PSA: Fairfax County Proposed Budget CANCELS Middle School After School Programs

[Anonymous]

I host 4 clubs for middle school students and they look forward to them every week. I grew up in FCPS and benefitted from afterschool programming especially during the time when my parent would be deployed in the army. I have made lifelong friends during my time as a middle school student many years ago. It would be a shame to take away these opportunities away from these kids. If you would like to contribute to helping save the after school programs for middle school in FCPS, you can follow the link and sign the letter that will be sent to the board of supervisors of NCS in the Fairfax County Government which funds these programs to let them know that we will not stand for them cutting these impactful programs for our students. Thank you!
https://v-post.org/take-action/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We avoid having our kids stay after school for any clubs because the late bus system is so insanely unreliable. The buses are “supposed to” pick up at 4:30, but my child never left her MS on a late before 5:15pm. They tend to pack them all on one bus, therefore the bus driver has an insanely huge area to drop kids off. One time my child was on the bus for OVER two hours! My husband had to track down the bus in a neighborhood and get her off because she was about to pee herself.
IMO, all middle school after school activities should require the child having their own transportation home. Adding late buses to this area at rush hour makes no sense. I get that it’s convenient for working parents to have your kid use bus, but honestly any working parent should be able to pick up their kid at 4:30/5. If they can’t, the child should not be permitted stay for an after school activity.

You are wrong. The activities end at 4:30, but buses are supposed to pick up at 4:50 pm. Most pick up at 5:00 pm though. At 4:30 pm buses are still finished dropping off students from the 4th bell elementary schools, which usually ends around 4:40pm (when everything goes smoothly and the driver doesn’t need to return a kindergarten or preschooler to school because no one was at the stop to meet them, for example).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:If we can't find the money for after-school programs for middle school kids, we absolutely should get rid of TJHSST, IB, and AAP centers. There is absolutely no justification for a magnet HS or these "extras" if we can't cover the basics for middle school kids.

To be fair, I’m not sure the after school program is a basic thing. I’ve taught in 3 districts in 3 different states and my kids attended school in a 4th. FCPS is the only one that had any sort of middle school after school program. Is it nice? Sure. But definitely an extra.

A lot of middle schools have clubs and sports. FCPS is very middle of the road in what it offers after school. The buses are a nice touch for those that don't have parents to pick up. They only run a couple of days a week and run the same days as afterschool academic help.

FCPS needs the money for DEI Chief Nardos King, and her 60+ person full time DEI staff.

FCPS cannot afford after-school programs or middle school sports.

Look, another clueless parrot who doesn’t understand there are two budgets.

No you don't understand. The board is asking FCPS to fund these programs on their own this year. The DEI office is enormous and cuts to it could increase FCPS 's contribution to the programs. $6M for DEI. Make it make sense.

[Anonymous]

I pick DS up from Carson after clubs, it is on the way home from work. Some busses are there and loading at 4:30 with a few driving in as we are pulling out of the parking lot at 4:40. I don’t know how many late busses Carson runs but I have seen 4 busses on a regular basis. The few times DS has taken the bus he has gotten home around 5:15, part of that is the route and the stop being further away from the house a longer walk.

He would still do the clubs he does if we were not picking him up but appreciates the ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we can't find the money for after-school programs for middle school kids, we absolutely should get rid of TJHSST, IB, and AAP centers. There is absolutely no justification for a magnet HS or these "extras" if we can't cover the basics for middle school kids.

To be fair, I’m not sure the after school program is a basic thing. I’ve taught in 3 districts in 3 different states and my kids attended school in a 4th. FCPS is the only one that had any sort of middle school after school program. Is it nice? Sure. But definitely an extra.

A lot of middle schools have clubs and sports. FCPS is very middle of the road in what it offers after school. The buses are a nice touch for those that don't have parents to pick up. They only run a couple of days a week and run the same days as afterschool academic help.

FCPS needs the money for DEI Chief Nardos King, and her 60+ person full time DEI staff.

FCPS cannot afford after-school programs or middle school sports.

Look, another clueless parrot who doesn’t understand there are two budgets.

No you don't understand. The board is asking FCPS to fund these programs on their own this year. The DEI office is enormous and cuts to it could increase FCPS 's contribution to the programs. $6M for DEI. Make it make sense.

