A message from FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Last week, we met to discuss the financial challenges facing both Fairfax County and the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). We acknowledge that all involved care very deeply about our community, our young people, and our schools.

Over the past five years, the Board of Supervisors has consistently increased funding to our schools. We both acknowledge, however, the financial strain on FCPS as the system is faced with significant cost drivers such as enrollment growth, required increases to the state retirement system, and inequitable state funding formulas for education.

We discussed the unprecedented fiscal challenges facing both the County and FCPS in Fiscal Year 2017 (school year 2016-17). Both of our organizations are projecting significant budget shortfalls that must be addressed in the coming months.

We recognize that it is critical for FCPS and the County Board of Supervisors to continue to work together to find viable financial solutions that are in the best interest of our children and the community as a whole.

We have agreed that we need to move forward as a team to find solutions to these funding challenges. We welcome the opportunity to work together to protect Fairfax County's quality of life and enable Fairfax County Public Schools to maintain the high quality educational programs that educate and nurture future Fairfax County citizens and employees.

Sincerely,

Karen Garza
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent

Sharon Bulova
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Garza will accelerate Fairfax County losing its AAA bond rating then apply for a consulting job.

Garza tried to publicly blame the BoS for not giving her more money. Turned out they gave her all but 0.1% of what FCPS asked for.

Big. Political. Mistake.

Will not be forgotten.

The $14 Million that FCPS did not receive from the BoS is roughly the same amount that it cost to delay high school start times by 30-45 minutes. Go figure.

Garza has to educate all the illegal dayDREAMers. That costs money.

Wasn't there a Virginia county that figured out how to make the illegals want to move somewhere else?

Karen Garza is not interested in educating immigrant children.

All she cares about is big projects, engaging consultants, sending people off to training, going to conferences and building an empire.

The Board of Supervisors has seen her for what she is.

It is shameful that instead of Garza asking residents for suggestions as to how FCPS can be more efficient, she implores them to petition the county for additional funds. Sorry, Karen, *this* resident thinks you need to cut the crap before you get any more money.

Garza's latest scheme is to raise the temperature of all FCPS schools to about 80 degrees. She hired some fancy outside consulting firm for a pile of money and their suggestion was to do that during the warm months and FCPS can save a bunch of money.

You might say 80 degrees is no big deal. Keep in mind, though, that FCPS schools are poorly constructed and they buy reconditioned HVAC units and the buildings aren't "balanced" in terms of air flow. So in your ideal 80 degrees situation, you're going to have about a third of your classrooms that are well above 80 degrees, 82 or 84 or 85.

And this is all so FCPS can send people from Gatehouse to Orlando and implement the new FLE curriculum that nobody wants. Love ya, FCPS.

FCPS could cut that sexual orientation, variable gender education bullshit for starters.

just want this year to end

Once again, no one cares whatsoever about FCPS. Stop posting on FFU about the schools. It's beyond not interesting.

Garza sounded cra-cra in her earlier email in late April. wow, did she get a beat down or what?

she looks foolish now. clearly this is for political reasons.

getting dems, who are bloody idiots, re-elected is all that matters.

everyone play nice till after the election.

No fun For her Wrote:
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> Garza tried to publicly blame the BoS for not
> giving her more money. Turned out they gave her
> all but 0.1% of what FCPS asked for.
>
> Big. Political. Mistake.
>
> Will not be forgotten.


I don't have a kid in FCPS, but one thing I keep hearing is that FCPS teachers get paid like shit. How can FCPs be so "great" if the teachers get paid worse than most teachers in the DC metro area? Why would any good teachers want to teach here when the pay sucks?

It sounds like y'all are starting to miss me.

Well, I'm feeling good and I could be coaxed out of retirement....

Love,
Jack

yourmom Wrote:
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> No fun For her Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Garza tried to publicly blame the BoS for not
> > giving her more money. Turned out they gave
> her
> > all but 0.1% of what FCPS asked for.
> >
> > Big. Political. Mistake.
> >
> > Will not be forgotten.
>
>
> I don't have a kid in FCPS, but one thing I keep
> hearing is that FCPS teachers get paid like shit.
> How can FCPs be so "great" if the teachers get
> paid worse than most teachers in the DC metro
> area? Why would any good teachers want to teach
> here when the pay sucks?


You heard wrong. They're second to Alexandria for starting pay and middle of the pack for most of the rest.

yourmom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> I don't have a kid in FCPS, but one thing I keep
> hearing is that FCPS teachers get paid like shit.

Low teacher pay is a myth. Like most other professions, the job pays what it needs to recruit and retain these employees.

At least 20 applicants for each teacher vacancy is the norm in Fairfax County.

Teachers in Fairfax County are not leaving in droves, and even if they were, there is a long line of better trained, young, enthusiastic teachers waiting to take their place.

