenty of waste that can be cut, trust me on that. No one wants to change the status quo. Re: the scramble to spend down budgets to zero at the end of the FY so next year's allocation isn't lowered, what a scam.

FCPS = Fraud, Waste, and Complete Lack of Fiscal Stewardship.

-------------------------------------------------
“We don’t have any rude, unpleasant people here. We’re different!”

...or, you can trust the findings of the INDEPENDENT firm hired to find waste and make efficiency recommendations. Link to entire report is on the FCPS website.

"A state school efficiency review conducted by an independent firm in September 2013 found that FCPS is one of the most efficient school divisions in the Washington metropolitan region. The year-long study resulted in recommendations for a net savings of $10.8 million over a five-year period, which is a small fraction of FCPS’ $2.6 billion annual budget. FCPS has already achieved the yearly savings target through recommendations implemented in the FY 2015 budget."

get rid of admn travel

how can they complain about getting 52% of the taxpayers funds? that is over 1 billion dollars!

how do you think the other agencies are coping with cuts? did those children come here by themselves? library gets less than 1% and all the people who don't have home internet need the library!

stop whining and join the rest of the workforce in the land of do more with less all year long.

Reality check. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ^ You're insane. Thousands of positions have been
> cut. Most have been absorbed not by riffing, but
> rather not rehiring after employees leave. But
> many have been riffed and others demoted...

BS. No real cuts have been made and what little paper positions that have been "cut" is only on a percentage basis relative to the overall number of staff and only for "School Custodians and Trades Personnel and "All Non-school Based" staff. All other categories have increased. From the budget:

Position Growth FY 2010 to FY 2015

Teacher Scale Positions +8.3%

School Administration +2.9%

Psychologists, Social Workers,
Instructional and Business Specialists,
Functional Supervisors, and
Certified Athletic Trainers +9.1%

Instructional and Specialized
Assistants, Safety and Security
Specialists and Assistants, and
Career Center Specialists +10%

School Office Personnel, Tech Specialists,
and Technician +2.1%

School Custodians and Trades Personnel -1.7%

All Non-school Based -6.7%


Note that in typical BS school budget fashion, they have to break up non-teaching positions into 3 separate categories in order to keep the ridiculous amount of overhead, administration, coaches, and other jive from looking as ridiculous as it is. For those keeping score, that would put the aggregate non-teaching increases at +24% (vs teaching track again at +8.3%.)

Reality check. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...or, you can trust the findings of the
> INDEPENDENT firm hired to find waste and make
> efficiency recommendations. Link to entire report
> is on the FCPS website.

lol, hired by...FCPS. Yes, I'm sure the review was fair and impartial.

-------------------------------------------------
“We don’t have any rude, unpleasant people here. We’re different!”

As though no other school system in Va is any good at all? Cut back FCPS you waste more then any other system in the state stop the gold plating, , and Illegals don't help the situation at all Wake up BOS.

are over.

i'd be willing to pay $150 more in property taxes. but only if i knew that the money would go to class size and teacher salaries.

but it won't. it will go to all the bullshit, and we'll be right back in the same position next year, holding the kids hostage while refusing to make cuts that any parent with a red pen could make.

There are NO significant FCPS employee cuts. There are only employee increases. Anyone who says there have been massive employee reductions over the past six years is not telling the truth.

Here are the facts; total FCPS merit (benefits eligible) employees:

FY08 - 25,813
FY09 - 25,996
FY10 - 25,914
FY11 - 25,944
FY12 - 26,492
FY13 - 27,332

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/efficiency_reviews/fairfax.pdf

page 157

roll back the huge cut in RE tax Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> “Time to roll
> back the huge cut in RE taxes as a result of the
> bubble and go back to a sane level of RE taxes in
> this area.

Commercial real estate owners will love that, as most are paying at rates above those in effect in 2000. Even most residential property owners are paying at rates above the nominal rate of $1.09 because of add on property taxes that did not exist in 2000.

This wouldn't be happening if the Koch brothers hadn't spread their lies and stopped the meals tax.

No Fairfax County City so keep sending the extra cash that Cities KEEP and SEND it down to RICHMOND so the REST OF VIRGINIA CAN SPEND IT WISELY!

It would be simply squandered here in Fairfax anyway!

Meals Tax Now! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This wouldn't be happening if the Koch brothers
> hadn't spread their lies and stopped the meals
> tax.

The heck with new taxes, cut the FCPS waste and get them more efficient.

Curmudgeon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i'd be willing to pay $150 more in property taxes.
> but only if i knew that the money would go to
> class size and teacher salaries.
>
> but it won't. it will go to all the bullshit, and
> we'll be right back in the same position next
> year, holding the kids hostage while refusing to
> make cuts that any parent with a red pen could
> make.

Taxes are too high. No way would I pay even 1¢ for what we're currently getting. Don't even give them the idea that they can increase taxes. Out with the school board, out with the board of supervisors, out with Garza and her overpaid, do nothing cronies at Gatehouse.

Out with the illegals. Stop thinking it's ok to raise taxes year after year.

Sorry, the illegals are here to stay. Mass deportations would cause riots making Baltimore and Ferguson look like church picnics.

