Sounds like Dale has a problem.

Posted by: professor058 (IP Logged)
Date: May 16, 2008 01:49PM


Back in the 1990s, as the demographics of the county were changing and blacks and hispanics began to move en masse away from the Route 1 corridor, Fairfax County Public Schools issued a brochure that stated that "black and hispanic children were less likely to have the requisite skills to be ready for kindergarten." This brochure did not highlight language or cultural differences at all. This carte blanc pronouncement was not only irresponsible, but it signaled to me that there was trouble ahead. So the current attitude towards "morality" is not knew. Remember this is the same school district that shut down the schools during desegregation rather than allow black children to go to school with white children.

When is Dale going to get the criminals out of FCPS?

Such as:


The Centreville Elem asst principal who was growing pot in his house-what a great guy.

Or the Chantilly track coach/foreign language teacher who was trolling for teenage girls on the internet and got busted.

Oh and let's not forget the Chanilly teacher who was busted last week trying to buy meth.

Add one more teacher who beats up students.

Did he give all of the above pay raises?

Why don't you brilliant, taxpaying motherfuckers apply for the job?

School superintendants are members of an exclusive fraternity....and they usually have to "make a name for themselves" in the education biz to earn entre.

Most have turned a smaller school system around...which makes them "blip" on the radar when larger systems are conducting national searches for a super'.

I doubt Neen or taxpayer will ever be considered...because they really offer nothing but cynical comments,

Jack Dale is a charming and brilliant guy. When (not if) he is fired from FCPS, he will land on his feet...heading another system.

Neen will continue saying "Welcome to WalMart" and bemoaning her intellectual superiors.

And all the parents of slack-jawed AP/GT kids will continue to insist that their kids shredded their TJ acceptance letters...(didn't wanna leave their friends, ya know)

Criminals in FCPS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When is Dale going to get the criminals out of
> FCPS?
>
> Such as:
>
>
> The Centreville Elem asst principal who was
> growing pot in his house-what a great guy.
>
> Or the Chantilly track coach/foreign language
> teacher who was trolling for teenage girls on the
> internet and got busted.
>
> Oh and let's not forget the Chanilly teacher who
> was busted last week trying to buy meth.
>
> Add one more teacher who beats up students.
>
> Did he give all of the above pay raises?

When Dale is fired from FCPS, I hope he gets another job and takes all of the criminals in the FCPS system with him.

One more group he can take with him are the following jerks:

Ilryong Moon, At Large;
> Kathy Smith, Vice Chairman and Sully District;
> Elizabeth Bradsher, Springfield District;
> Tessie Wilson, Braddock District;
> Jane Strauss, Dranesville District.
> Stuart Gibson, Hunter Mill District;
> Kaye Kory, Mason District;
> Dan Storck, Chairman and Mount Vernon District;
> Brad Center, Lee District;
> James L. Raney, At Large;
> Martina Hone, At Large;
> Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner, Providence District.

The whole system is corrupt, including Jack Dale and Tony Griffin too.

Dale is a dick head

Start from the top and get Dick head Dale out of here.

What will Dale do about this issue?


Of course, it's about the parents and what happens at home. Achieving, educated parents frequently have achieving educated children. But, that's too easy: many great people in American history (Abe Lincoln for one) were self-educated and achieving. Poverty shouldn't be a forever anchor. But that's where the schools should try to shine. How many children living in poverty (and w/o dads) are succeeeding? I don't think FCPS can pat itself on the pat when referring to it's neediest students

Did you see articles in Newsweek and the Post this week? Newsweek's the Trouble with Boys is all about the growing achievement gap between girls and boys (and girls winning by a widening margin). But today's Post's article says that it's not about "boys falling behind" it's about children living in poverty falling behind--and it's backed by 40 years of data.

Crisis For Boys In Schools, Study Says
Academic Success Linked to Income
By Valerie Strauss
Washington Post Staff Writer

There have been less than 200 students in the last 7 years who got an IB diploma from South Lakes. No one else benefits other than this small group. All this crap for the benefit of so few and how much does this BS cost?

What will you do Dale? HIDE IN THE CLOSET?

Once again Dale has failed the students of FCPS. Look at these scores and tell me if he and Kaye Kory have done their job in Annandale HS? Remember this school has empty seats.

Does Dale get a pay raise for this performance?


MATH C+

SCIENCE C

ENGLISH B+

SOCIAL STUDIES B

GPA BASED ON ALL
SOLs 2.64

Jack Dale where is your ACCOUNTABILITY for this school?

Jack Dale what have you done in the last 5 years to IMPROVE performance in FCPS. What did we get for the million bucks we have paid you over the last 3 years? NOTHING.

Many parents plan the summer transition months ahead and now have to make last-minute choices, she said, with some appealing to relatives to help with day care or looking for alternative arrangements. Wakefield had scheduled those last days of school to move into a new house and was not expecting to have her 5-year-old at home.

Dean Tistadt, chief operating officer of Fairfax schools, called the decision to close schools early "remarkably complicated" and said officials reviewed ramifications of a schedule change at length. Among the issues were what to do about child care, planned field trips and scheduling variations within the school system, he said.

What will Dale about this? If will cave in to the teachers union.

Montgomery County Schools Top Fairfax Yet Again

Sadly and predictably, and yet again, the dismal leadership of Jack Dale and the general incompetemce of the Fairfax County School Board have resulted in Montgomery County Public Schools outperforming and embarrasing Fairfax County schools. In newsweeks' recently released list of the best High Schools in America, Montgomery County places 5 among the top 75, with it's top ranking school, Richard Montgomery, placing 32 nationally. By comparison, Fairfax County Schools placed only 2 in the top 75, with its top school, Langley, placing 55 nationally. With the virtually limitless resources Langley, as an example, has to draw upon, it is a disgrace it ranks a full 23 positions behind Richard Montgomery. The lack of leadership, inspiration, and management ability within the Fairfax County School Board now desperately screams for a change in its Executive and a complete overhaul among its lackluster board members. Fairfax citizens deserve better.

Dale is going backwards.

So, SB votes to end school two days early to try and appease teachers, Nice try. Jack Dale is foul and should be replaced. He is corrupt.

Come on Jack Dale, tell me what you are going to do about the below facts?


This might be an unfair statement-but it seems that FCPS keeps saying how much they care about our "at risk" kids. Yet they seem to be killing all the programs that help the minorities....

Summitt, Time Out, Young Scholars....

How come the programs that enrich the White kids some how manage to keep their funding???

This FLES which maintained funding-heck-Smith tried to expand the program even though there is no money does not seem to benefit the kids who are struggling.

We can't teach the Latinos how to speak English but we are going to spend tons of money so some kid in Great Falls can speak Chinese. It makes no sense.

Re: FCPS is racist and bias against blacks/hispanics
Posted by: No doubt left who is a racist. (IP Logged)
Date: May 25, 2008 01:48PM


White Elitists Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FYI
>
>
> If you look at the public hearing, about 80% of
> the anti RD were non white. Almost 90% of all pro
> RD supporters from South lakes were white. If you
> look at the profile of RD areas - you will find
> they are not white. Some areas of Floris are
> completely Asian. Most of the Anti RD speaker
> parents had trouble communicating in English and
> were first generation immigrants. These are people
> who know the world and hardships better than the
> entire white school board or the entirely white
> SLPTSA does. Funny it is the white elitists who
> are playing the race card against a diverse
> community, who they forced RD on. Totally wierd
> reversal of roles

The real racists are SBMs like Stu Gibson. He pledged his support to the rich white communities of North Reston going to white Langley, while at the same time pushing more middle class diverse communities from far away into reston south lakes, which has a lot of diverse population. Every one of the school board member who voted for this RD fully knowing that they were shielding rich white areas of Reston, to let them go Langley is a true racist at heart. Here are the exact words of the racist Gibson as qouted in a local newspaper:


"A lot of people choose where to live based on the high schools where they live. It has been suggested before that all of Reston should go to South Lakes. North Point Village doesn't want to go to South Lakes. I love South Lakes. I have a daughter who went there and another that is going to graduate from there, but North Point Village doesn't want to go there," said Stuart Gibson (Hunter Mill). "If someone wants to go out in the community and float the idea of a boundary change, go ahead, but I for one will not be supporting that measure."


No doubt left who is a racist.

Dale what are you doing about the above problems? NOTHING

Dales a bull shit artist.

You are correct. Dale didn't even know the history of full day K. The school board never got a number on blackberries held by people like non-school based administrators NOR numbers on the 208 contacts v stipends for summer school. No public drop -out report since 04-05. Why have Monizcko and Noonan? FCPS has computers but the leadership team and admins can't even produce excell spreadsheets for the board to easily work budget - boundary - or any numbers.

With home sales down 40 percent, foreclosures up and homes values down 15 percent, what is the school board and the board of supervisiors going to do?

With more budget cuts coming, what programs will Dale cut? He could start with his $300,000 dollar pay.

What the fuck is Dale going to do about:

Given the 2.4 year backlog on general repairs, given the inadequate staffing for maintenance due to budget issues, given the 10 year waiting period for schools for renovations, how the @@%$** did South Lakes get renovated ahead of TJ, Marshall, Edison and West Springfield???


FCPS do not follow the rules.

We need to email Jack.Dale@fcps.edu and ask him why:

Doesn't FCPS do those QPAS reports on programs such as Young Scholars and Quest? It seems we should be quantifying the success of these programs or moving on to something else. The reports I saw were from 2005-is FCPS sitting on them or do they just not evaluate their programs anymore?

In a meeting with Dr. Monusko (I know I spelled it wrong), I asked him why we weren't looking at other school districts like Richmond, Va Beach where they have had success in raising scores for minorities. The answer was basically that this individualized curriculum that they use would not work with our "other" students-so FCPS is basically inert and stupified as to how to integrate this program into our curiculumn so we can try to help these struggling students.

