fairfax county spanish immersion being shut down

[Anonymous]

Love immersion. It drew us to fairfax and is an incredible program. I'd be shocked if they closed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following this situation very closely and anxious for results, come May. We were enthusiastically planning to move from DC to Fairfax and were excited about a seamless transfer from a DC immersion program. If Fairfax gets rid of immersion we will stay put in DC. Those against the program could probably give a hoot; however, Fairfax will lose people who would add to the tax base if it gets rid of great programs. Very sad for everyone.

No worries there. FCPS is already overcrowded, so it would be great if fewer people moved here. I sincerely hope they do cut immersion, AAP, and other extraneous programs. Maybe then the focus can return to beefing up basics such as grammar, writing, and spelling - for all.

The overcrowding is because of people who aren't paying taxes and they'll keep coming regardless of what's cut. The cuts will scare away/deter taxpayers, so be careful what you wish for.

[Anonymous]

1. We do not need to raise taxes.
2. Some programs could be cut.
3. Where is the data on the success of the FCPS immersion programs?

Is the dual immersion working? I've seen nothing on that.

[Anonymous]

I've been hearing the threat of cutting immersion for the past 15 years or so. In the end, they never cut it. They always resort to saving money by freezing teachers' salaries, increasing class sizes or both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. We do not need to raise taxes.
2. Some programs could be cut.
3. Where is the data on the success of the FCPS immersion programs?

Is the dual immersion working? I've seen nothing on that.

1) We do need to raise taxes.
2) some programs could be cut and some could be expanded
3) The FCPS immersion program should be revamped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been hearing the threat of cutting immersion for the past 15 years or so. In the end, they never cut it. They always resort to saving money by freezing teachers' salaries, increasing class sizes or both.

Has it ever been this dire? I don't think so. I think this the "real deal" and some programs will be cut. Perhaps not immersion, but I wouldn't be shocked. The back is breaking here. It was inevitable at some point. You can't keep threatening to cut things due to the financial meltdown we're having and it never comes to fruition ever. The writing was on the wall. And the time has come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. We do not need to raise taxes.
2. Some programs could be cut.
3. Where is the data on the success of the FCPS immersion programs?

Is the dual immersion working? I've seen nothing on that.

3. Where is the data on the success of the FCPS AAP program, please? Or magnets? Or TJ? Or the special centers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. We do not need to raise taxes.
2. Some programs could be cut.
3. Where is the data on the success of the FCPS immersion programs?

Is the dual immersion working? I've seen nothing on that.

3. Where is the data on the success of the FCPS AAP program, please? Or magnets? Or TJ? Or the special centers?

Where is the data on the success of each sports program, band, music classes and art, etc.? I'm looking for hard numbers, not opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been hearing the threat of cutting immersion for the past 15 years or so. In the end, they never cut it. They always resort to saving money by freezing teachers' salaries, increasing class sizes or both.

Has it ever been this dire? I don't think so. I think this the "real deal" and some programs will be cut. Perhaps not immersion, but I wouldn't be shocked. The back is breaking here. It was inevitable at some point. You can't keep threatening to cut things due to the financial meltdown we're having and it never comes to fruition ever. The writing was on the wall. And the time has come.

Part of me wishes they would just go ahead and make the big cuts. Otherwise, they dig deeper into the "they cry wolf" hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been hearing the threat of cutting immersion for the past 15 years or so. In the end, they never cut it. They always resort to saving money by freezing teachers' salaries, increasing class sizes or both.

Has it ever been this dire? I don't think so. I think this the "real deal" and some programs will be cut. Perhaps not immersion, but I wouldn't be shocked. The back is breaking here. It was inevitable at some point. You can't keep threatening to cut things due to the financial meltdown we're having and it never comes to fruition ever. The writing was on the wall. And the time has come.

