WAPO article about sever FFX school budget cuts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is $140 million to cut and you guys are talking about mouse turds.

+1000000

In my budget $10million is not considered mouse turds.

We can save more than that in other places. AAP is a feeder system to TJ, which is a huge economic driver for the area.

First, start with all the duplicative music programs. There are lots of music programs that run after school and need not get caught up in the school day.

Second, cut the after-school programs at the middle schools. Then the late bus runs would be eliminated.

Third, eliminate all foreign language instruction.

Fourth, we need school buildings -- look at existing school and county inventory and look for sites where administrative facilities can be retrofitted into school space.

That should save some funds.

then you would have to provide computers to all those students who do not have access to computers at home. Textbooks are now online- so save $$. Then you would have to add funds the police department. One of the reasons there are afterschool activities in MS is because gangs were infiltrating middle schools inlcuding Longfellow. So, now they have homework club until 6:00pm and tons of after school activities. A late bus is a small price to pay to avoid everything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I might be more sympathetic if they didn't wave Mexican flags at amnesty rallies.

Where were you California or Texas? Most of the hispanic immigrants in Fairfax County come from countries other than Mexico.

That was the rally in DC last week during the shutdown. Amnesty rally had permission to be there.

On a different topic, why was the Amnesty rally allowed on the Mall, but WWII vets weren't allowed at their memorial?

[Anonymous]

Reopen Clifton ES.

Savings and lower class sizes for at least three local ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would it help if band, strings, or chorus was a requirement in elementary schools? Everyone has to pick an instrument or sing. It seems odd that you have the option of regular music class, band, strings, or chorus during the elementary music block. Not sure about middle and high school.

I agree and have long thought this. There is so much wasted time in FCPS... eliminating generic "music" class but requiring the kids to pick an instrument or join chorus would at least eliminate one unnecessary class.

[Anonymous]

Do away with music, art and PE. If you want these for your kids YOU pay for it after school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

One would hope so but someone somewhere is holding FCPS hostage to this program.

FCPS needs to get rid of the part time AART's and the part time AAP programs. They are not necessary and wasting money with no benifit. Bring the qualified fulltime AAP teachers from the center programs and distribute them in the base schools. Provide truly advanced classes with placement based on performance and grades not "social difficulties" . This wil get rid of some of the "pork" AAP services in the elementary schools. Drop the middle school AAP center program and stick with the, already in place, current self selected AP classes in all base middle schools. This eliminates the wasted money and countless hours of pay spent for "qualifying" kids, elimanates the part time AAP teachers and programs, consolidates busing, redistributes the students all while providing a "real" equal oppitunity and quality education for all. Look at all the cost savings!

Finally, someone with some common sense!! I sincerely hope FCPS implements all of what you suggested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people on here really want to defund AAP; has about as much chance of ever happening as the Tea Party efforts to defund Obamacare.

Hello idiot (#4today). I think you are wrong here. AAP is on its way out in the elementary schools. And, by the way, the affordable care act is here to stay.

I don't call people names, but I seriously do not think AAP is on the way out anymore than Obamacare is on the way out.

Sadly, probably not, but at least the Affordable Care Act is supported by a majority of the population. Nor does it discriminate in who it provides services for like AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do away with music, art and PE. If you want these for your kids YOU pay for it after school.

YES!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
then you would have to provide computers to all those students who do not have access to computers at home. Textbooks are now online- so save $$. Then you would have to add funds the police department. One of the reasons there are afterschool activities in MS is because gangs were infiltrating middle schools inlcuding Longfellow. So, now they have homework club until 6:00pm and tons of after school activities. A late bus is a small price to pay to avoid everything else.

That's not FCPS' problem. That's the county's problem. They can open the libraries later for computer access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part time AAP level I and III programs are in place to help students who don't necessarily make the AAP cut but are gifted in one area. They are very popular and keep kids at base schools.

And it is supposed to be readying kids to take honors courses in middle school and AP/IB in high school so they are more prepared for college. But readying kids for college is not the goal of the New FCPS now.

My kids were in GE and excelled in their honors and AP classes once in middle and high school. AAP has absolutely no bearing on preparation for higher level courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am all for paying a little more to keep funding the schools. Actually we increase it pretty much every Nov. 4. Nevertheless, AAP in elementary and middle is a waste of millions of dollars and not providing a better education to ALL FCPS students. Restructure AAP and make it work for all students and I believe in doing this there would/should be cost reductions. AART's and the whole bureaucratic process of screening are a huge waste of time, resources and money. I see no reason whatsoever for any of it. It is a discriminatory program and a cumbersome application process, and, does not allow ALL children to get a "better" education in All schools. Actually, quite honestly, it is just tracking reincarnated and I believe grounds for a class action.

Is that you Tina Hone? I thought you tried that already. Go ahead and file one, based on what? It's be dismissed for failure to state a cause of action faster than shit through a goose.

The above comment is unintelligible. OP makes perfect sense and excellent points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part time AAP level I and III programs are in place to help students who don't necessarily make the AAP cut but are gifted in one area. They are very popular and keep kids at base schools.

And it is supposed to be readying kids to take honors courses in middle school and AP/IB in high school so they are more prepared for college. But readying kids for college is not the goal of the New FCPS now.

My kids were in GE and excelled in their honors and AP classes once in middle and high school. AAP has absolutely no bearing on preparation for higher level courses.

My point exactly. FCPS does not want to mandate AP/IB exams as part of taking a course in high school; that way they get around the Cuccinelli problem and the kids have to pay for the exam. AP/IB and honors are all self-selecting now and very watered down (so the GE kids can take part), and it will be even more so with no exam requirement. So throw all of them out and just have a single level of class. Then you can throw out honors and all those special classes at the middle school level, and throw out AAP altogether.

You want extra? Then sign up for extra-curriculars outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is $140 million to cut and you guys are talking about mouse turds.

+1000000

In my budget $10million is not considered mouse turds.

The highest number on here I heard of for AAP's net cost was for bussing and that was only $600,000. So where do you get this $10 million. What is that?

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do away with music, art and PE. If you want these for your kids YOU pay for it after school.

YES!!!!

Wow, just wow, PPs. What is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Cut esol fir and farm for illegals and their children, problem solved forever causing those people to move to Maryland