Once again, FCPS focuses on their high and middle achieveing students and everyone else is supposed to just continue to struggle and/or fail.

god damnit i'm never having kids. only reason being so i dont turn out like one you faggots here typin away furiously about some jagoff named Jack Dale that"needs to go!".

fucking idiots. channel your energy in other directions.

FU is a place to talk about sex, cops, drugs, and rock and roll.

all this school talk is really harshing my mellow.

*banned for trollling* - Cary, mgmt.

Yo all people angry with Jack Dale and the school board:

stop complaining here and start complainign to the school system. Send mail to the school board. Call Jack Dale. Call Dean Tisadt. Call his wife. Tell them how you feel. Call the newspapers and tv news stations. Tell them how this angers you. If you want anyhting to happen, you must have many parents bitch out the school system high-ups and you must get the media involved.

Observer what Fairgrade is doing. They are getting lots of attention. You must do the same.

The school board and the FCPS staff have caused IMMEASURABLE harm to students/parents in Fairfax County. I hope citizen will not forget in three years.

Remember what they have done Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The school board and the FCPS staff have caused
> IMMEASURABLE harm to students/parents in Fairfax
> County. I hope citizen will not forget in three
> years.


Dale and Storck are to blame. They need to go.

Re: UNnecessary middle school
Posted by: EnviroSolutions (IP Logged)
Date: June 02, 2008 05:52PM


I am trying to follow all of the players here. EnviroSolutions owns a landfill near Lorton that will be "full" soon-I guess there is a height requirement. I am assuming you can't build houses on a pile of garbage so they are proposing to sell the land to the Park Authority and will offer to pay for part of the middle school.

I assume the land has limited use and the options are slim for the company to recover any money back from the land value-a deal with the parks dept puts money in the company's pockets. This Conrad Mehan guy who works for EnviroSolutions is active in the SOCO area even though he lives in Ashburn. His name is often mentioned in donations to the schools in the SOCO area. His company is a big contributor to Connelly and they were just granted approval by Fairfax zoning/planning dept to have their garbage pile grow higher than it was originally approved for.

Something fishy is going on here. Looks like more back room deals with our politicians and business people who are looking for favors.

Let's hope one of the papers digs a little deeper into this mess-no pun intended.

The insane poster is back

Why does FCPS stick with the IB program? See the report posted on FairfaxCAPS website (www.fairfaxcaps.org).

How can the school board and administration defend this program?

Simple question for Jack?

What are you going to do about all of the unsafe school you have and when are you going to fix them?

Re: Saratoga Elementary School Hostage Situation
Posted by: Unsafe decisions by FCPS (IP Logged)
Date: June 05, 2008 02:06PM


Another f__K up by FCPS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They are now sending kids home early from two
> dozen schools because the schools don't have
> power. They cannot even give a time as to when the
> children will be getting sent home! Why the hell
> did they allow children to go into a building
> without power in the first place? How safe is it
> for them to be in a building with any electricity?
> Would they not have been safer staying in their
> own homes? Why weren't the parents told that their
> child's school did not have power? What kinds of
> idiots in FCPS are making these kind of moronic
> decisions?

==============================================================

FCPS ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE POWER OUTAGES. THE CHILDREN WERE SENT TO SCHOOL SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO MAKE UP A DAY DUE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD GIVING THE SCHOOLS THE TWO SNOW DAYS THAT WERE NOT USED. THEY JUST DID NOT WANT TO MAKE UP ANOTHER DAY AFTER THE CHANGES WERE MADE.

> HOW MANY SCHOOLS DID NOT HAVE POWER TODAY?

More fuck ups by Jack Dale and staff

effect of power outage on Westfield
Posted by: WHS Student (IP Logged)
Date: June 05, 2008 11:48AM


WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL:
Today was simply a waste of four hours.
No A/C, No lights (few emergency lights), the PA system (not loud enough), no wi-fi/server (therefore no grading, no attendance).

ABSOLUTE CHAOS
3200 kids, no rules, no nothing. Even some of the water appliances werent working (fountains). No refrigeration (no lunch), nothing.

i've never seen such a sight, on such a grand scale. Today was absolute anarchy, and I dont' ever think there will ever be anything like it.

I hated AND loved it.
Anybody else have any interesting stories?

Dale put 3200 students into harms way.

If the schools are in such bad shape, then they are saver without electricity.
A kid could get zapped by all the faulty wiring!

Oops, make that SAFER without electricity...

36 schools and centers were without electricity today

The chair of the Fairfax County School Board sees only three options: the school board can do nothing, it can plead with members of Congress to force the Army to act, or Fairfax County Public Schools can sue the Army.

They have all the money for illegal students, but no money for our military students.

Jack Dale and the school board are low lifes.

Does anybody care about this thread other than the original creator who spams this site regularly?

Once again Jack Dale and his staff put students in harms way with another fuck up decision.

Even when they make a mistake, they will not say it.


Dear FCPS Community Members:

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding our handling of the weather and power situation on Thursday, June 5. Please know that your child's safety is our utmost concern. We believe that it was the right decision to keep students in school on Wednesday, June 4, rather than continuing with a release during the tornado warning. Many schools, transportation staff, and others did a tremendous job to ensure the safety of our students. As can be expected in such a situation, there were problems and challenges and things were not perfect.

With respect to immediacy of the timing for students' early release, and the fact that our current Keep-In-Touch system lacks the ability to immediately notify large groups of parents, FCPS did not send a Keep In Touch message. Instead, we used our other more traditional but reliable methods of communicating this decision: radio and television, the FCPS home page, and Channel 21. When power is out, even these methods may become unreliable.

Each of our schools made a good faith effort to telephone parents when students were released early on Thursday. However, many schools were without power and their phones were not working, presenting an additional challenge. Furthermore, bus drivers have to use their discretion when dropping off children if no one is there to meet them. It is not unusual for a bus driver to return a child to their elementary school if they believe no one is at home.

It is not unprecedented to have schools open without power -- even to open them when they are without power when students arrive in the morning. In these cases, schools know what to do, and usually power is restored during the day. In fact, power came back this morning in several schools that had no power when they opened. The schools that did not have power restored were closed early.

In total, 27 of FCPS' more than 200 schools were closed early. As of Thursday evening, there were still schools without power and while Dominion Power is making progress, they are uncertain when all schools will have power restored. If schools must cancel, those buildings will have to make up the day by adding a day to the end of the school year.

We plan on launching our new Keep In Touch service later this month, which will provide immediate communication on emergencies such as closures. We apologize for the distress this situation caused and will work to restore your confidence through our new Keep in Touch system. Thank you very much.

Jack D. Dale
Superintendent
________________________________


LOL! basically, JAck says they suck. Langley HS still does not have power as of 3:30 pm and if its not fixed, no SAT for those kids.

What's your point?
Successsful students come from successfule homes where education is valued. It's just not valued in black and latino families and thats why you see the disparity.
Read DARWIN.

Who is Dale screwing today?

Blacks, hispanics or Bradsher?

Re: BRAC business alliance holds kickoff event
Posted by: Don Carr (IP Logged)
Date: June 11, 2008 06:52AM


Fort Belvoir will eventually need a second elementary school, yes, and has identified acreage in the master plan where it could be built. The need is based on a couple things, actually. One, the current school was reconfigured to accommodate additional requirements for special-needs classes. Also, even though we are not adding to the number of homes on post, the typical family living here is larger.


FC is ungrateful Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I keep reading about how FC and FCPS are complaining about BRAC. You would think, given the economy right now, that most local governments would be thrilled with jobs moving into their district. I would also like to hear from the BRAC planning folks about their feeling on FCPS moving the BRAC planning money to the SOCO middle school planning-a school that is still unquestionable now as to whether it is needed.

It seems that funds should be allocated to the overflowing elementray schools at FT Belvoir and not to the SOCO group.

Anyone have any opinions from the base?

More problems for Dale that he is not able or willing to fix.

Dale fails again.


According to the FCPS press release from 9/17/2007, 277 FCPS students-which was 78% of candidates earned the IB diploma in 2007. Eight schools offer IB which means that there were about 35 students per school. Here are the results by school:

Robinson/ 1226 exams taken/ 80% scored a 4 or better (out of 7)
Marshall HS/ 751 exams taken/81% scored a 4 or better
Lee HS/ 648 exams taken/74.5% scored a 4 or better
South Lakes HS/644 exams taken/80% scored a 4 or better
Edison HS/ 643 exams taken/77% scored a 4 or better
Annandale HS/ 613 exams taken/70% scored a 4 or better
Stuart HS/499 exams taken/77% scored a 4 or better
Mt Vernon/464 exams taken/69% scored a 4 or better

Out of a total of 5488 exams taken in 2006-07 about 77% were a 4 or better.

In the higher level exams, there were 2394 taken with 83% scoring at a 4 or above. Broken down by subject:

Computer Science/ 2 exams taken
Latin/ 5 exams taken
Film/13 exams taken
Theater Arts/14 exams taken

How do these classes get staffed when 2-5 students take the exam out of 8 high schools?

Biology/143 exams taken/55% scored at 4 or higher
Chemistry/54 exams taken/67% scored at 4 or higher
Mathematics/101 exams taken/64% scored at 4 or higher
Physics/120 exams taken/45% scored a 4 or higher
Business and Management/79 exams taken/67% scored a 4 or higher

I am perplexed as to the efficiency here. 8 high schools and 54 chemistry exams. Of the 54, nobody got a score of 7, and 2 got a score of 6.

Physics-same thing-120 exams in 8 schools. Noone achieved a 7 score and 2 achieved a 6 score.

This does not seem to be a successful program the way I see it.

I cannot imagine a business or household having such a tremendous deficit.(FCPS)

There are overseers of each and foresight is used to ascertain that one will not be in the RED at the end of the year...

Why is it that FCPS has such a tremendous deficit this year....the year of the DALE?

