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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cutting middle school afterschool activities is a terrible idea. These activities were a life line for my son who is a shy and quiet kid. It gave him the opportunity to make friends, meet with teachers, and try new clubs. He had a good group of friends going into 7th grade but that group fell apart and he was lost and unhappy for a bit. It was when he started going to some of these clubs and finding common ground outside of class that he flourished. He even participated in the school play this year. I can't tell you how much we've appreciated this outlet. My kid will be in high school next year so the budget cut here won't hurt him but it will hurt other kids like him... kids who need the chance to play and make new friends. Don't take away that joy.

In your opinion, what should they cut instead? They have to make up the money somewhere.

Surf to the Program Budget Stuff I'm posting could yield 4m. Then flip the 26 full timers to teaching positions with reduced classes - split the job into 2 components. https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY-2025-Program-Budget.pdf
p 114 IBMY pre IB diploma stuff $1.430,964
p 30 2 sites elementray magnets [combine Baileys] $1.215,017
p 521 magnet transport [few to Baliey's] $523,090

Combine low load immersion where there is high attrition Charge the IB fees for extras-theory of knowledge etc is free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is such an isolating time for kids, after school clubs is how they make friends. It was this way when I was in middle school 30 years ago. This is devastating for my rising 7th grader - all her friends have told her how much fun middle school is.

How's it isolating? Do they really lose touch with friends/stop hanging out with neighborhood friends the second middle school starts? MS is no picnic for sure, but i didn't realize it was that bad

My kid, and most of his friends, only have one other kid from their ES in any of their MS classes. The only time they see friends from ES is lunch time. Clubs give kids a chance to socialize with new people as well as be exposed to new activities. And then you have clubs like Mathcounts, Science Olympiad and other academic competitions.

I am not sure why the MS is being targeted when HSs have similar clubs and activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cutting middle school afterschool activities is a terrible idea. These activities were a life line for my son who is a shy and quiet kid. It gave him the opportunity to make friends, meet with teachers, and try new clubs. He had a good group of friends going into 7th grade but that group fell apart and he was lost and unhappy for a bit. It was when he started going to some of these clubs and finding common ground outside of class that he flourished. He even participated in the school play this year. I can't tell you how much we've appreciated this outlet. My kid will be in high school next year so the budget cut here won't hurt him but it will hurt other kids like him... kids who need the chance to play and make new friends. Don't take away that joy.

In your opinion, what should they cut instead? They have to make up the money somewhere.

Drop IB. I am sure that sucks up a good deal of the budget with little return.

Remove the AAP Centers at the MS level. There are enough kids coming from ES who are AAP eligible that each MS can run its own AAP program. That bus money saved can be used for the after school busses.

Reduce the DEI staffing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is such an isolating time for kids, after school clubs is how they make friends. It was this way when I was in middle school 30 years ago. This is devastating for my rising 7th grader - all her friends have told her how much fun middle school is.

How's it isolating? Do they really lose touch with friends/stop hanging out with neighborhood friends the second middle school starts? MS is no picnic for sure, but i didn't realize it was that bad

My kid, and most of his friends, only have one other kid from their ES in any of their MS classes. The only time they see friends from ES is lunch time. Clubs give kids a chance to socialize with new people as well as be exposed to new activities. And then you have clubs like Mathcounts, Science Olympiad and other academic competitions.

I am not sure why the MS is being targeted when HSs have similar clubs and activities.

It really sucks that there are so many barriers for kids just simply trying to maintain friendships

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is such an isolating time for kids, after school clubs is how they make friends. It was this way when I was in middle school 30 years ago. This is devastating for my rising 7th grader - all her friends have told her how much fun middle school is.

How's it isolating? Do they really lose touch with friends/stop hanging out with neighborhood friends the second middle school starts? MS is no picnic for sure, but i didn't realize it was that bad

When your elementary school feeds to 4 middle schools it is difficult to maintain friends.

+1000. And then only a few kids from MS go to the same HS. It is very difficult for their friendships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cutting middle school afterschool activities is a terrible idea. These activities were a life line for my son who is a shy and quiet kid. It gave him the opportunity to make friends, meet with teachers, and try new clubs. He had a good group of friends going into 7th grade but that group fell apart and he was lost and unhappy for a bit. It was when he started going to some of these clubs and finding common ground outside of class that he flourished. He even participated in the school play this year. I can't tell you how much we've appreciated this outlet. My kid will be in high school next year so the budget cut here won't hurt him but it will hurt other kids like him... kids who need the chance to play and make new friends. Don't take away that joy.

In your opinion, what should they cut instead? They have to make up the money somewhere.

Drop IB. I am sure that sucks up a good deal of the budget with little return.

Remove the AAP Centers at the MS level. There are enough kids coming from ES who are AAP eligible that each MS can run its own AAP program. That bus money saved can be used for the after school busses.

Reduce the DEI staffing.

For the hundredth time- MSAS is in the County budget, not FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cutting middle school afterschool activities is a terrible idea. These activities were a life line for my son who is a shy and quiet kid. It gave him the opportunity to make friends, meet with teachers, and try new clubs. He had a good group of friends going into 7th grade but that group fell apart and he was lost and unhappy for a bit. It was when he started going to some of these clubs and finding common ground outside of class that he flourished. He even participated in the school play this year. I can't tell you how much we've appreciated this outlet. My kid will be in high school next year so the budget cut here won't hurt him but it will hurt other kids like him... kids who need the chance to play and make new friends. Don't take away that joy.