The problem is poor planning and wasteful spending at FCPS. You can educate a lot of kids for what it costs to go to conferences in Orlando, bring the Disney team in as management consultants, build turf fields, underwrite a football program, and pay for "administrators" with poorly defined job functions.

D: all of the above.

Quote

Taxes are too high. No way would I pay even 1¢ for what we're currently getting. Don't even give them the idea that they can increase taxes. Out with the school board, out with the board of supervisors, out with Garza and her overpaid, do nothing cronies at Gatehouse.

you might feel differently if you had children in ridiculously overcrowded FCPS elementary school classes, which i do.

can't afford private school or i'd be out in a flash.

FCPS has only employee increases Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are NO significant FCPS employee cuts.
> There are only employee increases. Anyone who
> says there have been massive employee reductions
> over the past six years is not telling the truth.
>
>
> Here are the facts; total FCPS merit (benefits
> eligible) employees:
>
> FY08 - 25,813
> FY09 - 25,996
> FY10 - 25,914
> FY11 - 25,944
> FY12 - 26,492
> FY13 - 27,332
>
> http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/efficie
> ncy_reviews/fairfax.pdf
>
> page 157

This arguement would be much stronger if it also included total enrollment alongside the number of employees. I would imagine the % of student population growth is higher than the employees. I believe that is where FCPS is claiming the cuts have come from.

the real problem… Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry, the illegals are here to stay. Mass
> deportations would cause riots making Baltimore
> and Ferguson look like church picnics.
>
> The problem is poor planning and wasteful spending
> at FCPS. You can educate a lot of kids for what it
> costs to go to conferences in Orlando, bring the
> Disney team in as management consultants, build
> turf fields, underwrite a football program, and
> pay for "administrators" with poorly defined job
> functions.

"Mass deportations would cause riots making Baltimore and Ferguson look like church picnics."

Preparing for that is the reason behind Jade Helm.

The 'argument' is that the Superintendent continues to misrepresent the truth in a major way. She said that “Since 2008, we have cut 2,175 positions..." That is simply not true.

There are NO significant FCPS employee cuts. There are only employee increases. Anyone who says there have been massive employee reductions over the past six years is not telling the truth.

Here are the facts; total FCPS merit (benefits eligible) employees:

FY08 - 25,813
FY09 - 25,996
FY10 - 25,914
FY11 - 25,944
FY12 - 26,492
FY13 - 27,332

That is 6% total growth in employees over 6 years.

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/efficiency_reviews/fairfax.pdf

page 157

Here are the total student enrollment figures for comparison:

FY08 - 166,307
FY09 - 169,539
FY10 - 172,391
FY11 - 174,933
FY12 - 177,918
FY13 - 181,536

That is a 9% total growth in students over 6 years.

page 73

So the ratio of positions to students has stayed essentially the same at about 1 employee to 6.5 students +/- a decimal point or so.

The problem - if there is one - is where they've added the most positions in order to maintain that ratio. i.e., It's been more in non-teaching vs teaching positions.

The salary costs also would be interesting to look at on the same basis. I'd bet that the costs for coaches and other specialists have increased the salary costs/student over the same time period.

OK, Dr. Garza had her hissy fit. I must have missed the part where the Board of Supervisors sent her more money.

Now what, does she start to close down schools or something?

An easier solution would be to stop wasting money on all of these management consultants and bureaucrats.

FCPS has only employee increases Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The 'argument' is that the Superintendent
> continues to misrepresent the truth in a major
> way. She said that “Since 2008, we have
> cut 2,175 positions..." That is simply not true.
>
>
> There are NO significant FCPS employee cuts. There
> are only employee increases. Anyone who says there
> have been massive employee reductions over the
> past six years is not telling the truth.
>
> Here are the facts; total FCPS merit (benefits
> eligible) employees:
>
> FY08 - 25,813
> FY09 - 25,996
> FY10 - 25,914
> FY11 - 25,944
> FY12 - 26,492
> FY13 - 27,332
>
> That is 6% total growth in employees over 6 years.
>
>
> http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/efficie
> ncy_reviews/fairfax.pdf
>
> page 157
>
> Here are the total student enrollment figures for
> comparison:
>
> FY08 - 166,307
> FY09 - 169,539
> FY10 - 172,391
> FY11 - 174,933
> FY12 - 177,918
> FY13 - 181,536
>
> That is a 9% total growth in students over 6
> years.
>
> page 73


Where are all those new students coming from?

SGA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Where are all those new students coming from?


Mostly El Salvador.

Employee Population Growth
27,332 - 25,813 = 1,519 / 25,813 = 5.884632% growth

Student Population Growth
181,536 - 166,307 = 15,229 / 166,307 = 9.157161% growth

% Difference
9.157161 - 5.884632 = 3.272529%

"Cut Positions"
.03272529 x 25,813 = 844.73795
Which means 845 positions were cut simply by not keeping up with enrollment. I don't believe this includes cuts made this current school year which I believe were somewhat significant. Also, if you are adding more Special Ed or ESOL students than normal you are required by law to add employees at a much lower teacher/student ratio.

