WAPO article about sever FFX school budget cuts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the WP article did not see fit to mention the massive increased costs of heath ins...

Although the budget development process has barely started for next school year’s funding, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is facing a bottom-line budget deficit of $140.7 million in FY 2015, due to revenues that have not kept pace with growing enrollment and increasing mandatory costs. The primary drivers include:
Student enrollment growth, projected to be an additional 2,800 students for next school year ($25 million).

Health insurance rate increase ($27 million).

Increased contributions to the Virginia Retirement System ($37 million).


Loss in state revenue through the recalculation of the state funding formula, known as the LCI, and the loss of one-time incentive funding ($21 million).

Wow. That's all? Whew. I was worried it would have gone up at the rate it was going before Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. That's a real relief to know that costs are under control there. Thanks for pointing it out. The school system employs more than 25,000 people, BTW.

Yep... only a tidy $1080.00 increase per employee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the WP article did not see fit to mention the massive increased costs of heath ins...

Although the budget development process has barely started for next school year’s funding, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is facing a bottom-line budget deficit of $140.7 million in FY 2015, due to revenues that have not kept pace with growing enrollment and increasing mandatory costs. The primary drivers include:
Student enrollment growth, projected to be an additional 2,800 students for next school year ($25 million).

Health insurance rate increase ($27 million).

Increased contributions to the Virginia Retirement System ($37 million).


Loss in state revenue through the recalculation of the state funding formula, known as the LCI, and the loss of one-time incentive funding ($21 million).

Wow. That's all? Whew. I was worried it would have gone up at the rate it was going before Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. That's a real relief to know that costs are under control there. Thanks for pointing it out. The school system employs more than 25,000 people, BTW.

Yep... only a tidy $1080.00 increase per employee.

Why doesn't FCPS just give each employee a voucher for $1500/year and let them all get health insurance via the ACA? Great heath insurance; choice of plans and the tax payers save a bundle.

[Anonymous]

"Why doesn't FCPS just give each employee a voucher for $1500/year and let them all get health insurance via the ACA? Great heath insurance; choice of plans and the tax payers save a bundle. "

Yes! Then more teachers will move west to Loudoun and we can staff our brand new shiny schools we pay with with our higher taxes. Our latest high school is costing us $100 million just to build! We value children's education here. Sincerely, Loudoun

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it true that FCPS spends less per student than neighboring districts? If so, then it seems like maybe we just need to put more money into our schools if we want to keep the same services.

Yes, it sucks that so much money is used for ESOL, but the facts are that we can educate the kids who are here and put them in a position to be paying taxes in their future, or we can ignore them and marginalize them and then we get to continue paying for them as inmates. The whole "let's hate on the ESOL students" argument is just a waste of time. Let's just realize that it's going to cost more for all of us and incease the tax rate a few cents/$100 property value.

I respect the job that my kids' teachers do and I hate that they are always put in the crosshairs for not getting raises or having to take more kids in their classes, etc. I do not envy their jobs. Doesn't it make sense for most of us to pay $200 more in taxes so that we don't end up leaving the public school system for private (where we will be paying somewhere b/t $15K and $30K per year)? Forget about the bus rides to AAP and the ESOL -- let's put on our big boy/girl pants and just accept that we need to pay a little more to keep the kind of schools and society we want in Fairfax County.

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.

AAP is providing a better education to all FCPS students in that it reduces the amount of differentiation that needs to be done in each classroom. So both GE and AAP kids benefit.

[Anonymous]

AAP is providing a better education to all FCPS students in that it reduces the amount of differentiation that needs to be done in each classroom. So both GE and AAP kids benefit.
[Report Post]

Baloney!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

AAP is providing a better education to all FCPS students in that it reduces the amount of differentiation that needs to be done in each classroom. So both GE and AAP kids benefit.
[Report Post]

Baloney!

I hope that a teacher will speak to this.

[Anonymous]

Here is some information stating that 80 percent of English Language Learner students in another school district are U.S. citizens. The webpage states that this percentage parallels national numbers, and a link is provided as a reference for this claim.

