Alexandria City Council Fully Fund the Schools!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I've heard this all before. This was a BS PTAC campaign about six years ago.

More money was thrown at ACPS then and things are worse.

How about demanding accountability at ACPS central office? How about instead of central office workers pulling in 100k+ for clerical work some of that goes to teachers?

+1
Compare the per pupil spend to other districts. I compare it to our amazing k-12, and the whole ACPS back office is a disgrace. It’s bloated and inefficient and as a taxpayer I have zero interest in throwing more money at it. Look at some of the small line items they waste money on and you get an idea of how they operate. I’d actually be in favor of a freeze on any increases until they are accountable and cut bloat in the central office.

Sure. The per pupil spend in Alexandria is $3,000 less per student compared to Falls Church public schools. It's $4,000 less per student compared to Arlington Public School. How can we expect ACPS to do better if they aren't funded!! Demand more where are our priorities if not for educating children!!

Look at all of the line items in the budget and see why per pupil spend is what it is. Why does the communications office have such a giant budget? Why is the back office so big? If they didn’t have such bloat, the per pupil spend could be the highest around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I've heard this all before. This was a BS PTAC campaign about six years ago.

More money was thrown at ACPS then and things are worse.

How about demanding accountability at ACPS central office? How about instead of central office workers pulling in 100k+ for clerical work some of that goes to teachers?

+1
Compare the per pupil spend to other districts. I compare it to our amazing k-12, and the whole ACPS back office is a disgrace. It’s bloated and inefficient and as a taxpayer I have zero interest in throwing more money at it. Look at some of the small line items they waste money on and you get an idea of how they operate. I’d actually be in favor of a freeze on any increases until they are accountable and cut bloat in the central office.

Sure. The per pupil spend in Alexandria is $3,000 less per student compared to Falls Church public schools. It's $4,000 less per student compared to Arlington Public School. How can we expect ACPS to do better if they aren't funded!! Demand more where are our priorities if not for educating children!!

Look at all of the line items in the budget and see why per pupil spend is what it is. Why does the communications office have such a giant budget? Why is the back office so big? If they didn’t have such bloat, the per pupil spend could be the highest around.

X1000

Until there is a serious effort to be fiscally responsible, eliminate bloat and waste...PTAC's recycled campaign is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I've heard this all before. This was a BS PTAC campaign about six years ago.

More money was thrown at ACPS then and things are worse.

How about demanding accountability at ACPS central office? How about instead of central office workers pulling in 100k+ for clerical work some of that goes to teachers?

+1
Compare the per pupil spend to other districts. I compare it to our amazing k-12, and the whole ACPS back office is a disgrace. It’s bloated and inefficient and as a taxpayer I have zero interest in throwing more money at it. Look at some of the small line items they waste money on and you get an idea of how they operate. I’d actually be in favor of a freeze on any increases until they are accountable and cut bloat in the central office.

Sure. The per pupil spend in Alexandria is $3,000 less per student compared to Falls Church public schools. It's $4,000 less per student compared to Arlington Public School. How can we expect ACPS to do better if they aren't funded!! Demand more where are our priorities if not for educating children!!

Look at all of the line items in the budget and see why per pupil spend is what it is. Why does the communications office have such a giant budget? Why is the back office so big? If they didn’t have such bloat, the per pupil spend could be the highest around.

Okay, show me the line items..... Where's the bloat?

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with "fully finding schools", but I have not heard one person that talks about this actually specify what it means. Is there actually a number in terms of per student spending that would be considered fulling funding the schools? School funding is important, but it is not a Panacea. DC public schools spend more than $30,000 per year for each student, but the the educational outcomes are horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I've heard this all before. This was a BS PTAC campaign about six years ago.

More money was thrown at ACPS then and things are worse.

How about demanding accountability at ACPS central office? How about instead of central office workers pulling in 100k+ for clerical work some of that goes to teachers?

+1
Compare the per pupil spend to other districts. I compare it to our amazing k-12, and the whole ACPS back office is a disgrace. It’s bloated and inefficient and as a taxpayer I have zero interest in throwing more money at it. Look at some of the small line items they waste money on and you get an idea of how they operate. I’d actually be in favor of a freeze on any increases until they are accountable and cut bloat in the central office.

