What's going on with the FCPS budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As of now the budget is scheduled to INCREASE $130.4 million, or 4.9% percent over this year's.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY-2018-Proposed-Budget.pdf

The school board is asking for an additional 60-80M. They are threatening cuts if they don't get it but any cuts are simply due to re-allocation of priorities. The budget is increasing, like every year.

You never stop do you? Prices go up. Point out where the extra money is that can be cut out of the budget and stand up for what you actually see as waste or get out of the business of simply pointing out that budgets go up each year.

Sigh. Many proposals have been made on how to cut the budget. The School Board never seriously considers them. In fact, some of the School Board's actions have only increased the operating costs of FCPS (full day Mondays, later start times, extending the school year, etc). They never bother to figure out how to pay for these initiatives, they just cry wolf every year.

Some people are ok with new initiatives and increasing the budget for them. You and others are not and just keep crying the budget is increasing the budget is increasing every year.

Great! Have you sent in your check to pay for this?

Also, thanks for acknowledging the budget increases every year. I'm tired of the false statements about budget "cuts".

Yes, I have sent them checks and also advocate for increased taxes. There are "cuts" to services. There are increased costs because of additional students, increases in salary, and increases in programs. If they get rid of full day Mondays it would be a "cut" this year even though it was a new initiative and an increase in a previous year. Cut is still the right word to use this year though.

[Anonymous]

They could get rid of full day K except at title 1 schools and full day Monday. Students could still remain in the buildings via SACC. Easy since the county schools have now adjusted facilities so buildings have space for full day K. 2 rooms with morning and afternoon shifts now need 4 rooms for full day.

Charge for IB and AP with IB at full charge -oops won't work since FCPS put it in at high fRPM/ESL schools. Better yet-transition OUT the entire IB program.

[Anonymous]

My above post was based on longitudinal studies by FCPS which showed academic benefits for higher risk students that declined by grade 3. FCPS no longer has the study on-line or I just can't find it due to changed links.

http://www.educationcentury.org/sites/default/files/Library_PB_Spring_2005_Full_Day_Kindergarten.pdf

However, since FCPS combined it with other funded programs the reliability on just the full day component wasn't pure data.

This principal is doing a great job and all schools need to use it as a model. With site based management things don't always happen. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/get-it-the-right-way-first-a-principal-finds-success-in-a-high-poverty-school/2017/04/07/45d72b84-1ae4-11e7-bcc2-7d1a0973e7b2_story.html?utm_term=.3ac9fbcb1601

If they don't learn to read then learn to read to learn in lower elementary the rest is a loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As of now the budget is scheduled to INCREASE $130.4 million, or 4.9% percent over this year's.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY-2018-Proposed-Budget.pdf

The school board is asking for an additional 60-80M. They are threatening cuts if they don't get it but any cuts are simply due to re-allocation of priorities. The budget is increasing, like every year.

You never stop do you? Prices go up. Point out where the extra money is that can be cut out of the budget and stand up for what you actually see as waste or get out of the business of simply pointing out that budgets go up each year.

Sigh. Many proposals have been made on how to cut the budget. The School Board never seriously considers them. In fact, some of the School Board's actions have only increased the operating costs of FCPS (full day Mondays, later start times, extending the school year, etc). They never bother to figure out how to pay for these initiatives, they just cry wolf every year.

Some people are ok with new initiatives and increasing the budget for them. You and others are not and just keep crying the budget is increasing the budget is increasing every year.

Great! Have you sent in your check to pay for this?

Also, thanks for acknowledging the budget increases every year. I'm tired of the false statements about budget "cuts".

NP here, my mortgage went up $100 per month recently (tax assessment) so yes, I have sent in my check for this. Schools are worth every penny.

We should exempt teachers from state income tax too, if we can't do raises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As of now the budget is scheduled to INCREASE $130.4 million, or 4.9% percent over this year's.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY-2018-Proposed-Budget.pdf

The school board is asking for an additional 60-80M. They are threatening cuts if they don't get it but any cuts are simply due to re-allocation of priorities. The budget is increasing, like every year.

You never stop do you? Prices go up. Point out where the extra money is that can be cut out of the budget and stand up for what you actually see as waste or get out of the business of simply pointing out that budgets go up each year.

Sigh. Many proposals have been made on how to cut the budget. The School Board never seriously considers them. In fact, some of the School Board's actions have only increased the operating costs of FCPS (full day Mondays, later start times, extending the school year, etc). They never bother to figure out how to pay for these initiatives, they just cry wolf every year.

Some people are ok with new initiatives and increasing the budget for them. You and others are not and just keep crying the budget is increasing the budget is increasing every year.

Great! Have you sent in your check to pay for this?

Also, thanks for acknowledging the budget increases every year. I'm tired of the false statements about budget "cuts".

Yes, I have sent them checks and also advocate for increased taxes. There are "cuts" to services. There are increased costs because of additional students, increases in salary, and increases in programs. If they get rid of full day Mondays it would be a "cut" this year even though it was a new initiative and an increase in a previous year. Cut is still the right word to use this year though.