"Fact of the day, 80% of English Language Learner (ELL) students at the Clark County School District are U.S. citizens, which correlates to national averages as well. Many people often make the mistake of grouping ELL students as undocumented immigrants. Some people even oppose ELL funding for this very reason.

Knowing that most ELL students are U.S. citizens may or may not persuade people to support ELL funding. However, our society can either choose to prepare our young people for a brighter future by spending some money on ELL now, or we can pay a lot more later for all the costs associated with an unskilled and uneducated citizenry."

http://ramirezgroup.com/latino/80-percent-of-ell-students-at-ccsd-are-u-s-citizens

[Anonymous]

There are school districts that charge a fee to fund bus transportation. You can pay the bus fee or choose to get your own kids to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I know I'm going to regret this but how does it discriminate? (I'm talking unlawful discrimination, not in the sense that it favors the smart kids).

[Anonymous]

Another helpful webpage, 10 Myths About Immigration

http://www.tolerance.org/immigration-myths

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

+1

This thread is depressing.

Let's raise taxes, pass bonds, and fund our schools. Where's the problem here? In the richest county in the country, let's pay for our kids' education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Why doesn't FCPS just give each employee a voucher for $1500/year and let them all get health insurance via the ACA? Great heath insurance; choice of plans and the tax payers save a bundle. "

Yes! Then more teachers will move west to Loudoun and we can staff our brand new shiny schools we pay with with our higher taxes. Our latest high school is costing us $100 million just to build! We value children's education here. Sincerely, Loudoun

How soon we forget... remember the old war cry bumper sticker: "DON'T FAIRFAX LOUDOUN?" Be careful what you ask for... 'cause your're gettin' it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is some information stating that 80 percent of English Language Learner students in another school district are U.S. citizens. The webpage states that this percentage parallels national numbers, and a link is provided as a reference for this claim.

"Fact of the day, 80% of English Language Learner (ELL) students at the Clark County School District are U.S. citizens, which correlates to national averages as well. Many people often make the mistake of grouping ELL students as undocumented immigrants. Some people even oppose ELL funding for this very reason.

Knowing that most ELL students are U.S. citizens may or may not persuade people to support ELL funding. However, our society can either choose to prepare our young people for a brighter future by spending some money on ELL now, or we can pay a lot more later for all the costs associated with an unskilled and uneducated citizenry."

http://ramirezgroup.com/latino/80-percent-of-ell-students-at-ccsd-are-u-s-citizens

I did not read through this entire thread, but I want to point out that children are put in the ESOL category if the parent indicates that a family member in the home (mother, father, grandparent) speaks another language other than English. Therefore, a child can be born in this country, fluent in English, but be marked as ESOL if their dad speaks German as his first language, for example. So the number of children marked as ESOL may be inflated. This issue came up with a friend of mine who struggled to pull her daughter out of the ESOL category.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/190228.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Why doesn't FCPS just give each employee a voucher for $1500/year and let them all get health insurance via the ACA? Great heath insurance; choice of plans and the tax payers save a bundle. "

Yes! Then more teachers will move west to Loudoun and we can staff our brand new shiny schools we pay with with our higher taxes. Our latest high school is costing us $100 million just to build! We value children's education here. Sincerely, Loudoun

You seem not to understand basic tax economics. Loudoun Co. does have a higher real estate TAX RATE ($1.285) than does FFx Co. ( $1.07), but the AVERAGE HOME VALUE is nearly 10% higher in FFx Co. Thus, the amount of TAX PAID is roughly the same on average per household.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

+1

This thread is depressing.

Let's raise taxes, pass bonds, and fund our schools. Where's the problem here? In the richest county in the country, let's pay for our kids' education.

Thank you, PP. I am not generally in favor of increased taxes, but if you want a world class school system in one of the wealthiest counties in the country, we all may need to see our property taxes raised a smudge. It is ultimately good for our kids and property values. There is a lot of talk about waste of taxpayer dollars at the national level, but let's not confuse that with what FCPS is doing. Per pupil costs are actually quite reasonable, but the number of kids keeps increasing.