In your opinion, what should they cut instead? They have to make up the money somewhere.

Drop IB. I am sure that sucks up a good deal of the budget with little return.

Remove the AAP Centers at the MS level. There are enough kids coming from ES who are AAP eligible that each MS can run its own AAP program. That bus money saved can be used for the after school busses.

Reduce the DEI staffing.

For the hundredth time- MSAS is in the County budget, not FCPS.

They can drop the stupid Covid Memorial that nobody wants, for one thing.

[Anonymous]

They could cut their bloated salaries for one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cutting middle school afterschool activities is a terrible idea. These activities were a life line for my son who is a shy and quiet kid. It gave him the opportunity to make friends, meet with teachers, and try new clubs. He had a good group of friends going into 7th grade but that group fell apart and he was lost and unhappy for a bit. It was when he started going to some of these clubs and finding common ground outside of class that he flourished. He even participated in the school play this year. I can't tell you how much we've appreciated this outlet. My kid will be in high school next year so the budget cut here won't hurt him but it will hurt other kids like him... kids who need the chance to play and make new friends. Don't take away that joy.

In your opinion, what should they cut instead? They have to make up the money somewhere.

Drop IB. I am sure that sucks up a good deal of the budget with little return.

Remove the AAP Centers at the MS level. There are enough kids coming from ES who are AAP eligible that each MS can run its own AAP program. That bus money saved can be used for the after school busses.

Reduce the DEI staffing.

For the hundredth time- MSAS is in the County budget, not FCPS.

For the hundredth time - the county is asking FCPS to pick up at least some of the cost if not all this year.

[Anonymous]

This is devastating for kids who are going to be in 7th next year. The bus times aren't changing, they just come home at 2:30 to nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cutting middle school afterschool activities is a terrible idea. These activities were a life line for my son who is a shy and quiet kid. It gave him the opportunity to make friends, meet with teachers, and try new clubs. He had a good group of friends going into 7th grade but that group fell apart and he was lost and unhappy for a bit. It was when he started going to some of these clubs and finding common ground outside of class that he flourished. He even participated in the school play this year. I can't tell you how much we've appreciated this outlet. My kid will be in high school next year so the budget cut here won't hurt him but it will hurt other kids like him... kids who need the chance to play and make new friends. Don't take away that joy.

In your opinion, what should they cut instead? They have to make up the money somewhere.

Drop IB. I am sure that sucks up a good deal of the budget with little return.

Remove the AAP Centers at the MS level. There are enough kids coming from ES who are AAP eligible that each MS can run its own AAP program. That bus money saved can be used for the after school busses.

Reduce the DEI staffing.

For the hundredth time- MSAS is in the County budget, not FCPS.

So FCPS needs to find the money for after school programs and a whole host of other things. Drop AAP Centers and the busses they free up can 1) save money 2) save time 3) that time and money can be used for Afterschool programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is devastating for kids who are going to be in 7th next year. The bus times aren't changing, they just come home at 2:30 to nothing.

I get that everyone's situation is different and not every kid has other kids near by. But, it's so weird to me that ppl think 7th graders are incapable of entertaining themselves without screens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is devastating for kids who are going to be in 7th next year. The bus times aren't changing, they just come home at 2:30 to nothing.

I get that everyone's situation is different and not every kid has other kids near by. But, it's so weird to me that ppl think 7th graders are incapable of entertaining themselves without screens.

Stfu. The after school program isn’t just about “entertaining kids without screens.” You clearly don’t have a middle schooler who benefitted from the program or you would absolutely 100% get it. It is devastating and will totally sour the middle school experience.

[Anonymous]

I can't get over FCPS possibly not having ANY middle school programs. I grew up poor in the middle of nowhere and had after school middle school options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cutting middle school afterschool activities is a terrible idea. These activities were a life line for my son who is a shy and quiet kid. It gave him the opportunity to make friends, meet with teachers, and try new clubs. He had a good group of friends going into 7th grade but that group fell apart and he was lost and unhappy for a bit. It was when he started going to some of these clubs and finding common ground outside of class that he flourished. He even participated in the school play this year. I can't tell you how much we've appreciated this outlet. My kid will be in high school next year so the budget cut here won't hurt him but it will hurt other kids like him... kids who need the chance to play and make new friends. Don't take away that joy.

In your opinion, what should they cut instead? They have to make up the money somewhere.

Drop IB. I am sure that sucks up a good deal of the budget with little return.

Remove the AAP Centers at the MS level. There are enough kids coming from ES who are AAP eligible that each MS can run its own AAP program. That bus money saved can be used for the after school busses.

Reduce the DEI staffing.

For the hundredth time- MSAS is in the County budget, not FCPS.

So FCPS needs to find the money for after school programs and a whole host of other things. Drop AAP Centers and the busses they free up can 1) save money 2) save time 3) that time and money can be used for Afterschool programs.

That would be awesome but have you met FCPS? They presented a budget that was the largest transfer request ever with a 7% raise they agreed to in collective bargaining. They won’t be able to fund that let alone other things.