The FCPS “dei” office includes hearing officers, TJ admissions and more. Please look at an org chart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we can't find the money for after-school programs for middle school kids, we absolutely should get rid of TJHSST, IB, and AAP centers. There is absolutely no justification for a magnet HS or these "extras" if we can't cover the basics for middle school kids.

To be fair, I’m not sure the after school program is a basic thing. I’ve taught in 3 districts in 3 different states and my kids attended school in a 4th. FCPS is the only one that had any sort of middle school after school program. Is it nice? Sure. But definitely an extra.

A lot of middle schools have clubs and sports. FCPS is very middle of the road in what it offers after school. The buses are a nice touch for those that don't have parents to pick up. They only run a couple of days a week and run the same days as afterschool academic help.

FCPS needs the money for DEI Chief Nardos King, and her 60+ person full time DEI staff.

FCPS cannot afford after-school programs or middle school sports.

Look, another clueless parrot who doesn’t understand there are two budgets.

No you don't understand. The board is asking FCPS to fund these programs on their own this year. The DEI office is enormous and cuts to it could increase FCPS 's contribution to the programs. $6M for DEI. Make it make sense.

The FCPS “dei” office includes hearing officers, TJ admissions and more. Please look at an org chart.

And? Cuts can be made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we can't find the money for after-school programs for middle school kids, we absolutely should get rid of TJHSST, IB, and AAP centers. There is absolutely no justification for a magnet HS or these "extras" if we can't cover the basics for middle school kids.

To be fair, I’m not sure the after school program is a basic thing. I’ve taught in 3 districts in 3 different states and my kids attended school in a 4th. FCPS is the only one that had any sort of middle school after school program. Is it nice? Sure. But definitely an extra.

A lot of middle schools have clubs and sports. FCPS is very middle of the road in what it offers after school. The buses are a nice touch for those that don't have parents to pick up. They only run a couple of days a week and run the same days as afterschool academic help.

FCPS needs the money for DEI Chief Nardos King, and her 60+ person full time DEI staff.

FCPS cannot afford after-school programs or middle school sports.

Look, another clueless parrot who doesn’t understand there are two budgets.

No you don't understand. The board is asking FCPS to fund these programs on their own this year. The DEI office is enormous and cuts to it could increase FCPS 's contribution to the programs. $6M for DEI. Make it make sense.

The FCPS “dei” office includes hearing officers, TJ admissions and more. Please look at an org chart.

The hearing office and TJ make up a mere $1.7M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we can't find the money for after-school programs for middle school kids, we absolutely should get rid of TJHSST, IB, and AAP centers. There is absolutely no justification for a magnet HS or these "extras" if we can't cover the basics for middle school kids.

To be fair, I’m not sure the after school program is a basic thing. I’ve taught in 3 districts in 3 different states and my kids attended school in a 4th. FCPS is the only one that had any sort of middle school after school program. Is it nice? Sure. But definitely an extra.

A lot of middle schools have clubs and sports. FCPS is very middle of the road in what it offers after school. The buses are a nice touch for those that don't have parents to pick up. They only run a couple of days a week and run the same days as afterschool academic help.

FCPS needs the money for DEI Chief Nardos King, and her 60+ person full time DEI staff.

FCPS cannot afford after-school programs or middle school sports.

Look, another clueless parrot who doesn’t understand there are two budgets.

No you don't understand. The board is asking FCPS to fund these programs on their own this year. The DEI office is enormous and cuts to it could increase FCPS 's contribution to the programs. $6M for DEI. Make it make sense.

The FCPS “dei” office includes hearing officers, TJ admissions and more. Please look at an org chart.

The hearing office and TJ make up a mere $1.7M.

Has anyone added up how much TJ costs FCPS altogether? For a tiny fraction of the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the middle schools do what elementary PTAs do, and offer after school activities from outside organizations?

Or perhaps fcps can keep the activities but ditch the late busses. Parents who want the activities can pick up their own kids.

I know you mean well PP, but both suggestions revreal an extremely privileged lens. Please take a step back and remember that public schools are meant to provide opportunity and access to all students they serve.

Public schools are “meant to” provide education, which they are doing during school hours. After school extras are not their responsibility.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we can't find the money for after-school programs for middle school kids, we absolutely should get rid of TJHSST, IB, and AAP centers. There is absolutely no justification for a magnet HS or these "extras" if we can't cover the basics for middle school kids.

To be fair, I’m not sure the after school program is a basic thing. I’ve taught in 3 districts in 3 different states and my kids attended school in a 4th. FCPS is the only one that had any sort of middle school after school program. Is it nice? Sure. But definitely an extra.