Point being, I don't think FCPS is completely exaggerating the situation and their actions. When the student population is growing with a higher percentage of "needy" students and the tax base isn't keeping up, school funding gets dicey quick. It's not necessarily a spending problem.

...illegals ARE a problem, make no mistake. I have friends that are teachers in the system and they said they are stuggling to figure out what to do with these students. Most can't read and of course, do not speak English. ESOL is overwhelmed and understaffed...

this is Obama's fault...he allows these illegals ...send federal aide to us asshole

Karen Garza could impose a moratorium on football, travel, outside consultants and instructional assistants.

After she does that and STILL thinks she has budget problems, let her justify her reasoning. Could well be, we need a new superintendent.

If hiring is trailing increase in students by 30% you have a problem, a big problem. On top of that SOL's tax resources for the most needy/expensive students - the ones borderline passing the tests. Schools have to pour a disproportionate amount of resources at getting passing rates up for borderline students. Everyone suffers except the special needs kids and the AAP kids. AAP kids pass the SOL's with minimal training. They are about the only kids getting a decent education given a program designed for their skill sets and the fact the teachers are able to 'teach' without worrying about sol passing rates.

Raise real estate tax rates back to pre-bubble rates of 15 years ago and we will more money. This is especiall important as County Commercial Real Estate revenue is in decline.

CUT the ridiculous things, scale back the massive sports infrastructure, reduce the amount of bureaucracy (and highly paid jobs for do-nothing Gatehouse dwellers).

If there's still a budget problem, we'll see what to do about.

What about bringing Boosterthon to the rest of the schools to help raise money?

Spring Valley Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What about bringing Boosterthon to the rest of the
> schools to help raise money?


Wonderful idea. You will get a free trip to Atlanta. Brett Trapp will make sure your kids, if they make it into college, will be pledged into the Greek house of their choice.

do you realize they get 52% of real estate tax collected?

over 1 BILLION dollars to EDUCATE 184,000 students, not send gatehouse admn to Orlando for training. most corporations have cut travel for employees.

fcps hired a stupid consultant who couldn't figure out that janitorial services was based on usage not square footage!

stop your bitchin and moaning already.

you must work until age 70 so your taxes will pay for the comfortable retirements for employees who retire at age 57.

This is all about FCPS wanting to raise taxes a lot on all taxpayers. Today School Boards in Virginia do not have the authority to raise taxes. So the School Board members get to pound the table for more revenue for schools with no direct accountability to the taxpayers.

Make no mistake -- the FCPS School Board wants to significantly raise your taxes. They have repeatedly asked the Virginia General Assembly to give them that power. Hold onto to your wallets!


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/in-fairfax-school-board-may-seek-new-taxes/2013/11/25/9fce1e14-555c-11e3-835d-e7173847c7cc_story.html

I work in a high school, and I will only discuss things I know first hand. It may be that Gatehouse is bloated and that elementary schools don't need AAP of FLE. I don't really know.

But I can say that HS students would do fine with a 6 period day. It is probably even preferable because most HS students are way over scheduled in their lives and it takes a toll on attendance, performance, sleep, depression etc. Why not simplify their lives, save some money and only focus on the requirements to graduate?

An advanced diploma requires 24 credits and a standard diploma 22. That is 6 courses or less per year. Get rid of the remediation period that most schools have as well, because it is largely a waste of times with kids playing on the cell phones. This would save a LOT of staff $$ and delay the building of more facilities because that many less classrooms would be needed.

Do the extra curricular activities and elective courses help some kids? Yes, of course. But do they help all kids? No, they don't. And they are not required, which is what we have to do first if we are really out of money.

The average HS spends about $11 M on staff. Reduce the staff to 6/8 and save about $3 M per school immediately. That is about $70-75M in one year in total. Similar savings could be had in elementary and middle schools I am sure.

Voter voter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is all about FCPS wanting to raise taxes a
> lot on all taxpayers. Today School Boards in
> Virginia do not have the authority to raise taxes.
> So the School Board members get to pound the
> table for more revenue for schools with no direct
> accountability to the taxpayers.
>
> Make no mistake -- the FCPS School Board wants to
> significantly raise your taxes. They have
> repeatedly asked the Virginia General Assembly to
> give them that power. Hold onto to your wallets!
>
>
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/in-f
> airfax-school-board-may-seek-new-taxes/2013/11/25/
> 9fce1e14-555c-11e3-835d-e7173847c7cc_story.html

This is more than enough reason to vote Ted Velkoff OFF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. He has lost touch with reality (assuming he was ever in touch to begin with).

No new taxes for the school board. Make sure the people in Richmond know that this is unacceptable.

This is more than enough reason to vote Ted Velkoff OFF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. He has lost touch with reality (assuming he was ever in touch to begin with).


this is another reason to not vote for Kathy Smith when she runs for Sully District BOS. She will try to divert all funds to the school system, school board members live in a vacuum and don't understand how their inability to account for taxpayers funds affects other people in the county.

get rid of the school marketing center, the place that keeps spinning the statistics and telling everyone Fairfax county public schools is nirvana.