Did you take the middle school start times survey?

[Anonymous]

Yes, and it’s too early. We have to do 2 drop offs because they are too far apart

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The survey is serving its intended purpose: to obtain data that will be used to justify boundary changes based on “proximity” to “meet parents’ concerns over start times.”

It is a weird survey because it is intended to obtain data that will be used to support a “decision” that is unrelated purported purpose of the survey.

You only think they “never use the surveys”. Oh they use them. That’s why they employ all those data folks. They just don’t use them to obtain actual public input in good faith. Just wait until the boundary review surveys hit your inbox in late summer.

+1 although I didn’t make broader connection to boundary changes. I got the impression they were collecting data to support their position that high schoolers need to start earlier so they can be home first to babysit younger sibs and/or get to jobs. Maybe they want to switch middle and high school start times?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The survey is serving its intended purpose: to obtain data that will be used to justify boundary changes based on “proximity” to “meet parents’ concerns over start times.”

It is a weird survey because it is intended to obtain data that will be used to support a “decision” that is unrelated purported purpose of the survey.

You only think they “never use the surveys”. Oh they use them. That’s why they employ all those data folks. They just don’t use them to obtain actual public input in good faith. Just wait until the boundary review surveys hit your inbox in late summer.

+1 although I didn’t make broader connection to boundary changes. I got the impression they were collecting data to support their position that high schoolers need to start earlier so they can be home first to babysit younger sibs and/or get to jobs. Maybe they want to switch middle and high school start times?

The early start times for high schoolers would be ten times worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The survey is serving its intended purpose: to obtain data that will be used to justify boundary changes based on “proximity” to “meet parents’ concerns over start times.”

It is a weird survey because it is intended to obtain data that will be used to support a “decision” that is unrelated purported purpose of the survey.

You only think they “never use the surveys”. Oh they use them. That’s why they employ all those data folks. They just don’t use them to obtain actual public input in good faith. Just wait until the boundary review surveys hit your inbox in late summer.

+1 although I didn’t make broader connection to boundary changes. I got the impression they were collecting data to support their position that high schoolers need to start earlier so they can be home first to babysit younger sibs and/or get to jobs. Maybe they want to switch middle and high school start times?

They literally switched high school and middle school back in 2015. They’re not going to switch them back. Their goal back then was to get both later in accordance with research on adolescent sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The survey is serving its intended purpose: to obtain data that will be used to justify boundary changes based on “proximity” to “meet parents’ concerns over start times.”

It is a weird survey because it is intended to obtain data that will be used to support a “decision” that is unrelated purported purpose of the survey.

You only think they “never use the surveys”. Oh they use them. That’s why they employ all those data folks. They just don’t use them to obtain actual public input in good faith. Just wait until the boundary review surveys hit your inbox in late summer.

+1 although I didn’t make broader connection to boundary changes. I got the impression they were collecting data to support their position that high schoolers need to start earlier so they can be home first to babysit younger sibs and/or get to jobs. Maybe they want to switch middle and high school start times?

If they "use" the surveys like PP claimed, then why wasn't there survey data to back up their unpopular calendar changes? The only use of those surveys they made was "well we can't make everyone happy." They weren't able to massage that data to support their preferred calendar. I can't imagine they will be able to massage start time survey data or boundary survey data either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The survey is serving its intended purpose: to obtain data that will be used to justify boundary changes based on “proximity” to “meet parents’ concerns over start times.”

It is a weird survey because it is intended to obtain data that will be used to support a “decision” that is unrelated purported purpose of the survey.

You only think they “never use the surveys”. Oh they use them. That’s why they employ all those data folks. They just don’t use them to obtain actual public input in good faith. Just wait until the boundary review surveys hit your inbox in late summer.

+1 although I didn’t make broader connection to boundary changes. I got the impression they were collecting data to support their position that high schoolers need to start earlier so they can be home first to babysit younger sibs and/or get to jobs. Maybe they want to switch middle and high school start times?

If they "use" the surveys like PP claimed, then why wasn't there survey data to back up their unpopular calendar changes? The only use of those surveys they made was "well we can't make everyone happy." They weren't able to massage that data to support their preferred calendar. I can't imagine they will be able to massage start time survey data or boundary survey data either.