The previous Superintendents did not have this problem....why are we letting him continue with this?

Because there is no money for this fiscal year to operate SUMMER SCHOOL, a rigged-up approach to SUMMER SCHOOL was invented....who wants to work summer school and get paid over a period of 12 months for pay that should be immediate????????

Where are the auditors that should have done their jobs throughout the school year?

Jack Dale derived from a little county in Maryland coming to large school system synomous to NYSS.

What does he suppose to bring to the table for FCPS?

MMMMMMM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I cannot imagine a business or household having
> such a tremendous deficit.(FCPS)
>
> There are overseers of each and foresight is used
> to ascertain that one will not be in the RED at
> the end of the year...
>
> Why is it that FCPS has such a tremendous deficit
> this year....the year of the DALE?
>
> The previous Superintendents did not have this
> problem....why are we letting him continue with
> this?


Once a fuck up, always a fuck up.
>
> Because there is no money for this fiscal year to
> operate SUMMER SCHOOL, a rigged-up approach to
> SUMMER SCHOOL was invented....who wants to work
> summer school and get paid over a period of 12
> months for pay that should be immediate????????
>
> Where are the auditors that should have done their
> jobs throughout the school year?

Screw Dale Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MMMMMMM Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I cannot imagine a business or household having
> > such a tremendous deficit.(FCPS)
> >
> > There are overseers of each and foresight is
> used
> > to ascertain that one will not be in the RED at
> > the end of the year...
> >
> > Why is it that FCPS has such a tremendous
> deficit
> > this year....the year of the DALE?
> >
> > The previous Superintendents did not have this
> > problem....why are we letting him continue with
> > this?
>
>
> Once a fuck up, always a fuck up.
> >
> > Because there is no money for this fiscal year
> to
> > operate SUMMER SCHOOL, a rigged-up approach to
> > SUMMER SCHOOL was invented....who wants to work
> > summer school and get paid over a period of 12
> > months for pay that should be immediate????????
> >
> > Where are the auditors that should have done
> their
> > jobs throughout the school year?

No money for school repairs, no money for summer school, no money for teacher pay raises, BUT DALE WANTS TO SPEND $90 MILLION DOLLARS ON GATEHOUSE TWO.

I am a little suspicious of the "cost savings" projected for Gatehouse II. Probably because they lied to us about Gatehouse I. There were no savings related to the consolidation-the only money saved was from salaries because Dale laid off a few back office people.

So now here comes all the promises of Gatehouse II. Here is where I have issues:

1. FCPS uses over 850 trailers as classrooms for our kids. Why should they be packed like sardines when the FCPS knuckleheads work in lavish buildings?

2. WE DON"T HAVE ANY MONEY. I know it seems silly and of course they tell us it won't really cost anything because they plan to borrow the money. Gee, who pays the interest on that debt and who pays it back when the bonds mature?

3. The real estate market continues to soften-why the hurry on "locking in a price". Particularly since Gaethouse I was bought at the top of the market.

4. The property they want to purchase was built in 1973. It is 35 years old. In the report the brilliant real estate team talk about how "cheap" the property is relative to 3 other properties that they say are similar. Guess what? the other 3 properties are 20 years newer. Of course they are more expensive.

5. Gatehouse II is currently being leased by one tenant-American Red Cross. Their lease is up in October of 2008-4 months from now. Ok, I am not a real estate wiz or anything, but if I were the owner and my ONLY tenant was leaving in 4 months and I have no buyers lined up other than FCPS, I might want to be making a deal.

6. They say the building is "worth" $60 million-but FCPS can get it for $52 million. Why would the seller give away $8 million? Something does not seem right about these numbers being thrown about.

7. FCPS will spend another $27 million to renovate the building so the total cost is actually $79 million which makes the per square foot costs comparable to the building they compare it with that is 17 years newer. Naaahhh, let's buy the older delapidated property, instead.

8. What about the empty lot across the street that FCPS bought to build Gatehouse II? Well, now they say the lot is too small for their needs. What has changed in 4 years? If there are fewer employees due to the layoffs needed in order to justify the aquisition of these properties, why do they need more square footage.

9. Gatehouse I was supposed to consolidate a certain number of people into the property. But, again, they miscalculated. They were not able to get all of those people into the property. After GHI there are still 14 properties occupied by FCPS staff. Even after GHII, they still all won't fit.

10. Nowhere in over 30 pages of analysis and spreadsheets and tables and graphs did the real estate consultants do an analysis of leasing this building vs purchasing it. Why?

I have some commercial real estate contacts digging a little deeper. But I smell a rat.

FCPS claimed originally that this building was going to save us $21 million over 33 years. Now the estimate is $10 million. Talk about fuzzy math-I have never seen such creative accounting.

They claim $30 million in savings from staff reductions-they were supposed to eliminate 18.5 positions. If you look closely-they have only eliminated 10 so far, only 4 are directly related to the consolidation (building supervisor and custodian). That savings is equal to about $70,000 per year-certailing no where near $30 million.

They also claimed they were going to save $6 million on telecomm-didn't happen-savings were ZERO.

They claim the energy savings for Gatehouse is going to be $5.6 million. Last time I read the paper, energy costs were skyrocketing,highly unlikely they are less today than what they were forecasting 4 years ago.

Lastly, FCPS claims travel costs-pre consolidation of $8.6 million over a 33 year period. I would like to see the receipts for that!!

The bottom line is-Gatehouse I cost us money-not saved us money. And they expect us to believe that Gatehouse II will save us even more.

We are not that gullible.

2007 SOL GRADE 4 READING, PERCENT PASSING BY VIRGINIA DISTRICT, AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS

OUT OF 45 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA, FCPS RANKS IN THE BOTTOM TIER (35)

ONCE AGAIN FCPS FAILS TO DO THEIR JOB.

It boggles the mind that FCPS spend over $13,000 per pupil and yet these are their rankings???

How can school districts that spend half of what we do get better results?

35 out of 45 school districts=that is a disgrace!

Yup, something's wrong. We pay more per pupil AND we have the most educated parents. The kids are sent to school with more brains than anyplace else in the state AND more tax dollars spent than the rest of the state. What's happening?!

The money is going to the overblown bureaucracy and ineffective programs that simply do not work. Yet, our HUGE staff, in their HUGE, fancy buildings, can't figure out how to use PROVEN methods and programs. They continue to march with goofy fad programs that cost money but don't teach any child anything. Only parents who can afford tutors have children who are learning. That is not fair to the rest of the students.

What is our school board doing about this? Not a thing. They've adopted the silly strategic governance, which means they not are accountable for anything except to beg the board of supervisors each year for more money for staff. Does our school board work for staff? So it would seem. They sure don't work for the students and parents of Fairfax County. Can anyone tell me what our school board does? Why did we elect them? To ensure yearly increases of money for staff? Anything else?

SOL FAILURE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 2007 SOL GRADE 4 READING, PERCENT PASSING BY
> VIRGINIA DISTRICT, AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS
>
> OUT OF 45 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA, FCPS
> RANKS IN THE BOTTOM TIER (35)
>
> ONCE AGAIN FCPS FAILS TO DO THEIR JOB.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NOW LETS LOOK AT THE 2007 SOL GRADE 4 READING, PERCENT PASSING BY VIRGINIA DISTRICTS, FOR LATINO STUDENTS

OUT OF 45 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA, FCPS RANKS IN THE VERY BOTTOM TIER (40)

FCPS HAVE FAILED LATINO STUDENTS BIG TIME. DALE SHOULD GO NOW.

Dr Dale is a wonderful man. He presented me with an award a while back and I had my picture taken with him. Months later, I ran into him at Gatehouse and he called me by my name! He is kind and respectful to even the lowliest employess.

Dr Domenech was a sweetheart too. I miss him.

But my all time favorite superintendant was W J Burkholder. He started as a bus driver and made it all the way to Superintendant of Schools!

MMMMMM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jack Dale derived from a little county in Maryland
> coming to large school system synomous to NYSS.
>
> What does he suppose to bring to the table for
> FCPS?

Whatever the school board wants him to do. He works for them. Sorta. (In reality, the school board works for and supports staff.)

bus driver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dr Dale is a wonderful man. He presented me with
> an award a while back and I had my picture taken
> with him. Months later, I ran into him at
> Gatehouse and he called me by my name! He is kind
> and respectful to even the lowliest employess.
>
> Dr Domenech was a sweetheart too. I miss him.
>
> But my all time favorite superintendant was W J
> Burkholder. He started as a bus driver and made
> it all the way to Superintendant of Schools!

That is so nice. I am so glad that our superintendents are so supportive of staff. I am glad that they make every attempt to keep staff happy and well paid.

Now, how about the students? What has Dale done lately to help poor and minority students? Or GT students? Or LD students? Or students who are stuck in IB schools? Or students stuck in failing schools with ineffective programs? When is Dale going to care as much as about educating Black kids as he does about keeping staff happy and well paid?

Like I said, the bureaucracy looks out for its own. It's there for staff, not students.

One would think that the school board was elected to look out for students but, unfortunately, they too seem to work for staff. Very sad for the kids.

QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED BY FCPS,

WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE STUDENTS WHO HAD INFORMATION RELEASED WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION?

THESE ARE FERPA VIOLATIONS AND PARENTS SHOULD FILE A LAWSUIT.



The exposed files included information from 34,000 students in Sarasota, Fla., and 74,000 students from the Fairfax County school district in Virginia, according to the Times. Both school systems had hired Princeton Review to improve standardized test scores.

Paul Regnier, a spokesman for the Fairfax County school system, told eSchool News that school officials were not aware of the security breach until a Times reporter contacted the district on Aug. 18. District officials are looking into the repercussions of the breach, Regnier said.