C7JY4 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> yourmom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No fun For her Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Garza tried to publicly blame the BoS for not
> > > giving her more money. Turned out they gave
> > her
> > > all but 0.1% of what FCPS asked for.
> > >
> > > Big. Political. Mistake.
> > >
> > > Will not be forgotten.
> >
> >
> > I don't have a kid in FCPS, but one thing I
> keep
> > hearing is that FCPS teachers get paid like
> shit.
> > How can FCPs be so "great" if the teachers get
> > paid worse than most teachers in the DC metro
> > area? Why would any good teachers want to
> teach
> > here when the pay sucks?
>
>
> You heard wrong. They're second to Alexandria for
> starting pay and middle of the pack for most of
> the rest.

Okay...even if this is true...middle of the pack is piss-poor considering Fairfax County is supposed to be "big money" and is supposed to have one of the best county school systems in the U.S.

yourdad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> yourmom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> > I don't have a kid in FCPS, but one thing I
> keep
> > hearing is that FCPS teachers get paid like
> shit.
>
> Low teacher pay is a myth. Like most other
> professions, the job pays what it needs to recruit
> and retain these employees.
>
> At least 20 applicants for each teacher vacancy is
> the norm in Fairfax County.
>
> Teachers in Fairfax County are not leaving in
> droves, and even if they were, there is a long
> line of better trained, young, enthusiastic
> teachers waiting to take their place.

The job pays what it needs to, but why is it still lower than Loudoun and Arlington Counties (and probably MoCo and others)? I don't know but I would think in order to attract the top talent, you'd need to pay well. I'm wondering what metrics are being used to determine that Fairfax County schools are supposedly so great. I find it hard to believe when teachers are paid less than other counties around here.

yourmom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Okay...even if this is true...middle of the pack
> is piss-poor considering Fairfax County is
> supposed to be "big money" and is supposed to have
> one of the best county school systems in the U.S.


It's no more "big money" than Arlington, Alexandria, Montgomery County, various parts of Loudoun and Faquier, etc...

Who's crusty old nasty pus would you eat?
Attachments:

yourmom Wrote:
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> yourdad Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > yourmom Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----

> The job pays what it needs to, but why is it still
> lower than Loudoun and Arlington Counties (and
> probably MoCo and others)? I don't know but I
> would think in order to attract the top talent,
> you'd need to pay well. I'm wondering what
> metrics are being used to determine that Fairfax
> County schools are supposedly so great. I find it
> hard to believe when teachers are paid less than
> other counties around here.

Fairfax can pay less because they offer a better teaching environment and support.

Fairfax must pay less because the county puts money into other priorities such as starting school later and building affordable housing to attract more students.

"Top Talent" does not care about a $5,000 pay difference as much as they do about other qualities of the job. Some do leave once their Masters Degrees are paid for, similar to the bus drivers who come onboard to get their CDL.

Everyone on the thread gets compliments from Dr. Memory for the civil tone of the discussion. Comments above demonstrate how many interested, informed citizens take to the FFXU-waves to have a useful exchange of views on issues of the day. All are advised to consider, when discussing salaries paid public officials, that the goal may not be to wave the most money around in an attempt to attract the 'best' or 'most talented' employee, whether it is the superintendent or deputy assistant toilet plunger. The idea is to get a competent employee who can perform the critical job functions with honesty, accuracy and punctuality. Superintendents, along with the financial staff, should be highly skilled in the preparation and defense of budgets that are both realistic and responsible. It is fine to be aspirational when preparing a budget, but public employees are wise to keep in mind that responsible expenditure of public funds, i.e., tax dollars, does not, in most taxpayers' minds include interstate travel to attend sketchy conferences that show little promise of providing an appreciable return on investment. Such expenditures cause board members as well as tax paying citizens to question the honesty of the public servants who approve expensive travel and conference attendance, and rightfully so! Search committees should have a brief to emphasize financial competence as a criterion for selection, in addition to demonstrated success as an administrator. All too often, large, wealthy districts fall for the glib, fast-talking semi-con man or woman who can project dazzling brilliance but can't deliver sound management, competent employees in faculty and staff positions, defensible budgets, or set a high ethical standard for subordinates. The school superintendent for a system like Fairfax County's has a tough, complex job. Most people realize that fact and will give a new person the benefit of the doubt, for about 18 months. While the job is demanding, it doesn't require a charismatic genius as much as it does a competent administrator who is not afraid of hard work, who can keep track of all the moving parts, inspire subordinates, set an example for thrift in management of public funds, fire incompetents when required, address issues of graft, corruption, waste, and lack of due diligence without fear or favor, and generally model civic virtue in daily job performance. It won't kill a healthy individual, although it does require sustained effort and the incumbent does have to pay attention to the basics.

Doc Memory.. did you see the Post above yours? Which crust pussy would you eat? Ugh... Bullova is surely fugly. I have to go Garza...