WAPO article about sever FFX school budget cuts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would assume most cuts would be to non-essential programs like AAP?

How much more does AAP cost? The students are still there and they still need to have teachers. They still take art, music, PE....... They still have access to the library.... The additional bussing cost is where the savings would be and that is a drop in the bucket. (No dog in the AAP fight.)

[Anonymous]

Could someone explain the impact to foreign language instruction? Will they be cutting FLES or eliminating immersion programs already in existence. The article didn't make that clear to me.

[Anonymous]

First, FCPS needs to be open about the costs. The budget is not available to the public in detail. For example, what is the cost of AAP busing? How do you know it is not significant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could someone explain the impact to foreign language instruction? Will they be cutting FLES or eliminating immersion programs already in existence. The article didn't make that clear to me.

A proposal is to cut FLES. See:

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9CMENL3B3C54/$file/Menu%20of%20Discussion%20Considerations%20for%20FY%202015%20Attachment%205.pdf

Eliminate the Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools program.  $5.5 million -- 62.5 positions

[Anonymous]

Another unintended consequence of AAP is overcrowded schools. When you take kids out of their boundaries,not only is there transportation cost but it shifts the numbers.

[Anonymous]

Wow - they actually seem like they are in pretty bad shape

[Anonymous]

When you have AAP in large numbers in a school, it makes it harder to divide the teaching staff up properly. The numbers are more difficult to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would assume most cuts would be to non-essential programs like AAP?

How much more does AAP cost? The students are still there and they still need to have teachers. They still take art, music, PE....... They still have access to the library.... The additional bussing cost is where the savings would be and that is a drop in the bucket. (No dog in the AAP fight.)

this suggestion was just a person trying to be funny -- the only additional cost is bus service to the centers. Putting all the students back at their base schools would save little or nothing.

[Anonymous]

Cut out early Monday closure and a lot of need for expensive training will be eliminated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would assume most cuts would be to non-essential programs like AAP?

How much more does AAP cost? The students are still there and they still need to have teachers. They still take art, music, PE....... They still have access to the library.... The additional bussing cost is where the savings would be and that is a drop in the bucket. (No dog in the AAP fight.)

this suggestion was just a person trying to be funny -- the only additional cost is bus service to the centers. Putting all the students back at their base schools would save little or nothing.

They don't pay those teachers more? There's no additional layer of cost for curriculum?

I genuinely don't know, I'm just asking. But I bet it's more complicated than just busing.

I'd chop AAP before FLES.

[Anonymous]

Good thing they spent millions on astroturf

http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20130717/NEWS/130719118/0/fairfaxTimes&template=fairfaxTimes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, FCPS needs to be open about the costs. The budget is not available to the public in detail. For example, what is the cost of AAP busing? How do you know it is not significant?

Three years ago the net cost was approximately $600,000 (when budget staff were asked the question by a School Board member at a work session).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would assume most cuts would be to non-essential programs like AAP?

How much more does AAP cost? The students are still there and they still need to have teachers. They still take art, music, PE....... They still have access to the library.... The additional bussing cost is where the savings would be and that is a drop in the bucket. (No dog in the AAP fight.)

this suggestion was just a person trying to be funny -- the only additional cost is bus service to the centers. Putting all the students back at their base schools would save little or nothing.

They don't pay those teachers more? There's no additional layer of cost for curriculum?

I genuinely don't know, I'm just asking. But I bet it's more complicated than just busing.

I'd chop AAP before FLES.

+1

[Anonymous]

FLES instruction which is an hour a week is nice but not enough to teach a child a language. This is different from the immersion schools.

AAP level 4 has almost no additional costs, especially for a full-time program. My son has never had special materials or books. He's just given photocopies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FLES instruction which is an hour a week is nice but not enough to teach a child a language. This is different from the immersion schools.

AAP level 4 has almost no additional costs, especially for a full-time program. My son has never had special materials or books. He's just given photocopies.

same books and essentially same curriculum; just accelerated with smarter kids in the classroom so they can go into the subjects in more depth.