Regnier said Fairfax officials had a conference call with Princeton Review Monday night. The company agreed to send "all the data that had been exposed," Regnier said, adding that the test scores and personal information were from 2006. The school district would sift through that data and contact parents whose children's information had been available online, he said. Fairfax schools' contract with Princeton Review expired at the end of the 2007-08 academic year, Regnier said.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 19, 2008
Student Files Are Exposed on Web Site
By BRAD STONE
The Princeton Review, the test-preparatory firm, accidentally published the personal data and standardized test scores of tens of thousands of Florida students on its Web site, where they were available for seven weeks.

A flaw in configuring the site allowed anyone to type in a relatively simple Web address and have unfettered access to hundreds of files on the company’s computer network, including educational materials and internal communications.

Another test-preparatory company said it stumbled on the files while doing competitive research. This company provided The New York Times with the Web address of the internal files on the condition that it not be named. The Times informed the Princeton Review of the problem on Monday, and the company promptly shut off access to that portion of its site.

One file on the site contained information on about 34,000 students in the public schools in Sarasota, Fla., where the Princeton Review was hired to build an online tool to help the county measure students’ academic progress. The file included the students’ birthdays and ethnicities, whether they had learning disabilities, whether English was their second language, and their level of performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, which is given to students in grades 3 to 11.

Another folder contained dozens of files with names and birth dates for 74,000 students in the school system of Fairfax County, Va., which had hired the Princeton Review to measure and improve student performance.

The Princeton Review said the student information should have been protected by a password, but that the protection was most likely lost when the company moved its site to a new Internet provider in late June. The company said it was looking into how many people might have accessed the files, some of which could be found through search engines.

“As soon as I found out about this security issue we acted immediately to shut down any access to this information,” said Stephen C. Richards, the company’s chief operating officer. “The Princeton Review takes Internet privacy seriously, and we are currently conducting a review of all of our procedures.”

Several other companies have recently committed similar Internet blunders. The British mobile operator O2 misconfigured its cellphone photo service so that its customer’s private images were accessible to anyone using Google. And Facebook recently exposed the birth dates of some users who had wanted to keep them private.

Natalie Roca, executive director for research and testing at the Sarasota County public schools, said she was “surprised and troubled” by the release of the student data. She said the student information the county gave to the Princeton Review to build the testing tool was strictly confidential.

In addition to the information on students, the site contained the Princeton Review’s educational materials for the LSAT, PSAT and SAT exams, course schedules, an internal analysis of the effectiveness of the company’s instructors, and the entire texts of some Princeton Review books, like the 2008 edition of “Cracking the LSAT.”

One folder on the Web site gave unusual insight into how test preparation companies use older exams to prepare their practice tests. The folder contained digital scans of eight official SATs and six PSAT exams from 2005 through 2007. The tests are created by the Educational Testing Service, a nonprofit organization in Princeton, N.J.

An accompanying guide for Princeton Review exam writers, dated January 2008, said that the company’s “current SAT course diagnostic tests are not as reflective of the real E.T.S. tests as they should be.” It then described “spiraling,” or writing a new practice question based on an old question from the official test. The document instructs authors to avoid copyright infringement by obeying the “three word rule” — ensuring that no three consecutive words remain the same.

Ray Nicosia, the executive director of test security for the Educational Testing Service, said the company had retired the exams that were made available on the Princeton Review Web site and now sells them to tutorial companies. He said he would need more information to determine whether the Princeton Review had properly attained and used the exams.

The Web error indicates that the Princeton Review neglected several accepted online security practices.

In addition to failing to properly restrict access to the student information, the company combined confidential and innocuous files on the same computers — which security researchers say is never a good idea.

“In this case it would have made sense for the company to separate information such as the names of the students from their test scores and whatever confidential information the company had,” said Mike Haro, an analyst at Sophos, an Internet security firm. “But we are finding that companies today don’t change until they have experienced the pain of a data breach that is exposed to the public.”

Did the student graduate with the IB diploma? Probably not.

Did the student graduate with only high level IB courses and did well on the IB exams? ....don't know.

Did the student only take standard level IB courses? If so, many colleges do not accept SL IB courses for college credit.

Is it true that UVA reserves 25 slots for SL graduates? How many slots at UVA are reserved for Robinson graduates?

What college is the student attending now? Sounded like a great kid.....


yet another scam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was angered by Jay Williams column on saturday
> that basically confirms that FFX students are also
> discriminated against at VA state colleges to
> leave space for lower performing students other
> parts of the state
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
> le/2008/04/11/AR2008041104052.html
>
>
> so, we pump huge tax $ to richmond and then don't
> even get to use the colleges we pay for because
> our kids over-achieve
>
> what kind of stupidity is that
>
> we can't get our roads fixed and we can't use the
> colleges - why do I feel that someone is always
> picking my pocket

Another Fuck Up by the biggest Fuck Up of them all, JACK DALE.

-----Original Message-----
From: Fcps Outreach [mailto:Fcpskit@fcps.edu]
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 9:07 PM
Subject: The Princeton Review and Student Data

Dear Parent

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) first learned in the New York Times
on August 19 that FCPS student data had been inadvertently compromised.
FCPS contacted The Princeton Review team after reading the article and
was able to talk with them about the matter on August 19.

According to The Princeton Review, the data was inadvertently placed on
an open website by an internet service provider under contract to them.
The Princeton Review received the information from FCPS as part of a SOL
practice test program for students in grades 3-8; the contract between
The Princeton Review and FCPS has ended for other reasons.


On August 19, The Princeton Review acknowledged their responsibility,
and issued the following statement to the media:

Media Statement by The Princeton Review - 8.19.08

'We devote a lot of attention to the security of our data, and have
extensive procedures in place to manage this process. On Monday, we
were advised that some information which had been kept safe and secure
may have inadvertently been accessible to highly sophisticated computer
users. A preliminary investigation, launched as soon as we were made
aware of this problem, suggests that this occurred due to a breakdown in
our normal data security protocols when web hosting was recently
migrated to a new provider. The investigation will include the
retention of a forensic accounting and security team to review the
incident and evaluate our security policy and procedures. We have
apologized to our customers for this situation, and assured them that
access to the information has been closed, and that we are working
diligently to put in place any needed remedies to make certain this
problem does not recur.'


On Wednesday evening, August 21, The Princeton Review returned the
compromised files to FCPS. The files were exposed from June 28 to
August 18 and included student and teacher information. Based on FCPS
analysis of these files, data from the school year 2005-2006 for 75,559
students and 3,157 teachers were exposed. The exposed student data
included FCPS student ID number, student first and last name and student
date of birth. Note that student Social Security numbers were NOT
included in any of the data files.

Although your student's information was included in files that were
subject to compromise by this incident, we have no reason to believe
that this incident poses any threat to your student and do not believe
that you need to take any action. If you have questions, you may call
The Princeton Review at 1-800-955-4600 Monday - Friday between 9:00 AM
and 6:00 PM Eastern Time beginning Monday afternoon, August 25th.

Sincerely,

Jack D. Dale
Division Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools

Since Jack Dale loves portable trailers ( 1000 ) for our students, he should work out of one for a year. No water and no rest rooms.

Another screw up by Dale.

School Use For McCain, Palin Rally Bucks Rule

By Tim Craig and Michael Alison Chandler
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, September 9, 2008; B01



Sen. John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, are holding a campaign rally at Fairfax High School tomorrow morning in violation of a school system policy, prompting some teachers and community leaders to question district officials.

According to the Fairfax County policy, which addresses how the community can use school facilities, "School buildings and grounds may not be used for campaign activities during school hours."

Superintendent Jack D. Dale said he made an exception to the policy because he thought it would be a good learning experience for students. "We are not participating in a political rally," he said. "We are letting our kids have new educational opportunities." He alerted the School Board about the event yesterday during a meeting at the school administration building.

McCain campaign officials said they negotiated openly with school and Fairfax City officials and the local leaders suggested the high school. Fairfax City owns the high school building but contracts with the county to operate it.

Dale said he made the same policy exception for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Obama held a town hall meeting at Robinson Secondary School in July, with about 2,000 participants. School was not in session, but an arts program and some other activities were being held in other parts of the school, Dale said. The policy does not address summer school activities.

Still, some Obama supporters and community members are crying foul.

Several teachers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they fear retribution, raised concerns about the political event.

"This is in the middle of a school day. The entire school day is going to be disrupted, and this gives an indication of support for his candidacy. That bothers me," one Fairfax County school teacher said.

School spokesman Paul Regnier said that the school day would not change for most students. But seniors, who study government, would have the option to attend the rally. Most attendees will be McCain and Palin supporters, who can obtain tickets through the local Republican committees or the McCain campaign.

Del. Kristen J. Amundson (D-Fairfax), who served on the Fairfax County School Board from 1991 to 2000, said she was shocked that school officials authorized the event.

"This is almost unprecedented, to have a rally in a school building in the middle of the school day with kids present," Amundson said.

Amundson said that for years, Fairfax school officials have resisted calls to hold political events while students are in class.

She wants the rally canceled or moved, noting that an e-mail advertising the rally asks people who show up to "please wear something red to remind everyone to keep Virginia red this November."

Fairfax City Mayor Robert F. Lederer, a Republican who helped plan the event, defended the rally, noting Obama's appearance at Robinson.

"This is something that I see has broad support for its educational component," Lederer said. "The Obama people did it this summer. I think the precedent was probably set during that period, whether it was a good decision or not."

Dale said any security or other costs are paid for by the campaigns.

Lederer said residents should be proud that McCain (R-Ariz.) and Palin chose to have their rally in Fairfax City. "It would be disappointing to me if this becomes a partisan, bickering affair where, if you are for one, you are for the rally, and if you are for the other, you are against it."

Principal Scott Brabrand sent out a message through the school's e-mail system yesterday to alert parents about the rally.

Fairfax High School parent and Obama supporter Pearl Johnson, whose daughter is a student at Fairfax High, said she had mixed feelings when she learned about the event. She thought it would have some educational value. "But it did come to mind, if they are doing a McCain and Sarah event during the school day, are they going to do the other side? What message are you sending?"