Sure. The per pupil spend in Alexandria is $3,000 less per student compared to Falls Church public schools. It's $4,000 less per student compared to Arlington Public School. How can we expect ACPS to do better if they aren't funded!! Demand more where are our priorities if not for educating children!!

Look at all of the line items in the budget and see why per pupil spend is what it is. Why does the communications office have such a giant budget? Why is the back office so big? If they didn’t have such bloat, the per pupil spend could be the highest around.

Okay, show me the line items..... Where's the bloat?

Central office has about 300 full-time teleworking employees who get 40 paid days off a year - yet not a single person responsible for district-wide curricula. Every elementary school has different reading program. There is not a math curriculum to be had. That is bloat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with "fully finding schools", but I have not heard one person that talks about this actually specify what it means. Is there actually a number in terms of per student spending that would be considered fulling funding the schools? School funding is important, but it is not a Panacea. DC public schools spend more than $30,000 per year for each student, but the the educational outcomes are horrible.

These are the line items that the school board is asking to fund per the PTAC

-A 2% market rate adjustment salary increase for all staff (about $5.4M)
-Moving up all staff missing steps previously up a step ($4.5M)
-Two elementary school advanced academic teachers ($250,000)
-Athletic trainer ($115,000)
-Two middle school deans ($307,000)
-College and career center position ($125,000)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with "fully finding schools", but I have not heard one person that talks about this actually specify what it means. Is there actually a number in terms of per student spending that would be considered fulling funding the schools? School funding is important, but it is not a Panacea. DC public schools spend more than $30,000 per year for each student, but the the educational outcomes are horrible.

These are the line items that the school board is asking to fund per the PTAC

-A 2% market rate adjustment salary increase for all staff (about $5.4M)
-Moving up all staff missing steps previously up a step ($4.5M)
-Two elementary school advanced academic teachers ($250,000)
-Athletic trainer ($115,000)
-Two middle school deans ($307,000)
-College and career center position ($125,000)

But this is on top of 4 new CO HR employees and 25 administrative assistants at CO - who telework and assist teleworking employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with "fully finding schools", but I have not heard one person that talks about this actually specify what it means. Is there actually a number in terms of per student spending that would be considered fulling funding the schools? School funding is important, but it is not a Panacea. DC public schools spend more than $30,000 per year for each student, but the the educational outcomes are horrible.

These are the line items that the school board is asking to fund per the PTAC

-A 2% market rate adjustment salary increase for all staff (about $5.4M)
-Moving up all staff missing steps previously up a step ($4.5M)
-Two elementary school advanced academic teachers ($250,000)
-Athletic trainer ($115,000)
-Two middle school deans ($307,000)
-College and career center position ($125,000)

I'll translate:

Top heavy central office get increase on top of their already bloated salaries who think they get to take the summers off like teachers. And PTAC and ACPS pretend it's all for teachers.

What did they offer to cut?

How about cutting the head of TAG/AAS? She openly talks about how she want to dismantle the program and sends her kids to two of the most expensive private schools in Alexandria after pulling them out of ACPS.

How about cutting the administrative assistants at central office who are pulling in significantly more than teachers and giggle about how they take summers off and don't show up.

Why is this time different PTAC? In Alexandria more money has resulted in worse results.

I'd also like to know why the PTAC website is covered in pictures of the former president of PTAC. It's weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with "fully finding schools", but I have not heard one person that talks about this actually specify what it means. Is there actually a number in terms of per student spending that would be considered fulling funding the schools? School funding is important, but it is not a Panacea. DC public schools spend more than $30,000 per year for each student, but the the educational outcomes are horrible.

Great question. PTAC rolls out this campaign every year. So what is the number? And how will results be measured? What accountability will be in place this time?

Because PTAC doesn't hold ACPS accountable for anything. They never have. They provide coverage. They just sign their names to op-eds about how great ACPS is and scream at people who say otherwise. If it's so great...why does it need more money thrown at it?