Fairfax County School Security

[Anonymous]

Please explain to me why Fairfax County School security requires brand new SUV's to drive on the weekend no where near a school. Tonight (Sunday) I saw a brand new Ford SUV with a nice paint job that identified it as Fairfax County School Security. It was driving along the Fairfax County Parkway, then down Hooes Road and then made a right onto Silverbrook Road (opposite in direction from South County High School). I can understand the need for school security, but I fail to see the need why they require county vehicles, nor why said vehicle needs to be an SUV (wouldn't a Ford Focus do the job just as well?). This is so frustrating in light of all the cutbacks that they are making in the classroom. Shouldn't such material expenditures take a backseat at this time? It's not like property values haven't been plummeting for a few years now . . . I'm just frustrated by how they make such threats to cuts in the classroom and then obviously waste money in so many other ways!

[Anonymous]

I agree, it should be looked at. But here are a few thoughts as to why it "might" be legit, as someone who does budget work for another local government:

1) Take-home vehicles are provided to employees who are on-call and have to respond to work at any time. School Security possibly fits that bill. I would personally question that, though.
2) Most departments that ask for SUVs want the four-wheel drive capability for bad weather. If you can't respond in an emergency, you are pretty useless. But I wonder if there other cheaper vehicles that provide all-weather reliability?
3) If it's brand new, it most likely replaced a fairly old vehicle. While a new vehicle obviously costs significant money, it cost less to maintain and to fuel. You'd be surprised how much some of the older government cars cost to maintain. They are often treated like crap, usually driven by multiple drivers, and just really wear out quickly.

I know Fairfax County delayed or froze all new fleet purchases for fiscal 2009, but I don't know if that applies to their school system.

Never hurts to write a letter, though, especially if you are a tax payer/voter there.

[Anonymous]

Here's the Fairfax County Security Website, with contact emails. Go ahead and ask! Seems to me likely the SUV belonged to a person responsible for responding 24-7 to a security/fire alarm system.

http://www.fcps.edu/fts/safety-security/security/index.htm

Overview

Security Services provides 24-hour emergency communications, security patrols, response to calls
for services, school inspections and central monitoring of the Security and Fire Alarm System (SAFAS) for all FCPS facilities.

The Security Planning Office provides training and assistance to all schools and centers in crisis management, facility assessments and other security related matters. Security specialists manage and provide expertise in emergency management, the training and certification of all central and school-based security personnel and technology based physical security initiatives and systems.

The school liaison commander provides for effective coordination between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax County Police on public safety matters.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I happen to have a job that requires being on call (24x7 depending on the schedule) for a private company. My company does not supply me with a vehicle, much less an SUV. Since Fairfax county schools close at the first sign of snow or foul weather, I have serious doubts that there would be any emergency requiring school security to have an SUV. In private industry we are able to deal with fire/security alarms without having to supply our employees with vehicles, so I don't see why the county cannot do the same. To me this just sounds like people trying to make their job sound more important and critical than it really is -- at the taxpayer's expense.

[Anonymous]

Agree on the SUV part.....but this is also about kids' safety. If something, God forbid, happened to children in schools, and the public found there was some breakdown in response due to a personal vehicle issue, etc., there would be holy blue hell to pay.

I used to think the MoCo Fire Department was overpaid. But I changed my mind after that watermain break near Christmas. Even if they use their expertise only once, it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I happen to have a job that requires being on call (24x7 depending on the schedule) for a private company. My company does not supply me with a vehicle, much less an SUV. Since Fairfax county schools close at the first sign of snow or foul weather, I have serious doubts that there would be any emergency requiring school security to have an SUV. In private industry we are able to deal with fire/security alarms without having to supply our employees with vehicles, so I don't see why the county cannot do the same. To me this just sounds like people trying to make their job sound more important and critical than it really is -- at the taxpayer's expense.

Fairfax County is large and if one part of the county is hit worse than another part of the county with bad weather the ENTIRE county needs to close. Is it possible the SUV is equipped with first aid supplies or other essential items that we may not be privy too? Seems there are always things going on at schools, be it athletic events, theater practices, club meetings, PTA events. I am not sure how security falls into those events but I can guarantee that our local school has stuff going on both Saturday and Sunday, and I would welcome security to roll through.

Police officers are allowed to use their vehicles for private use, seems to be if you are given one and on call then you can use it when you like without needing to justify it. May not be fair but it happens.

[Anonymous]

Agree with OP. Fairfax County decision makers are USING this economic downturn to redefine priorities. I am a staunch Democrat and have only supported the Republican candidates in local elections. There is a mentality to tax and spend along with cutting child/student based programs is bordering on unethical. The County seems to attack the weakest first (like the schoolyard bully). i.e., mental health providers. Yup, a "school security officer" styling around in a new SUV feels like a punch in the gut. I get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with OP. Fairfax County decision makers are USING this economic downturn to redefine priorities. I am a staunch Democrat and have only supported the Republican candidates in local elections. There is a mentality to tax and spend along with cutting child/student based programs is bordering on unethical. The County seems to attack the weakest first (like the schoolyard bully). i.e., mental health providers. Yup, a "school security officer" styling around in a new SUV feels like a punch in the gut. I get it.

I am going out on a limb here but don't you think that anew vehicles (and the make/model) are something that would have been written into the budget years ago? They just don't go out and purchase cars. Things like that are written into the budget, voted on, approved. These SUV's may have very well been put into contract or leased prior to the budget downfall. Counties receive discounts on "fleet cars". If they are purchasing a certain number of SUV's they probably are not paying top dollar for them. And we have no idea what year these SUV's are. My neighbor has a 2002 Denali and I swear it's brand new each time I see it.

I understand why this upsets most people but I am certain there is more behind it than a bunch of county officials going out and buying brand new over-priced SUV's during a time of economic downfall just to piss people off.