Since Jack Dale loves portable trailers ( 1000 ) for our students, he should work out of one for a year. No water and no rest rooms.

Please...I'm no Jack Dale fan but we had plenty of trailers with Domenech and Spillane too (when I was in the FCPS system).

Why is South County getting new schools, HS,MS and ES when everyone else is getting more trailers.

Is someone on the take? Dale, Storck or Bradsher? Is this the why they buy votes with our money?

The SOCO crew is very well organized. They invested in their SB members and BOS reps thru donations and they are getting whet they want-AT OUR EXPENSE.

This School Board and this Superintendent don't have nay common sense or ethics.

We are in the worst financial state FC has been in in decades-and it continues to worsen every month.

Shrinking tax base, $400 million deficit, etc....yet they want to build a $75 milliion middle school that we don't need and $125 million for Gatehouse II.

Waste, waste, waste. Folks, it is bad out there. Expect your taxes to go up.

This School Board and this Superintendent don't have any common sense or ethics.

We are in the worst financial state FC has been in decades-and it continues to worsen every month.

Shrinking tax base, $400 million deficit, etc....yet they want to build a $125 million lavish office building for themselves and staff.

They want to do this while students at WSHS and other schools go to schoolin broken down rat traps that are not save

What are they going to do when their budget is cut by more then $200 million.

What programs will be cut? How many teachers will be let go?

This group does not care about the students in FCPS, rather they care about themselves and the perks they can get. Free parking, health spa, etc.

JACK DALE AND THE SCHOOL BOARD GO DOWN IN FLAMES.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE BOS FOR USING FISCAL RESTRAINT DURING THESE HARD TIMES.


Supervisors Turn Away Fairfax Schools Proposal
$130 Million Sought for Headquarters

By Michael Alison Chandler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 23, 2008; B01



The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors dealt a significant setback yesterday to a $130 million school system plan to consolidate school headquarters in the Falls Church area.

After meeting with School Superintendent Jack D. Dale behind closed doors, supervisors voted unanimously in public to decline to take action on the plan to buy and renovate an office building at 8111 Gatehouse Rd.

The School Board had approved the plan Thursday in an 11 to 1 vote, with the majority contending that it would save money in the long term to centralize school system operations near the Capital Beltway and Route 50.

But Supervisor Pat S. Herrity (R-Springfield) said yesterday's vote sent a signal to school planners to go "back to the drawing board." Herrity said that in a tight budget year, he was concerned the project would not save enough money.

"This is a bad time to be doing this. We should be focusing on schools, teachers and students and not administration," he said.

Dale, head of the 165,700-student system since 2004, said he was surprised and disappointed.

"We thought we had a compelling case," he said, contending that the project would help the system shed costly leases and free up school facilities needed for instruction. Dale said he was unsure what the school system's next step will be.

School officials have been working for several months to advance a plan to bring together about 1,700 school employees from more than a dozen aging or leased facilities. The project was endorsed by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.

Because of declining real estate revenue, rising fuel prices and other factors, the combined budget shortfall for the county government and schools is expected to reach $430 million for the next fiscal year. County and school officials are scrutinizing budgets in every department and program to save money.

In 2004, county supervisors approved a similar plan to buy a building at 8115 Gatehouse Rd., where about 600 school system employees now work, as well as an adjacent three-acre parcel, where officials expected to build an office tower.

But when the building at 8111 Gatehouse became available, school officials saw it as more affordable.

Officials estimated that the total cost to buy, renovate and furnish the 35-year-old building would be about $110 million. But they requested approval to borrow as much $130 million in case costs increase. The price of the building is $52 million, plus as much as $5 million for upgrades.

Under the plan, the acquisition would be financed through a 30-year bond issued by the county's Economic Development Authority. The first $8 million payment would not be due until 2013. Once interest payments are due, school system costs would outweigh savings for the next eight years by as much as $2.7 million.

School officials say that, without cost overruns, the purchase and renovation would ultimately save about $22 million over 30 years, through avoiding lease payments and elimination of some staff positions.

The lone School Board member to oppose the plan Thursday was Ilryong Moon (At Large).


Jack Dale and the School Board are hurting our children.


This School Board and this Superintendent don't have any common sense or ethics.

We are in the worst financial state Fairfax County has been in decades-and it continues to worsen every month.

Shrinking tax base, $400 million deficit, etc....yet they want to build a $125 million lavish office building for themselves and staff.

They want to do this while students at WEST SPRINGFIELD HS go to school in a broken down rat trap that is not save for students or staff.

What are they going to do when their budget is cut by more then $200 million?

What programs will be cut? How many teachers will be let go? How many more schools will be falling apart?

This group does not care about the students in FCPS, rather they care about themselves and the perks they can get. Free parking, health spa, indoor/outdoor cafeteria, etc.

WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO FISCAL RESTRAINT??????????????

Once a Bum, always a Bum.


Gatehouse One did not deliver any promised savings-the numbers were not verifiable by FCPS.

Why should we believe GH Two would "save money"? And why do we have to spend $130 million so we can then save money?

As far as the owner selling it at a bargain price-nice try. BPG bought the building in October 2006 for $43,545,000 from The American Red Cross. The ARC rented the property for the last 2 years so BPG had 100% occupancy. Over the last 2 years BPG put $5 million into the building in renovations. Fairfax County was going to pay BPG $52 million plus $5 million to "reimburse" them for the renovations. So BPG invested $48.5 million 2 years ago, had full rental income and then "flips" it 2 years later to the moneybags at FCPS for $57 million.

Do the math? NICE DEAL for BPG. They make $8.5 million profit in 2 years.

I don't see how this building is such a "bargain." Oh and did I mention it was built in 1973?

This whole transaction reeked of corruption and mismanagement from day one.

Way to go BOS for smelling a rat!!

We need to let Jack Dale go so we can save $400,000 dollars. He does nothing anyway.

Jack Dale and the school board should move their offices to the UNSAFE WSHS.

They need to work under the same conditions that the WSHS students must endure every day.

Whenever I watch these School Board meetings on Channel 21 it seems they are always talking about non-academic issues. I would love to know how much time is wasted on redistricting and talk of buying a building that the BOS has no intention of giving them the money for.

It is no wonder the dropouts and the minority achivement gaps persist. They have no idea what their priorities are. I feel sorry for the teachers and students in this school district. The leadership within FCPS is a laugh riot. Between Dale and The School Board it is a contest between dumb and dumber.

When is Dale's contract up for renewal? I really think we need better someone new.

DO NOT TRUST Jack Dale or the SB with our money.


As far as the owner selling it at a bargain price-nice try. BPG bought the building in October 2006 for $43,545,000 from The American Red Cross. The ARC rented the property for the last 2 years so BPG had 100% occupancy. Over the last 2 years BPG put $5 million into the building in renovations. Fairfax County was going to pay BPG $52 million plus $5 million to "reimburse" them for the renovations. So BPG invested $48.5 million 2 years ago, had full rental income and then "flips" it 2 years later to the moneybags at FCPS for $57 million.

Do the math? NICE DEAL for BPG. They make $8.5 million profit in 2 years.

I don't see how this building is such a "bargain." Oh and did I mention it was built in 1973?

This whole transaction reeked of corruption and mismanagement from day one.


If all of the above is true? Someone needs to tell us why? Is it because they are stupid? Is it because they are meat heads? Or is it because there are kick backs in the construction and real estate business?

Who is getting the kick backs, Dale, Staff or the school board? Big questions?

He loves business and they love him because they can always get what they want from him.

Follow the money.

My bet is on Gerry Connelly Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> He loves business and they love him because they
> can always get what they want from him.
>
> Follow the money.


I agree. Who has oversight over Dale and his corrupt SB members?

We need a full scale investigation into where the money going.

My bet is on Gerry Connelly Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> He loves business and they love him because they
> can always get what they want from him.
>
> Follow the money.

Dale is in the pocket of big business. He does not care about the students of FFC, because he sells them down the drain all the time.

HIGH DROP OUT RATES
LOWER TEST SCORES
UNSAFE SCHOOLS
FAILURE OF NCLB

What perks does Dale get? Does he get a car? How many weeks of vacation?

Does anybody know?

Of course Jack Dale gets a car. It's in his contract. We pick that up, together with his gas etc...

The question I have is why he has seen only a fraction of the schools in this County and spend zero time observing what is going on in the classroom.

Ditto for the Assistant Superintendents.

The AS in my part of the County didn't see my child's elementary school for over 4 years. How do I know? Because I was talking with her about things going on in the classroom, and she told me perhaps she should visit because it had been 4 years since she last saw it. She never even looked at the Everyday Math textbooks being used in the classroom. Again, how do I know? Because I asked and she hadn't looked at a math textbook being used in the classroom since her own children were in school in FCPS.

There is no expectation whatsoever that Dale or the Assistant Superintendents or anyone else in Gatehouse know jack about what is going on at the ground level.

Cinderella Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Of course Jack Dale gets a car. It's in his
> contract. We pick that up, together with his gas
> etc...
>
> The question I have is why he has seen only a
> fraction of the schools in this County and spend
> zero time observing what is going on in the
> classroom.
>
> Ditto for the Assistant Superintendents.
>
> The AS in my part of the County didn't see my
> child's elementary school for over 4 years. How
> do I know? Because I was talking with her about
> things going on in the classroom, and she told me
> perhaps she should visit because it had been 4
> years since she last saw it. She never even
> looked at the Everyday Math textbooks being used
> in the classroom. Again, how do I know? Because
> I asked and she hadn't looked at a math textbook
> being used in the classroom since her own children
> were in school in FCPS.
>
> There is no expectation whatsoever that Dale or
> the Assistant Superintendents or anyone else in
> Gatehouse know jack about what is going on at the
> ground level.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We need to do the following as taxpayers of FFC.

