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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cooper at least has god awful afterschool activities. Almost designed so the teachers don't actually have to do anything. "Movie club" - for example. What kids want to sit for another 2 hours, after school, watching some crappy movie on Disney channel when they could do it at home? Library Club! Honestly, just terrible.

Cooper has other after-school activities besides this. But thanks for underscoring why many staff/teachers avoid the pyramid. The parents complain about everything.

They have other after school activities because 1) I pitched a fit and 2) the old principal left. The previous principal loved little quiet music kids but any kid that behaved like a kid was her enemy.

[Anonymous]

You kind of have to blame the parents though for pushing for more busses to make middle school later They knew it was an extra cost or that it would disrupt other programs, teacher's schedules, and outside businesses and after school programs. Obviously the school system could just not expand bussing and keep this program in the same way they are doing many other programs that just stay the same from year to year. Their focus on middle school bussing led to the school board being savvy to put this in as a cut to bid for more money. They know it's a game to bid for more money and don't care about the angst or their reputation by all this speculation since they can hide behind other people not giving them money or SLEEP if they need to make changes. Learn how to play the game.

[Anonymous]

The $300 budget shortfall is not due to the current state government.

The shortfall is largely due to:
-Teacher & Staff rates of 7% (which accounts for $150 million increase alone)
-Lack of Commercial tax collection due to Remote Work and office space shutterings

Also, the County is asking for an increase in $118 million dollars over last year's budget.

--Poor planning by the county.

[Anonymous]

Exactly. But saying they have to cut some popular program gives them the leverage to pretend that isn't the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is there suddenly a $300million budget gap in the first place?

Secondly, are we really bussing home students who stay late in the after school -middle school programs? -Seems like that option should be scrapped. Where I grew up, if you elected to stay after school in middle school, part of the deal was there was no bus.

Wouldn't that at least be better than cancelling the actual programs and let the parents decide if they want to participate or not based on the requirement to pick their kids up?

The busses are provided so that all kids can participate and not just the ones who have parents who can pick them up or who live close enough to walk or bike home. We are able to pick our son up but neot everyone can. If the kids don't have a way to get home, they can't participate. If they can't participate, they miss out on 1) social skills development 2) academic help for kids who want it 3) academic enrichment for kids who want it 4) sports and physical activity for kids who want it. More importantly, they miss out on being at a place where they can hang out, with adult supervision, and decrease the chance of doing something stupid because they are bored and their brains are still developing so they are at risk to make bad decisions.

There are a lot of pros to providing bussing. Cut IB, which is expensive, and pay for the busses. Or streamline the admin positions at school and Gatehouse and pay for the busses.

But, you touched on one of two things that are impossible to pay for:
1.) Perfect Security...it is impossible to afford perfect security, it will bankrupt any government that tries.
2.) Equality...you can't fund every initiative based on the fact that not all families can afford or are able to do something. The argument, we should bus all students home because some families cannot pickup their kids at an after-school middle school club is an example. Also, we already do not provide this service for High School students. That is a nice to have item, not an entitlement.

But TBH, paying for extra bussing is just a tiny part in the unbalanced budget to the tune of $300million. So, there might be room for it yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You kind of have to blame the parents though for pushing for more busses to make middle school later They knew it was an extra cost or that it would disrupt other programs, teacher's schedules, and outside businesses and after school programs. Obviously the school system could just not expand bussing and keep this program in the same way they are doing many other programs that just stay the same from year to year. Their focus on middle school bussing led to the school board being savvy to put this in as a cut to bid for more money. They know it's a game to bid for more money and don't care about the angst or their reputation by all this speculation since they can hide behind other people not giving them money or SLEEP if they need to make changes. Learn how to play the game.

OH MY GOD. This is two separate issues, mommies.

The MSAS is funded by the county. C-O-U-N-T-Y.

The busses are funded by the school system. S-C-H-O-O-L S-Y-S-T-E-M. The busses are not the reason the MSAS is so expensive. It's a totally different line item in a different budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You kind of have to blame the parents though for pushing for more busses to make middle school later They knew it was an extra cost or that it would disrupt other programs, teacher's schedules, and outside businesses and after school programs. Obviously the school system could just not expand bussing and keep this program in the same way they are doing many other programs that just stay the same from year to year. Their focus on middle school bussing led to the school board being savvy to put this in as a cut to bid for more money. They know it's a game to bid for more money and don't care about the angst or their reputation by all this speculation since they can hide behind other people not giving them money or SLEEP if they need to make changes. Learn how to play the game.

OH MY GOD. This is two separate issues, mommies.

The MSAS is funded by the county. C-O-U-N-T-Y.

The busses are funded by the school system. S-C-H-O-O-L S-Y-S-T-E-M. The busses are not the reason the MSAS is so expensive. It's a totally different line item in a different budget.

its one menu item nested inside another menu
it don't matter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You kind of have to blame the parents though for pushing for more busses to make middle school later They knew it was an extra cost or that it would disrupt other programs, teacher's schedules, and outside businesses and after school programs. Obviously the school system could just not expand bussing and keep this program in the same way they are doing many other programs that just stay the same from year to year. Their focus on middle school bussing led to the school board being savvy to put this in as a cut to bid for more money. They know it's a game to bid for more money and don't care about the angst or their reputation by all this speculation since they can hide behind other people not giving them money or SLEEP if they need to make changes. Learn how to play the game.

OH MY GOD. This is two separate issues, mommies.

The MSAS is funded by the county. C-O-U-N-T-Y.

The busses are funded by the school system. S-C-H-O-O-L S-Y-S-T-E-M. The busses are not the reason the MSAS is so expensive. It's a totally different line item in a different budget.

its one menu item nested inside another menu
it don't matter

It does matter, you don't get the $3M you need for MSAS by removing the 5pm busses.

[Anonymous]

Funding was restored!! 🙌

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funding was restored!! 🙌

Thank goodness! I only have a rising 6th grader, but we are new to the area and it's been very hard for my kid to make new friends and find kids with similar interests. He is really excited about some of the MS after school programs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funding was restored!! 🙌

FOR A YEAR. The cost of the program will have to be cut, probably by fees, for it to continue.

[Anonymous]

Could you share a link? I can't find this online yet. TY!

[Anonymous]

Full package - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/boardofsupervisors/sites/boardofsupervisors/files/Assets/meeting-materials/2025/May6-Board-Package.pdf

Budget press release - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/supervisors-approve-budget-markup-tax-rate-decreased-new-food-beverage-tax

[Anonymous]

Link here: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/supervisors-approve-budget-markup-tax-rate-decreased-new-food-beverage-tax

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You kind of have to blame the parents though for pushing for more busses to make middle school later They knew it was an extra cost or that it would disrupt other programs, teacher's schedules, and outside businesses and after school programs. Obviously the school system could just not expand bussing and keep this program in the same way they are doing many other programs that just stay the same from year to year. Their focus on middle school bussing led to the school board being savvy to put this in as a cut to bid for more money. They know it's a game to bid for more money and don't care about the angst or their reputation by all this speculation since they can hide behind other people not giving them money or SLEEP if they need to make changes. Learn how to play the game.

OH MY GOD. This is two separate issues, mommies.

The MSAS is funded by the county. C-O-U-N-T-Y.

The busses are funded by the school system. S-C-H-O-O-L S-Y-S-T-E-M. The busses are not the reason the MSAS is so expensive. It's a totally different line item in a different budget.

OH MY GOD! FCPS consistently asks for too much money. The county reacts. Get over yourself.