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

[Anonymous]

How much do they spend every year on that third party mental health screener? Its garbage:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much does fcps spend on that SEL survey they nake the kids take several times a year with the completely meaningless results?

How much did rhey spend on consultants to conclude once again that start times are not fixable for free?

How many useless principals failed upward to makework jobs at Gatehouse?

Fcps wastes tons of money. It should be easy to find funds for this program.

OTOH the county seems to run a redundant afterschool program used by a fraction of the kids. Why not just cut that?

You get the schools you vote for; keep enjoying the fruits of One Party Rule in FCPS. Utterly garbage that FCPS doesn't offer robust middle school athletics and other programs for kids. So much money being wasted.

[Anonymous]

Fill out this short form (name/address) and it will generate an email letting them know you want them to keep the MSAS program. Please share it! https://v-post.org/take-action/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much do they spend every year on that third party mental health screener? Its garbage:

AGREE.
And they send out so many surveys from third parties that they are paying. Why? Surveys are useless and they never even listen to what people say in them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They didn't even consider cutting the county's random rec center after school program. I find that strange. How many kids use that program vs the after-school programs at the school? No one even knows it exists. Its is a jobs program for counth employees? Whats the deal?

NCS' youth programming is used by a large number of youth and teens throughout the county. They are open longer hours, to include the weekends. They also serve older teens, which the middle school program does not. For many middle schoolers, they feel the need to leave the school for various reasons, and community centers/teen centers provide a place they can go instead. I don't disagree that the middle schools' programs should continue to be funded, but it's disingenuous to state that "nobody" uses ncs' other youth programming. Many use both, in fact, there is NCS transportation from the middle school after school program to evening programming at an NCS site. It's a great partnership to maintain, a shame that the value of it seems to be lost on those handling the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They didn't even consider cutting the county's random rec center after school program. I find that strange. How many kids use that program vs the after-school programs at the school? No one even knows it exists. Its is a jobs program for counth employees? Whats the deal?

NCS' youth programming is used by a large number of youth and teens throughout the county. They are open longer hours, to include the weekends. They also serve older teens, which the middle school program does not. For many middle schoolers, they feel the need to leave the school for various reasons, and community centers/teen centers provide a place they can go instead. I don't disagree that the middle schools' programs should continue to be funded, but it's disingenuous to state that "nobody" uses ncs' other youth programming. Many use both, in fact, there is NCS transportation from the middle school after school program to evening programming at an NCS site. It's a great partnership to maintain, a shame that the value of it seems to be lost on those handling the budget.

How many youths and teens use their after school program? How much does it cost per year? Their after school programming is offered at only a few sites across the whole county with transportation from just a handful of schools. If the choice is between a program only a handful of kids use vs. one ALL the kids can use, obviously you would go with something for ALL the kids?

[Anonymous]

I know that the YMCA in Reston has a teen center but I don't know of any of the kids from our ES that use the Teen Center. I wonder if it is one of the NCS sponsored programs that is open to some youth.

I have no problem with Teen Centers and trying to find ways to engage youth who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I think that it is really important and maybe will help some of those kids stay in school and do good things with their lives. I am all for that.

I don't see how you can justify cutting programs that help an even larger number of kids regardless of income in the same breath as say we need to fund these specific programs. The Youth Centers are meant to help kids who are at risk, whichis admirable, but how many otehr kids end up in that category when MS programs are cut? People can mock some of the clubs but they engage students and expose students to new interests. There is academic support provided and an outlet for sports and creativity. Not to mention the academic teams.

It just feels short sighted to cut said programs.

I know that my FB feed has posts from the Firedepartment and emergency rescue about preventing cuts there as well. I know it sounds trite, but there are so many redundincies the Government, I would rather see some of those duplicated positions cut so that we can provide the services that the kids need and that are needed in an emergency over having 3 people who do the same thing. Or yes, the DEI offices. HR should be able to handle those jobs and issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that the YMCA in Reston has a teen center but I don't know of any of the kids from our ES that use the Teen Center. I wonder if it is one of the NCS sponsored programs that is open to some youth.

I have no problem with Teen Centers and trying to find ways to engage youth who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I think that it is really important and maybe will help some of those kids stay in school and do good things with their lives. I am all for that.

I don't see how you can justify cutting programs that help an even larger number of kids regardless of income in the same breath as say we need to fund these specific programs. The Youth Centers are meant to help kids who are at risk, whichis admirable, but how many otehr kids end up in that category when MS programs are cut? People can mock some of the clubs but they engage students and expose students to new interests. There is academic support provided and an outlet for sports and creativity. Not to mention the academic teams.

It just feels short sighted to cut said programs.

