If you were in charge of FCPS, what budget cuts would you make?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PE teachers are paid tens of thousands of dollars more than physics and calculus teachers.

I assume the difference in pay is because of coaching?

Could you provide a link to this information, please?

And are you saying that individual PE teachers are making tens of thousands of dollars more than individual physics and calculus teachers? Or are you saying that all the salaries of all the PE teachers added up total tens of thousands of dollars more than the added up salaries of physics and calculus teachers? It would be interesting to see the figures for the salaries referred to here.

Anyone know of a source for this information?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now students are being encouraged to register as ESOL even if they don't need it for what reason? Because of this needs based staffing ratio or because of state or federal money? What is the benefit?

Federal tax dollars of course.......

[Anonymous]

Do AAP students qualify for ESOL? That seems a little ridiculous. If they can keep up with AAP, they probably don't need much in terms of ESOL services. If allowed, I'm wondering if this is an area that can be trimmed back. It seems FCPS puts a lot of money into ESOL kids. Maybe they can provide some services for these kids, but not as many as with Title 1 schools.

[Anonymous]

Instead of providing textbooks have each student buy an ereader

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do AAP students qualify for ESOL? That seems a little ridiculous. If they can keep up with AAP, they probably don't need much in terms of ESOL services. If allowed, I'm wondering if this is an area that can be trimmed back. It seems FCPS puts a lot of money into ESOL kids. Maybe they can provide some services for these kids, but not as many as with Title 1 schools.

Of course they "qualify". ESOL is for anybody who lives in a home where another language is spoken. They kid does not need to have a clue how to speak a language other than English.

It's a money maker for FCPS which is why the push it. They get Federal tax dollars for all and only need to provide services for a subset. It's a cash cow.......

[Anonymous]

Yes, but the problem is with their staffing ratio where they calculate ESOL students at 1.5 of a student or thereabouts. Schools with a lot of ESOL students get more teachers per children than schools without a lot of ESOL students. And this perpetuates because ethnic people want to be with other ethnic people so they pick centers often with more ESOL students instead of their base schools and the base schools start to get huge class sizes. Their staffing ratio should be reduced to at least indicate which children get ESOL services and which students don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:get rid of halfday Mondays.

I'm a teacher and I'd most likely go along with this if I knew the meetings we have during the afternoons on these days wouldn't just be moved to another time, but how would this save money?

[Anonymous]

Fewer meetings and less justification for Gatehouse administrators............

[Anonymous]

Fewer meetings would be wonderful. The meetings I had today won't amount to better student performance, or more interesting lessons. If anything, it will result in the opposite. I left the building today not ready for tomorrow. I'll work on tomorrow tonight.

[Anonymous]

Immerion does not qualify for bussing

[Anonymous]

Don't forget that all these special programs require administrators at the Gatehouse level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't forget that all these special programs require administrators at the Gatehouse level.

Like what? Please explain with examples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:get rid of halfday Mondays.

I'm a teacher and I'd most likely go along with this if I knew the meetings we have during the afternoons on these days wouldn't just be moved to another time, but how would this save money?

Parents don't like it because they often have to shell out for after school options. On the other hand it without the designated Mondays there would probably be more inservice days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PE teachers are paid tens of thousands of dollars more than physics and calculus teachers.

I assume the difference in pay is because of coaching?

Could you provide a link to this information, please?

And are you saying that individual PE teachers are making tens of thousands of dollars more than individual physics and calculus teachers? Or are you saying that all the salaries of all the PE teachers added up total tens of thousands of dollars more than the added up salaries of physics and calculus teachers? It would be interesting to see the figures for the salaries referred to here.

I am a FCPS teacher. We are all paid on the same salary scale based on experience and level of education.

http://www.fcps.edu/hr/salary/pdf/fy14/FY2014%20194-day%20teacher%20.pdf

Any additional money for coaching is separate, and requires additional work hours beyond the normal school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to basics. Sports, music, PE, AAP, all frills must go. Agree about keeping the counselors. Property taxes should be raised.

Says the person who has never set foot in a school. Children would be miserable losing many of their physical and creative outlets that also have great inherent value in their own right. Teachers would never have a break, and would burn out quickly. As a parent, I would be furious if my children's education did not include the arts, and physical education. And for those who suggest, those subjects are self-pay, are we really suggesting that only the rich kids deserve to have these vital subjects be part of their education? All children deserve a well rounded education.