CUT HIS PAY,

TAKE AWAY ALL PERKS AND LET HIM GO WHEN HIS CONTRACT IS UP.

NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE FOR THIS BUM.

Cinderella Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Of course Jack Dale gets a car. It's in his
> contract. We pick that up, together with his gas
> etc...
>
> The question I have is why he has seen only a
> fraction of the schools in this County and spend
> zero time observing what is going on in the
> classroom.
>
> Ditto for the Assistant Superintendents.
>
> The AS in my part of the County didn't see my
> child's elementary school for over 4 years. How
> do I know? Because I was talking with her about
> things going on in the classroom, and she told me
> perhaps she should visit because it had been 4
> years since she last saw it. She never even
> looked at the Everyday Math textbooks being used
> in the classroom. Again, how do I know? Because
> I asked and she hadn't looked at a math textbook
> being used in the classroom since her own children
> were in school in FCPS.
>
> There is no expectation whatsoever that Dale or
> the Assistant Superintendents or anyone else in
> Gatehouse know jack about what is going on at the
> ground level.


Cinderella,

That was quite interesting what you said about the SAs. I wonder how much these SAs get paid for not visiting any of their schools? Does anybody know? I know that Jack Dale gets paid quite handsomely and look at the results these days.

You ask a good question. Undoubtedly it is a 6 figure salary. I am sure someone could FOIA this. We have 18 assistant superintendents so it adds up to a pretty hefty payroll right there, and this isn't even counting all the staff outside of Dale and the 19 assistant superintendents.

A recent study came out that showed nationally, 60% of school budgets go to administrative costs/overhead. It's well documented and pervasive throughout the country re how the majority of budgets get spent on things that don't directly benefit children in the classroom.

There is no rule whatsoever that the Assistant Superintendents visit the school over which they have oversight on an annual or even biannual basis. It's up to them, and clearly, many of them prefer desk jobs.

RH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cinderella Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Of course Jack Dale gets a car. It's in his
> > contract. We pick that up, together with his
> gas
> > etc...
> >
> > The question I have is why he has seen only a
> > fraction of the schools in this County and
> spend
> > zero time observing what is going on in the
> > classroom.
> >
> > Ditto for the Assistant Superintendents.
> >
> > The AS in my part of the County didn't see my
> > child's elementary school for over 4 years.
> How
> > do I know? Because I was talking with her
> about
> > things going on in the classroom, and she told
> me
> > perhaps she should visit because it had been 4
> > years since she last saw it. She never even
> > looked at the Everyday Math textbooks being
> used
> > in the classroom. Again, how do I know?
> Because
> > I asked and she hadn't looked at a math
> textbook
> > being used in the classroom since her own
> children
> > were in school in FCPS.
> >
> > There is no expectation whatsoever that Dale or
> > the Assistant Superintendents or anyone else in
> > Gatehouse know jack about what is going on at
> the
> > ground level.
>
>
> Cinderella,
>
> That was quite interesting what you said about the
> SAs. I wonder how much these SAs get paid for not
> visiting any of their schools? Does anybody know?
> I know that Jack Dale gets paid quite handsomely
> and look at the results these days.

Cinderella Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You ask a good question. Undoubtedly it is a 6
> figure salary. I am sure someone could FOIA this.
> We have 18 assistant superintendents so it adds
> up to a pretty hefty payroll right there, and this
> isn't even counting all the staff outside of Dale
> and the 19 assistant superintendents.
>
> A recent study came out that showed nationally,
> 60% of school budgets go to administrative
> costs/overhead. It's well documented and
> pervasive throughout the country re how the
> majority of budgets get spent on things that don't
> directly benefit children in the classroom.
>
> There is no rule whatsoever that the Assistant
> Superintendents visit the school over which they
> have oversight on an annual or even biannual
> basis. It's up to them, and clearly, many of them
> prefer desk jobs.
>
> RH Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Cinderella Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Of course Jack Dale gets a car. It's in his
> > > contract. We pick that up, together with his
> > gas
> > > etc...
> > >
> > > The question I have is why he has seen only a
> > > fraction of the schools in this County and
> > spend
> > > zero time observing what is going on in the
> > > classroom.
> > >
> > > Ditto for the Assistant Superintendents.
> > >
> > > The AS in my part of the County didn't see my
> > > child's elementary school for over 4 years.
> > How
> > > do I know? Because I was talking with her
> > about
> > > things going on in the classroom, and she
> told
> > me
> > > perhaps she should visit because it had been
> 4
> > > years since she last saw it. She never even
> > > looked at the Everyday Math textbooks being
> > used
> > > in the classroom. Again, how do I know?
> > Because
> > > I asked and she hadn't looked at a math
> > textbook
> > > being used in the classroom since her own
> > children
> > > were in school in FCPS.
> > >
> > > There is no expectation whatsoever that Dale
> or
> > > the Assistant Superintendents or anyone else
> in
> > > Gatehouse know jack about what is going on at
> > the
> > > ground level.
> >
> >
> > Cinderella,
> >
> > That was quite interesting what you said about
> the
> > SAs. I wonder how much these SAs get paid for
> not
> > visiting any of their schools? Does anybody
> know?
> > I know that Jack Dale gets paid quite
> handsomely
> > and look at the results these days.

That is a good idea to send a FOIA about this. Since FCPS is under a serious budget constraint, I personally think an outside auditing/financial group should be summoned to analyze the overall of FCPS adminstrative staff, payroll, budgets, etc and make suggestions and recommendations on how to make FCPS's budget and programs a healthier one and would greatly benefit the students. Has that ever been done? I mean yes there have been auditors who have conducted audits auditing the FCPS' overall adminstrative activities, but this has gotten out of hand with the budget woes we are having. Sounds like we have too many SAs and one SI.

I've seen Jack's salary in the newspaper....around $270K, as I recall. Which is by no means the record in the school superintendadant biz.

IMO, not much money for all the shit involved. Jesus Christ, Himself couldn't please all, or even most, of the 100,000+ neurotic parents in FFX Co.

And I'm sure Jack negotiated a severance package (golden parachute) in his contract...ALL executives do! If you don't like golden 'chutes....don't put them in the contract! That goes for the companies that you own shares of...tell the Board NO GOLDEN PARACHUTES!

Yeah, fire 'em all at Gatehouse! But don't bitch when FCPS gets so bad that the State takes it over....as has happened in many truly dismal school systems in this country.

Be careful what you wish for...

Gatehouse II — A Bad Deal
Commentary

By Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield)
Thursday, October 02, 2008


At the Sept. 22, 2008 meeting, the Board of Supervisors declined to provide the EDA bonding necessary to finance the purchase of the Gatehouse II building. The school system wanted to purchase the Gatehouse II facility in order to consolidate the administrative staff. While the formal vote was unanimous, there was significant disagreement among the Board of Supervisors. The school system is actively working to revise the proposal to bring it back to the Board of Supervisors.

I am a strong believer in consolidation and the efficiencies they typically bring. However, the proposal put forth by the school system was a bad deal. Here are just some of the reasons:

Purchase Price Too High. The school proposed paying $52M for a building that was purchased by the current owner for $44 million just two years ago. Building values have fallen in the last two years. The schools consultant indicated it was a good deal because fully leased up the building would be worth $60 million. However the building has no leases.

Minimal Cost Saving. The estimated cost savings over the 30 years was presented at $22 million. This equals less than $1 million per year. The savings for Gatehouse I was presented at approximately $25 million but is now estimated to be at only $10 million. As noted in the following two paragraphs the savings is both understated (no reductions for personnel efficiencies) and overstated (much of this benefit does not pass to taxpayers).

School Cost Savings Does Not Equal Taxpayer Savings. Much of the $22 million in cost savings results from the elimination of the cost of operating and maintaining the current buildings. However, the project as presented keeps all of the properties in Fairfax County’s hands meaning taxpayers continue to pay the cost. Most of the buildings were proposed to be transferred to the Board of Supervisors but there was no discussion or plan on use or disposal of these properties — especially given our pending reductions — meaning that taxpayers likely would continue to bear the cost even if the schools did not.

No Reduction of Personnel for Efficiencies. The school claims that the consolidation of offices would result in efficiencies. However, the only positions that were eliminated due to this consolidation were the custodial and building maintenance staff. If there are real efficiencies then I would expect to see real reductions in staff being proposed as a result.

Failure to Consider Upcoming Administrative Staff Reductions. The school administrative staff has grown at a significantly higher rate than the school population. Based on the current Lines of Business Review being undertaken by the school I would expect to see a significant reduction in administrative personnel. The proposal kept the school administrative staffing at the same level as current level when looking at the administrative facilities need for Gatehouse II.

There were several positive outcomes from the proposed purchase of Gatehouse II, the biggest being the availability of three schools currently used for administrative staff that are or will be needed as schools — Dunn Loring, Lacy and Devonshire. However, in my opinion, these positives were significantly overshadowed by the points above and may be able to be accomplished with staff reductions. In this time of limited resources, we need to be focusing on our teachers, school and kids and not adding administrative space.