+100
I would much prefer for some "extras," such as immersion and AAP, maybe some sports, to be cut or drastically scaled back rather than freezing teachers' salaries or increasing class sizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following this situation very closely and anxious for results, come May. We were enthusiastically planning to move from DC to Fairfax and were excited about a seamless transfer from a DC immersion program. If Fairfax gets rid of immersion we will stay put in DC. Those against the program could probably give a hoot; however, Fairfax will lose people who would add to the tax base if it gets rid of great programs. Very sad for everyone.

No worries there. FCPS is already overcrowded, so it would be great if fewer people moved here. I sincerely hope they do cut immersion, AAP, and other extraneous programs. Maybe then the focus can return to beefing up basics such as grammar, writing, and spelling - for all.

The overcrowding is because of people who aren't paying taxes and they'll keep coming regardless of what's cut. The cuts will scare away/deter taxpayers, so be careful what you wish for.

No, they won't. People will continue moving to FxCo due to all the jobs, the tech corridor, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been hearing the threat of cutting immersion for the past 15 years or so. In the end, they never cut it. They always resort to saving money by freezing teachers' salaries, increasing class sizes or both.

Has it ever been this dire? I don't think so. I think this the "real deal" and some programs will be cut. Perhaps not immersion, but I wouldn't be shocked. The back is breaking here. It was inevitable at some point. You can't keep threatening to cut things due to the financial meltdown we're having and it never comes to fruition ever. The writing was on the wall. And the time has come.

Part of me wishes they would just go ahead and make the big cuts. Otherwise, they dig deeper into the "they cry wolf" hole.

Same here. FCPS needs to realize it's a public school system and can't be all things to all people. Go back to the basics and become an excellent school system again by focusing on core subjects and instruction for every child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following this situation very closely and anxious for results, come May. We were enthusiastically planning to move from DC to Fairfax and were excited about a seamless transfer from a DC immersion program. If Fairfax gets rid of immersion we will stay put in DC. Those against the program could probably give a hoot; however, Fairfax will lose people who would add to the tax base if it gets rid of great programs. Very sad for everyone.

No worries there. FCPS is already overcrowded, so it would be great if fewer people moved here. I sincerely hope they do cut immersion, AAP, and other extraneous programs. Maybe then the focus can return to beefing up basics such as grammar, writing, and spelling - for all.

The overcrowding is because of people who aren't paying taxes and they'll keep coming regardless of what's cut. The cuts will scare away/deter taxpayers, so be careful what you wish for.

No, they won't. People will continue moving to FxCo due to all the jobs, the tech corridor, etc.

There are plenty of people who move to Fairfax who work in Dac, Arlington, etc. There are many choices where those people can live. The schools, including the programs they offer, are attractive. Still attractive, despite the overly large class sizes. If they cut immersion, AAP, and other programs, all that will be left to attract families is the overly large class sizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been hearing the threat of cutting immersion for the past 15 years or so. In the end, they never cut it. They always resort to saving money by freezing teachers' salaries, increasing class sizes or both.

Has it ever been this dire? I don't think so. I think this the "real deal" and some programs will be cut. Perhaps not immersion, but I wouldn't be shocked. The back is breaking here. It was inevitable at some point. You can't keep threatening to cut things due to the financial meltdown we're having and it never comes to fruition ever. The writing was on the wall. And the time has come.

Part of me wishes they would just go ahead and make the big cuts. Otherwise, they dig deeper into the "they cry wolf" hole.

Same here. FCPS needs to realize it's a public school system and can't be all things to all people. Go back to the basics and become an excellent school system again by focusing on core subjects and instruction for every child.

100% agree.

I think FCPS should just serve the basics -- no more TJ, AAP, AP, IB, immersion, academy classes, band, strings, sports. Just stuck with the core classes only, everyone in the same level courses. Then, if there is available money, add things back to improve the experience for all students.

[Anonymous]

It really doesn't save that much per student.

1.9 million, serving 4,000 students is $475 a year - or 48 cents per instructional hour (since FCPS doesn't measure in days anymore, but hours).

Also, since there will be a new pupil placement fee of $300 per student needing pupil placement it's closer to $175 per year, or 17 cents an instructional hour.

I think at 17 cents an hour it is a good deal.