I know that my FB feed has posts from the Firedepartment and emergency rescue about preventing cuts there as well. I know it sounds trite, but there are so many redundincies the Government, I would rather see some of those duplicated positions cut so that we can provide the services that the kids need and that are needed in an emergency over having 3 people who do the same thing. Or yes, the DEI offices. HR should be able to handle those jobs and issues.

I agree with you 100%. All kids are at risk, if you don't provide a place for them to go and opportunities for positive adult relationships. The middle school after school program is fantastic (Hughes' program in Reston is top notch). The Teen Center that is attached to YMCA is an NCS teen center location. Ideally, that teen center, Hughes, and Southgate Community Center would all work together to ensure teens have a place to go.

[Anonymous]

There is no reason FCPS can't find the funds for this. And yet...my school board member's email today placed 100% of the blame on the county. It's kind of obvious the school board isn't even trying to find funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason FCPS can't find the funds for this. And yet...my school board member's email today placed 100% of the blame on the county. It's kind of obvious the school board isn't even trying to find funds.

FCPS needs to cut an equivalent amount from their budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that the YMCA in Reston has a teen center but I don't know of any of the kids from our ES that use the Teen Center. I wonder if it is one of the NCS sponsored programs that is open to some youth.

I have no problem with Teen Centers and trying to find ways to engage youth who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I think that it is really important and maybe will help some of those kids stay in school and do good things with their lives. I am all for that.

I don't see how you can justify cutting programs that help an even larger number of kids regardless of income in the same breath as say we need to fund these specific programs. The Youth Centers are meant to help kids who are at risk, whichis admirable, but how many otehr kids end up in that category when MS programs are cut? People can mock some of the clubs but they engage students and expose students to new interests. There is academic support provided and an outlet for sports and creativity. Not to mention the academic teams.

It just feels short sighted to cut said programs.

I know that my FB feed has posts from the Firedepartment and emergency rescue about preventing cuts there as well. I know it sounds trite, but there are so many redundincies the Government, I would rather see some of those duplicated positions cut so that we can provide the services that the kids need and that are needed in an emergency over having 3 people who do the same thing. Or yes, the DEI offices. HR should be able to handle those jobs and issues.

I agree with you 100%. All kids are at risk, if you don't provide a place for them to go and opportunities for positive adult relationships. The middle school after school program is fantastic (Hughes' program in Reston is top notch). The Teen Center that is attached to YMCA is an NCS teen center location. Ideally, that teen center, Hughes, and Southgate Community Center would all work together to ensure teens have a place to go.

A place to go is different from a place where they already are.

Sometimes, it seems to me that the SB and BOS do not know their audience.

[Anonymous]

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/fairfax/middle-school-after-school-programs-jeopardized-budget-cut-proposal/65-94c06c9c-91b8-467c-bcb7-2e5e3c94ae6c

[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.

Truly- when I went through middle school, despite many children who went to my elementary school being in my classes, they all changed. We grew apart. And then in eighth grade, I had no classes with any of the people I knew. Not even my friends. I felt so isolated, but the afterschool programs provided really helped me feel included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like we pay a ton in county and state taxes and get nothing for it. No middle school activities, libraries are run down homeless shelters, no rec centers for kids to hang out at, our school facilities are awful compared to nearby counties, no books for instruction etc etc.

I agree. And I will add the playgrounds in Fairfax are absolutely pitiful. When we visit relatives in other parts of the country they have amazing public amenities. Beuatiful public pools, libraries, amazing playgrounds.

Even Manassas Park, which is about 2000 poor people total, has a beautiful rec center and a lovely public pool.

I don't understand where the money goes in Fairfax.

Precisely. I have siblings (my siblings were born quite a few years after me. Like, a lot of years). My brother, an 11 year old, has such great opportunities and lives in a poor county. Where DOES it go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the deal with the county rec centers? We have a new one that just opened up near us and middle schoolers who would love a place to hang out with friends but its unusable. Open gym for teens for an hour once every two weeks kind of thing. Building a brand new rec center with no playground, why??? Growing up, rec centers were open for kids to hang out, there were soccer goals outside, ping pong, atari, etc and the gyms were always free for pickup (it seems Sully rents their courts out to private groups).

Right? This is a huge reason the after school middle school programs are needed. It's the only structure a lot of kids have after school. Otherwise what are they going to do? Go home to an empty house and rot in front of the TV most likely. This is the time in their lives they are most likely to be introduced to drugs, alcohol, risky behaviors. So disappointed that cutting these programs is even being discussed. FCPS and the county should be making this a priority instead of pointing fingers and passing the buck. Disgraceful behavior from our elected officials.

Aren't rec centers supposed to be public? In the '80s they were free or low cost. Why can't we go back to that?