Dale fails again Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gatehouse II — A Bad Deal
> Commentary
>
> By Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield)
> Thursday, October 02, 2008
>
>
> At the Sept. 22, 2008 meeting, the Board of
> Supervisors declined to provide the EDA bonding
> necessary to finance the purchase of the Gatehouse
> II building. The school system wanted to purchase
> the Gatehouse II facility in order to consolidate
> the administrative staff. While the formal vote
> was unanimous, there was significant disagreement
> among the Board of Supervisors. The school system
> is actively working to revise the proposal to
> bring it back to the Board of Supervisors.
>
> I am a strong believer in consolidation and the
> efficiencies they typically bring. However, the
> proposal put forth by the school system was a bad
> deal. Here are just some of the reasons:
>
> Purchase Price Too High. The school proposed
> paying $52M for a building that was purchased by
> the current owner for $44 million just two years
> ago. Building values have fallen in the last two
> years. The schools consultant indicated it was a
> good deal because fully leased up the building
> would be worth $60 million. However the building
> has no leases.
>
> Minimal Cost Saving. The estimated cost savings
> over the 30 years was presented at $22 million.
> This equals less than $1 million per year. The
> savings for Gatehouse I was presented at
> approximately $25 million but is now estimated to
> be at only $10 million. As noted in the following
> two paragraphs the savings is both understated (no
> reductions for personnel efficiencies) and
> overstated (much of this benefit does not pass to
> taxpayers).
>
> School Cost Savings Does Not Equal Taxpayer
> Savings. Much of the $22 million in cost savings
> results from the elimination of the cost of
> operating and maintaining the current buildings.
> However, the project as presented keeps all of the
> properties in Fairfax County’s hands meaning
> taxpayers continue to pay the cost. Most of the
> buildings were proposed to be transferred to the
> Board of Supervisors but there was no discussion
> or plan on use or disposal of these properties —
> especially given our pending reductions — meaning
> that taxpayers likely would continue to bear the
> cost even if the schools did not.
>
> No Reduction of Personnel for Efficiencies. The
> school claims that the consolidation of offices
> would result in efficiencies. However, the only
> positions that were eliminated due to this
> consolidation were the custodial and building
> maintenance staff. If there are real efficiencies
> then I would expect to see real reductions in
> staff being proposed as a result.
>
> Failure to Consider Upcoming Administrative Staff
> Reductions. The school administrative staff has
> grown at a significantly higher rate than the
> school population. Based on the current Lines of
> Business Review being undertaken by the school I
> would expect to see a significant reduction in
> administrative personnel. The proposal kept the
> school administrative staffing at the same level
> as current level when looking at the
> administrative facilities need for Gatehouse II.
>
> There were several positive outcomes from the
> proposed purchase of Gatehouse II, the biggest
> being the availability of three schools currently
> used for administrative staff that are or will be
> needed as schools — Dunn Loring, Lacy and
> Devonshire. However, in my opinion, these
> positives were significantly overshadowed by the
> points above and may be able to be accomplished
> with staff reductions. In this time of limited
> resources, we need to be focusing on our teachers,
> school and kids and not adding administrative
> space.


From recent Springfield Connection article about Gatehouse 2 proposal:

"At least one supervisor had already made up his mind before the weekend not to support the building purchase.
"I think the whole idea is dumb. … It is the wrong type of thing to do in this economic environment. They need to concentrate on moving kids out of trailers," said Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee)."

Does this STUPID SB know that we are in a recessing? Where is the fiscal restraint?

SAY NO TO GATEHOUSE II, SAY NO TO INDOOR OUTDOOR RESTAURANT FOR THESE BUMS, SAY NO TO THE HEALTH SPA THAT THEY WANT IN THIS BUILDING,SAY NO TO INDOOR FREE PARKING, SAY NO TO SPENDING $286 MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS FAT CAT BUILDING.

They need to fix unsafe schools, they need to reduce unsafe trailers, they need to reduce classroom size, they need to reduce Dales staff.

Look at what they are trying to do after the BOS told them NO AND HELL NO.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following action was taken by the School Board at the October 2, 2008, regular meeting:

Reconsideration of Purchase and Sale Agreement for 8111 Gatehouse Road

The following Board motion passed unanimously:

1) to approve the acquisition of, and financing for, the Facility (the property located at 8111 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, Virginia) for use as the second centralized administration facility for a purchase price not to exceed that stated in the Original PSA and consistent with the parameters discussed in closed session. The School Board hereby adopts the resolution attached hereto relating to the New Financing of the Facility, and

2) to authorize the Division Superintendent or the Chief Operating Officer, on behalf of the School Board, and with the advice and counsel of the School Board attorney to (i) negotiate, execute and deliver the New PSA in substantial conformity with the foregoing; (ii) negotiate, execute and deliver all documents and amendments related to, in connection with, or in furtherance of the transaction described herein; and (iii) upon approval by the Board of Supervisors of the New Financing, proceed with the transaction and complete the purchase and financing of the Facility.

3) If the Board of Supervisors declines to approve the New Financing during the New Due Diligence Period, if the transaction cannot be completed consistent with the parameters discussed by the School Board in closed session, or it is otherwise determined during the New Due Diligence Period that termination of the New PSA is in the best interest of the School Board, then the School Board hereby authorizes the Division Superintendent or the Chief Operating Officer, with the advice and counsel of the School Board attorney, (i) to terminate the New PSA, (ii) to recover the deposit and any other sums that may be due the School Board, and (iii) to notify the County of the foregoing and to cancel the New Financing

$286 MILLION FOR GATEHOUSE II AND NO MONEY FOR THE UNSAFE WSHS.

SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH WSHS,



Here is an portion of Supervisor Herrity’s newsletter telling us what is wrong with WSHS:

Recently many constituents have emailed me with their concerns about the current condition of WSHS. As a 1978 graduate of WSHS and proud alum, I too am concerned about its current condition. In fact, I recently toured the school and was dismayed at what I witnessed while walking the halls. Broken windows and tiles, mold, leaking pipes, and an aging and dangerous electrical system are just a few of the many unacceptable conditions that I encountered during my tour. I also testified before the Fairfax County School Board at its Capital Improvement Program public hearings about WSHS's current state and advocating it to be put onto and moved up on the CIP. As you know WSHS was built in 1966 and has gone without any major renovations for almost 42 years while other newer schools have seen such renovations in recent years.

SAY NO TO GATEHOUSE II.

SEND THE ABOVE TO A FRIEND

WSHS is a testament to it's builder's skill! These animals, er, I mean students have been trying to tear the fucking place down for 42 years now...and it's still standing!

I have a money-saving suggestion for FCPS....when WSHS finally is renovated, let's let the "students" do any required demolition. That's right, hand out the sledge hammers and hard hats and turn 'em loose! (Probably not one student would show up....it's no fun when it's OK!)

And renovate WSHS to prison specs....no frills. No easily destroyed decor or furnishings. Stainless steel toilet/sink combos just like the State Pen. No rugs, upholstery, or unnecessary glass. Just concrete, cinder blocks, and steel, and it will last 100 years!

tubby Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WSHS is a testament to it's builder's skill!
> These animals, er, I mean students have been
> trying to tear the fucking place down for 42 years
> now...and it's still standing!
>
> I have a money-saving suggestion for FCPS....when
> WSHS finally is renovated, let's let the
> "students" do any required demolition. That's
> right, hand out the sledge hammers and hard hats
> and turn 'em loose! (Probably not one student
> would show up....it's no fun when it's OK!)
>
> And renovate WSHS to prison specs....no frills.
> No easily destroyed decor or furnishings.
> Stainless steel toilet/sink combos just like the
> State Pen. No rugs, upholstery, or unnecessary
> glass. Just concrete, cinder blocks, and steel,
> and it will last 100 years!

Jack Dale and the rest of the school board have sold out for a lush/plush office and have said fuck you WSHS.

Who is responsible for the unsafe conditions at WSHS. Why were these conditions not fixed over the years. Who failed to do their job?

Dale and the entire school board? YES

Here is a list of some of the defects at WSHS:


•The girls and boys bathrooms closest to the main gym in need of repair.


= Major plumbing problems have not been addressed.


• The outdated piping throughout the school needs to be replaced NOW.


•The entire exterior surface needs to be painted, including the rusty fences behind the school.


• All of the single pane windows in the school need to be replaced.


• Carpeting throughout the school needs to be replaced.


•The broken West Springfield High School sign in front of the school needs to be replaced.


• Water fountains throughtout the school are broken and need to be replaced.


•The lights on the main athletic field which currently sit atop unsafe wooden poles need to be replaced.


•The temporary trailers that have never been repaired or replaced need to be removed.


•The track which has large cracks on an uneve unsafen surface needs to be replaced or repaired now. Currently all track meets have been held on other area school tracks due to the unacceptable, unsafe condition of the West Springfield track.

The list of defects in this school are at the level that this school should be closed until all repairs are completed.

Instead of spending $286 million dollars on Gatehouse II, spend the money on fixing WSHS and any school that needs repairs.

NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE Wrote:

> We need to do the following as taxpayers of FFC.
>
> CUT HIS PAY,
>
> TAKE AWAY ALL PERKS AND LET HIM GO WHEN HIS
> CONTRACT IS UP.
>
> NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE FOR THIS BUM.

Great idea. Just how do you propose we do that? The school board hires and fires him, not us.

Good ideas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE Wrote:
>
> > We need to do the following as taxpayers of
> FFC.
> >
> > CUT HIS PAY,
> >
> > TAKE AWAY ALL PERKS AND LET HIM GO WHEN HIS
> > CONTRACT IS UP.
> >
> > NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE FOR THIS BUM.
>
> Great idea. Just how do you propose we do that?
> The school board hires and fires him, not us.


Someone on this web sit must know if Dale is breaking any regulations or code of conduct. If he is, thats the way to get this bum.

Good ideas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE Wrote:
>
> > We need to do the following as taxpayers of
> FFC.
> >
> > CUT HIS PAY,
> >
> > TAKE AWAY ALL PERKS AND LET HIM GO WHEN HIS
> > CONTRACT IS UP.
> >
> > NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE FOR THIS BUM.
>
> Great idea. Just how do you propose we do that?
> The school board hires and fires him, not us.


God, you people are stupid.

You can't cut Dale's pay....his salary is set by his contract! So is his severance package....it's in his fucking contract!!! He is not some order taker at McDonald's that can be fired on the spot!

The Board will fire Jack eventually. School Superintendant is a very transient career. Nobody can appease tens (or hundreds) of thousands of morons....so they do a few years here, a few years there. The job pays a lot because there is zero job security.