There probably was and it went entirely against what FCPS did- much like other times when the parent surveys overwhelming sat one thing and then superintendent says as she is on record for saying multiple times “the majority doesn’t always get its way.” Input will be collected but disregarded as needed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The survey is serving its intended purpose: to obtain data that will be used to justify boundary changes based on “proximity” to “meet parents’ concerns over start times.”

It is a weird survey because it is intended to obtain data that will be used to support a “decision” that is unrelated purported purpose of the survey.

You only think they “never use the surveys”. Oh they use them. That’s why they employ all those data folks. They just don’t use them to obtain actual public input in good faith. Just wait until the boundary review surveys hit your inbox in late summer.

+1 although I didn’t make broader connection to boundary changes. I got the impression they were collecting data to support their position that high schoolers need to start earlier so they can be home first to babysit younger sibs and/or get to jobs. Maybe they want to switch middle and high school start times?

If they "use" the surveys like PP claimed, then why wasn't there survey data to back up their unpopular calendar changes? The only use of those surveys they made was "well we can't make everyone happy." They weren't able to massage that data to support their preferred calendar. I can't imagine they will be able to massage start time survey data or boundary survey data either.

There probably was and it went entirely against what FCPS did- much like other times when the parent surveys overwhelming sat one thing and then superintendent says as she is on record for saying multiple times “the majority doesn’t always get its way.” Input will be collected but disregarded as needed

Pretty sure with the calendar survey the majority opinion was basically "illegally don't have enough school days or hours." That was my impression, at least. Why people can't realize you shouldn't check "I want every single day off" I don't know, unless everyone filling that out was a student.

[Anonymous]

What a ridiculous survey to being paying third party for. Are you happy with start time in ES? If answer yes, so what? The fact they didn’t pay for a follow up question to be asked to survey what time would prefer if could pick time is bizarre- guess they didn’t want any record of that. I am also guessing the majority of people that complete these surveys are not the ones dependent on their kids for childcare so those results will be skewed too. So odd.

[Anonymous]

A fake survey for an already decided time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a ridiculous survey to being paying third party for. Are you happy with start time in ES? If answer yes, so what? The fact they didn’t pay for a follow up question to be asked to survey what time would prefer if could pick time is bizarre- guess they didn’t want any record of that. I am also guessing the majority of people that complete these surveys are not the ones dependent on their kids for childcare so those results will be skewed too. So odd.

Yes, I don’t understand why they’d care if a middle schooler was depended on for childcare but don’t care if a school start time would impact an elementary school parent’s need for child care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a ridiculous survey to being paying third party for. Are you happy with start time in ES? If answer yes, so what? The fact they didn’t pay for a follow up question to be asked to survey what time would prefer if could pick time is bizarre- guess they didn’t want any record of that. I am also guessing the majority of people that complete these surveys are not the ones dependent on their kids for childcare so those results will be skewed too. So odd.

Agreed. I thought I must have missed a question or a section, so I took it a second time. And no, I didn’t miss anything the first time. As an elementary parent, the only question you get is about if you are happy with your student’s current start time. It’s unconscionable to have a 4:35 dismissal time on the table and not ask families for feedback on that.

[Anonymous]

They have been kicking this can down the road for years! People who had kids in middle school, now have them in college. People with kids in middle school now will have them in high school. It’s tiring and hard to energize any parent group because they never decide or enact a start change. They just kick the can down the road again.

[Anonymous]

The start times for school are fine. This is an argument for a time when we have excess funds to buy more busses. Not now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:just fill it out mutliple times indicating middle schooler and that's its too early. All school at all levels should only be between the hours of 8am-4pm that is normal.

Your "normal" is simply unaffordable and unrealistic.

It is realistic and affordable if they prioritize it. If they actually think of other solutions like opting in for bus, changing mileage that requires bus usage, etc.

Have you seen the county budget shortfall? You are not being realistic if you expect Fairfax to blow the budget on hundreds more buses and drivers. Use some common sense.

It's not a budget shortfall. They are getting more money than last year. They are just trying to spend even more than that, and threatening to take away things people like to garner sympathy. They have positions they can cut (and should cut so as not to lose federal funding due to the DEI executive order). They are choosing not to.

+100 Exactly. Start by cutting anyone involved with this survey: a perfect example of waste and abuse.