No, cut is not the right word. I know English is tough for some people, but a cut in budget means spending less money. The budget is growing, but you want it to grow faster. That's OK, just be honest and don't call it a cut.

No, costs are not increasing because of additional students, enrollment is projected to be flat.

Yes, there are increases in salary, the current increase funds these.

Bingo!. What are these new programs and why are they a higher priority than the existing programs?

Things like Mondays and all-day Kindergarten are already baked in. They were fully funded in this years budget. The increases are on top of that.

Keep sending them checks. You can even keep advocating for increased taxes, when your position gains majority support it'll happen. Till then, pls recognize that the will of the people is not on your side.

Whether we should increase taxes to fund additional increases in school spending is a fair debate. But pls be honest and stop with the "cuts" argument. It's not true.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County has proposed increases too for things like fire and rescue trucks equipment and facilities, additional police training, new road improvements. I don't hear you sounding off on these increases like you do with schools.

[Anonymous]

Also, enrollment has not been flat and continues to increase. Because we have so many students the numbers seem small comparatively, you may think it's not an increase, however it's enough for another smaller school system to require a huge budget increase.

[Anonymous]

9:09 it is a "Cut" to the proposed budget which shows an increase of spending.

[Anonymous]

I'm still mad that the meal tax failed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As of now the budget is scheduled to INCREASE $130.4 million, or 4.9% percent over this year's.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY-2018-Proposed-Budget.pdf

The school board is asking for an additional 60-80M. They are threatening cuts if they don't get it but any cuts are simply due to re-allocation of priorities. The budget is increasing, like every year.

You never stop do you? Prices go up. Point out where the extra money is that can be cut out of the budget and stand up for what you actually see as waste or get out of the business of simply pointing out that budgets go up each year.

Sigh. Many proposals have been made on how to cut the budget. The School Board never seriously considers them. In fact, some of the School Board's actions have only increased the operating costs of FCPS (full day Mondays, later start times, extending the school year, etc). They never bother to figure out how to pay for these initiatives, they just cry wolf every year.

What in the world are you talking about? The school year has been and continues to be 180 days for students. Explain your comment.

The number of student days is 180. The actual calendar time is far longer and has only increased with a longer winter break and the addition of numerous teacher workdays. This increases the operating costs of the schools.

Wrong. Teachers have been working 194-day contracts for over 20 years.
As for the increased operating costs due to a longer winter break, we're only talking a few days. And FCPS has been using an energy-saving program called Cenergistics that focuses on turning off heating/cooling systems whenever school is not in session as well as other energy conservation strategies. Ask custodians what it's like to do heavy lifting in 97 degree buildings in July.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, enrollment has not been flat and continues to increase. Because we have so many students the numbers seem small comparatively, you may think it's not an increase, however it's enough for another smaller school system to require a huge budget increase.

From: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY17ProposedBudgetPresentation.pdf Slide 16: Due to slowing growth, there is no requirement to add additional funding for enrollment in FY 2017.

And, FY 17 Proposed budget was for 188,091 and the FY 18 proposed budget is for 188,774. At .003 the increase meets the definition of flat. Or do you have some magic numbers that say otherwise? If so, citation please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County has proposed increases too for things like fire and rescue trucks equipment and facilities, additional police training, new road improvements. I don't hear you sounding off on these increases like you do with schools.

Because they're asking for increases for these things.

FCPS is lying and saying they are needed to avoid "cuts". It's not the money as much as the dishonesty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm still mad that the meal tax failed.

You can make a donation at: https://fcpsfoundation.z2systems.com/np/clients/fcpsfoundation/donation.jsp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County has proposed increases too for things like fire and rescue trucks equipment and facilities, additional police training, new road improvements. I don't hear you sounding off on these increases like you do with schools.

Because they're asking for increases for these things.

FCPS is lying and saying they are needed to avoid "cuts". It's not the money as much as the dishonesty.

I don't get your logic. FCPS has to get their money from the BOS so they have to submit a proposed budget. They don't get to vote on their own budget so likely this is why they ask for more than what they typically end up with. Both the BOS and FCPS submit proposed budgets. In the County proposed budget there are proposed increases already and then they also list some wants that aren't funded, but there are increases and additional services listed in the original proposed budget with additional funding attached to them. Lately people have not been arguing against these increases. But when something is taken away from the proposed budget, it is still considered a cut to the proposed budget just like it is for FCPS. What would you like to call a cut to a proposed budget instead? It has to work for the County and FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, enrollment has not been flat and continues to increase. Because we have so many students the numbers seem small comparatively, you may think it's not an increase, however it's enough for another smaller school system to require a huge budget increase.

From: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY17ProposedBudgetPresentation.pdf Slide 16: Due to slowing growth, there is no requirement to add additional funding for enrollment in FY 2017.

And, FY 17 Proposed budget was for 188,091 and the FY 18 proposed budget is for 188,774. At .003 the increase meets the definition of flat. Or do you have some magic numbers that say otherwise? If so, citation please.

How is around 700 students the definition of flat?