Go ahead, fire Jack....he'll turn up running another major school district in no time. And the Fairfax County School Board will hire somebody that was fired or about to be fired somewhere else.

Dale is so corrupt, he would be a good fit for wall street.

FYI,

I found the comments from FCPS School Board member Stuart Gibson both irresponsible and dishonest. The parents and taxpayers need to know the facts about Gatehouse I and II. While Mr. Gibson is gravely concerned about the quality of the work space for the administration, he should be more concerned about the over 10,000 students who attend classes in the 900 unsafe trailers every day. As far as savings from these acquisitions, the most recent savings statement for GH I includes figures involving staff reductions and travel costs which are not verified by FCPS and actually show that GH I cost us money. According to FCPS's own cost analysis for GH II, it is less expensive for these employees to remain in the existing facilities than to move into another new building.

The building being considered for purchase is 35 years old and will cost nearly $300 million when interest costs are added. The commercial real estate market is showing signs of severe stress, the county is facing a $400 million deficit and our schools desperately need renovation funds. It is unthinkable for Jack Dale and this School Board to even consider such a purchase given the financial tsunami that we are facing. Money should be spent in the classrooms on our students and our teachers. Parents should be outraged that this discussion is even happening. Let's hope our BOS has the courage to say no again after election day.

SAY NO TO GATEHOUSE 11.

THIS IS WHAT DALE AND THE SB WANT FOR THEMSELVES, WHILE THE STUDENTS OF FFC GO TO SCHOOL IN RAT TRAPS:


Office space with style and class,

274,690 sf,

Beautifully remodeled lobby, common corridors and lobbies on all six floors,

New elevator system,

Abundant free surface and covered parking,

Large cafeteria with indoor and outdoor seating,

10,000 square foot data center,

State of the art conference center,

Fitness center with showers and locker rooms,

All of the above for Dale and the school board while our kids go to school in unsafe trailers and schools that are falling apart.

Just getting started,

Watchdog

Dale and the SB do not tell the truth. They lie and cheat.

The only thing that they care about is their own self interest.

To all in Fairfax County,


I don't know how much you have been following the Gatehouse II purchase proposed by the School Board. The School Board is at it again. They want to consolidate Administration staff in a luxurious 300,000 square foot building next to Gatehouse I and use the bond we taxpayers approved in 2007 to pay for it. The building has a gym and spa, 10,000 square foot conference room, lobbies on every floor, etc. The Staff will come from existing schools and they claim that they can reuse the space for our children. Imagine that --- the so-called "run down" facilities that they want to return to the school system are not good enough for staff, but good enough for our children. Our children, who are in close to 1,000 trailers throughout the county, with some schools over 46 years old (West Springfield High) and some without enough books (Fox Mill).

I am convinced Gibson told Staff that he would get them Gatehouse II in return for the renovations to South Lakes and the redistricting. The pieces of the puzzle are coming together. Also, the same real estate firm that secured the existing administration building (Gatehouse I) was mysteriously selected to conduct an "independent review of the cost/benefit compiled by the School Board" for Gatehouse II. I have friends in commercial real estate who say that it is "incredible" that they only had one appraisal for a government facility - unheard of.

We are paying $57 million ($52 million + $5 million renovations reimbursement) for a building assessed for $43 Million in 2008.

The School Board's proposal was not approved by the Board of Supervisors, because guess what, the election is coming up…so the School Board went back to the drawing board, playing with the numbers again, and picking new numbers out of thin air, in hopes that the numbers will come out "better" and the BOS will approve. They have until December 1. And again after the election, who cares? The Board of Supervisors certainly won't.

So, bottom line, your tax dollars are going to be wasted on Gibson's Staff while our kids and teachers have to give up their raises, books, supplies, classrooms, new teacher salaries, and the things that truly matter….

NO AND HELL NO TO GATEHOUSE 11

You are confused. The School Board and Dale are in place to keep STAFF happy. They are there to expand the bureaucracy, make sure the get raises, and great retirement benefits. So of course Stu is looking out for staff and wants to buy them an overpriced building, while kids have their class size increased, and go to those classes outside in drafty trailers. It's NOT ABOUT THE KIDS. It's about STAFF, keeping them happy. Kids have no choice where they go to school or who teaches them but staff does have a choice. They can leave in MoCo or LoCo offers them more money and a fancier building. SB and Dale love the staff and want to do everything to keep them. The heck with the kids, they don't care. It's staff they care about.

Wouldn't it be nice if students had a CHOICE of what kind of building they had to spend their days in? Like Staff has? I bet the kids would rather be in Gate House than stuffed in their cold, drafty, trailers with 35 of their closest buds and one teacher. But staff wants always take priority over the needs of children. Always. What staff wants, staff gets.


300 million Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FYI,
>
> I found the comments from FCPS School Board member
> Stuart Gibson both irresponsible and dishonest.
> The parents and taxpayers need to know the facts
> about Gatehouse I and II. While Mr. Gibson is
> gravely concerned about the quality of the work
> space for the administration, he should be more
> concerned about the over 10,000 students who
> attend classes in the 900 unsafe trailers every
> day. As far as savings from these acquisitions,
> the most recent savings statement for GH I
> includes figures involving staff reductions and
> travel costs which are not verified by FCPS and
> actually show that GH I cost us money. According
> to FCPS's own cost analysis for GH II, it is less
> expensive for these employees to remain in the
> existing facilities than to move into another new
> building.
>
> The building being considered for purchase is 35
> years old and will cost nearly $300 million when
> interest costs are added. The commercial real
> estate market is showing signs of severe stress,
> the county is facing a $400 million deficit and
> our schools desperately need renovation funds. It
> is unthinkable for Jack Dale and this School Board
> to even consider such a purchase given the
> financial tsunami that we are facing. Money
> should be spent in the classrooms on our students
> and our teachers. Parents should be outraged that
> this discussion is even happening. Let's hope our
> BOS has the courage to say no again after election
> day.

Other than Jerry Connelly, none of them are running for office. But you knew that.

Lies Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dale and the SB do not tell the truth. They lie
> and cheat.
>
> The only thing that they care about is their own
> self interest.

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.

To the President of FCCPTA

I am quite surprised with all of the failures and incompetence demonstrated by this School Board that you would focus your energy and time on such a trivial matter. Perhaps you could share with me what the Fairfax County Council of PTAs has done about any of the following in the last several years:

Reducing high school dropouts
Reducing minority achievement gaps
Improving fiscal management of FCPS-including the misguided decision to proceed with Gatehouse II
Improving safety in weight rooms, including banning power lifting which has led to numerous injuries of students
Enforcing existing rules regarding conflicts of interest with FCPS coaches
Eliminating discriminatory practices within FCPS regarding disciplinary actions against minority students
Reducing the number of trailers on FCPS grounds and ensuring that appropriate air quality testing is done
Ensuring that any redistricting and CIP decisions are based on ethical practices and that the process is not politicized or corrupt
Establishing all day kindergarten in all of our elementary schools like Montgomery County has

Frankly I am a bit bothered by your outrage given the work that is before us. Your organization lacks the respect of many parents because many view your organization as lacking in independence and objectivity. I will continue to use the tactics that I use to force FCPS to act with integrity and to correct all of the areas cited above.

At the end of the day, we can compare our accomplishments. If you are offended by what angry parents say then may I suggest you find another job.


Advocate for better schools in FCPS

As I have been watching the news over the last few days, I began to wonder if Mr. Connolly and Mr. Dale know each other. Mr. Connolly is saying Fairfax County has a $60 Million dollar short fall this year. He is issuing a hiring freeze, no new fire trucks or police cars and in 2010 it will be $500 million dollar shortfall. What will have to be cut then?

Now with the economy in a mess, why does Mr. Dale want to spend $300 million dollars of taxpayers money on a PLUSH office building for his staff and the school board? Why not spend $300 million dollars (if we had it) on the students in the FCPS system.

I suggest the following would be a better use of the money instead of giving Dale and staff a health spa, Indoor/outdoor restaurant and a swimming pool. Renovate broken down old schools, build new schools and reduce the total number of unsafe old trailers in the school system.

Students first

Once again Dale proves that he does not care about the kids.

WARNING, YOUR SCHOOL COULD BE NEXT.


Apparently, FCPS wants to spend about another $20 million to renovate
Devonshire Center, a former elementary school that is currently being used
to house FCPS staff. Headquarters staff would move out of Devonshire and
into Gatehouse 2 or other rented and presumably more luxurious space.

Then, FCPS would force the kids who live within walking distance of Graham
Road ES to attend the renovated Devonshire ES, and bus them to Devonshire
ES. FCPS has argued that this is best for the kids because they'll have
more playground space and be on a quieter street. But, parents at Graham
Road ES disagree with FCPS, and want to keep their school open.

[www.savegrahamroad.com]

And, the community also has refuted various FCPS claims about why they
shouldn't be allowed to keep their neighborhood school.

[www.savegrahamroad.com]

How much of a payoff is Jack Dale getting by moving ahead with the purchase of Gatehouse II?

ACT: Thirty-three percent of Fairfax County Public Schools seniors ready for college
-- Why pay high taxes for low achievement?

According to the ACT college admissions test, only 33 percent of Fairfax County Public Schools seniors are ready for college. See excerpts from the ACT college admissions test 2007 profile (pdf file) for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

This report was obtained from FCPS. However, FCPS does not post it on the school website and does not mention it in its annual budget statement about student achievement.

According to the ACT profile, of the 2,144 FCPS seniors taking the ACT in 2007:

80 percent were prepared for college English composition
64 percent were prepared for college social science
59 percent were prepared for college algebra
39 percent were prepared for college biology.

Overall, 33 percent of FCPS seniors were prepared for college-level study in all four categories.

Statewide and nationwide, 23 percent of Virginia and United States high school seniors were prepared for college-level work in all four categories.

The better-known SAT college admissions test does not identify benchmark scores indicating college readiness.