A lot of middle schools have clubs and sports. FCPS is very middle of the road in what it offers after school. The buses are a nice touch for those that don't have parents to pick up. They only run a couple of days a week and run the same days as afterschool academic help.

FCPS needs the money for DEI Chief Nardos King, and her 60+ person full time DEI staff.

FCPS cannot afford after-school programs or middle school sports.

Look, another clueless parrot who doesn’t understand there are two budgets.

No you don't understand. The board is asking FCPS to fund these programs on their own this year. The DEI office is enormous and cuts to it could increase FCPS 's contribution to the programs. $6M for DEI. Make it make sense.

The FCPS “dei” office includes hearing officers, TJ admissions and more. Please look at an org chart.

The hearing office and TJ make up a mere $1.7M.

Has anyone added up how much TJ costs FCPS altogether? For a tiny fraction of the kids.

Costs almost nothing more than regular schools - just transportation. It’s a Governor’s School and collects tuition from out of county students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the middle schools do what elementary PTAs do, and offer after school activities from outside organizations?

Or perhaps fcps can keep the activities but ditch the late busses. Parents who want the activities can pick up their own kids.

I know you mean well PP, but both suggestions revreal an extremely privileged lens. Please take a step back and remember that public schools are meant to provide opportunity and access to all students they serve.

Public schools are “meant to” provide education, which they are doing during school hours. After school extras are not their responsibility.

+1

Agree. And it’s not the county’s job either. It’s parents’ job to take care of their kids after school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we can't find the money for after-school programs for middle school kids, we absolutely should get rid of TJHSST, IB, and AAP centers. There is absolutely no justification for a magnet HS or these "extras" if we can't cover the basics for middle school kids.

These are NOT basics! Academic programs during school hours are basic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we can't find the money for after-school programs for middle school kids, we absolutely should get rid of TJHSST, IB, and AAP centers. There is absolutely no justification for a magnet HS or these "extras" if we can't cover the basics for middle school kids.

These are NOT basics! Academic programs during school hours are basic.

By all means let's only provide the basics. Middle school kids don't deserve anything else. What a stupid logic! Have you looked at your tax bill? And we're talking about providing just the basics? Infuriating. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oof, if I were a local business owner I’d be campaigning to keep the program. On Fridays when it doesn’t happen the local shopping centers are mobbed with middle schoolers behaving poorly, to the point cops have been called many times.

12-14 year olds cannot get out at 2:15 and be on their own for 3-5 hours. They will find trouble.

If they’re pushing middle schoolers to be the late start/end schools, I’m okay with it.

What kind of 12-14 year olds do you know? This is odd, that they can't entertain themselves.

So you obviously have never been to a shopping plaza near a middle school between 2:15-4:00 PM.

I'm going to be honest- I am a middle schooler and the things I see is insane. Kids wear literal shorts so small you can see their whole butt cheek. It's gross to me. Regular fights, drugs, sex- all of these things are NOT OKAY, but are still regular occurrences for me to see everyday. At this point, I'm scared to go to the bathroom in case I get bullied. I dress not too crazily, but I do wear a lot of bracelets and slightly alternative clothing, like hot topic clothing, and I wear headphones a lot because kids are LOUD. I don't have any developmental issues, but I do have ADHD. Some of the comments said about me this year have been crazy. I have been called the f-slur, the t-slur for trans people, the r-slur. I've also been called a b^^ch, a b^^^^rd, and I regularly get shoved into lockers and shoved into hard things in the hallways. Most modern kids don't read books, no, they bully, steal, break, and hurt other people. They go on social media to crap on other people. I have had to help at least 6 people THIS YEAR with their mental health because of how bad it is. The kids like me who dress differently or look different or talk different, almost all of them have scars on their wrists. Almost all of them have anxiety and PTSD, just because they get shoved around and yelled at just because they wear black accessories and are autistic or trans or wear headphones everyday. These kids are horrible. Not everyone, but, unfortunately, MOST of them.

Troll.

So, simply because I state the truth, you call me a troll? Wow, I thought adults were supposed to be mature. I suppose not.

[Anonymous]

I love my after school program, and I know my friends do too. Why cancel it?! You can connect with others and make so many friends! It has so many benefits, and it certainly should not be taken away. Students should take this opportunity, it could help them in college and later in life since colleges look at your grades and extra curriculars, they can see all of the important after school classes people have taken.