Vote out the FCPS school board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can give you proof of them not listening to community input they solicited on certain matters.

I would like to see a poll on this, and not a self-selecting online poll, but a true unbiased poll.

You know what I would like to see? A top-to-bottom independent audit of FCPS headquarters. I want to know the duties and salary of every third assistant to the deputy superintendent, etc. I want to know exactly how many consultants are being paid to study sleeping kids and August start dates and their connections to the people who hired them. I want PROOF that FCPS surveyed staff as to earlier start times, because at least two employees posted on this forum that they did not.

I don't know how many of you remember the big ruckus several years ago when FCPS threatened band and full-day kindergarten if they didn't get all the money they asked for. At the time, I was told, off the record, that FCPS floated red herrings all the time to rile up parents, and that neither of those programs had ever been in danger. The source was a highly placed FCPS government official. Since then, I've regarded Gatehouse and the board with skepticism at best. I can't believe no one questions anything they do, outside of online message boards.

My experience with Gatehouse has been very positive. When my DC was in MS, we had an issue with his IEP services and the person in charge of MS for his issue across the county came to his IEP meeting (and had a few other meetings with the MS) and helped set the record straight, educated personnel at the MS on his type of issues and basically said that everything we were requesting was reasonable and appropriate. It is definitely worth it to have people knowledgable and more specialized at the "corporate level" to ensure fidelity and good practices across the county.

I'm the PP who suggested the audit. We had exactly the opposite problem with a 504 plan. The FCPS rep (at the elementary level) argued against my DD obtaining a 504, and she, unlike the rest of the committee, had no experience with this particular child. Fortunately I had a ream of doctors' notes, and the 504 was finally granted. Just another thing that left a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to Gatehouse.

Calling for an "independent audit" sounds nice, but it's a silly way to react because you disagree with policy decisions or views expressed by individual employees. It wouldn't be free, either; if you want an "independent audit" you have to pay for someone to perform it, and then someone else gets paid to address the recommendations, etc. All of that is money that could be spent on teachers and classrooms.

So, unless you have specific reason to believe that FCPS isn't spending money on what it says it spends money on, or that FCPS is paying people who never show up to work, etc., an "independent audit" is probably a waste of money, an excuse to plant a critic inside FCPS to criticize employees, or both.

[Anonymous]

I don't believe an audit is necessary after they just did one, but I would like to know what areas they feel will need to have more spending in the future. I can't keep tabs on whether FCPS has enough money for their bus fleet. They need to make the public aware of what items are underfunded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Calling for an "independent audit" sounds nice, but it's a silly way to react because you disagree with policy decisions or views expressed by individual employees. It wouldn't be free, either; if you want an "independent audit" you have to pay for someone to perform it, and then someone else gets paid to address the recommendations, etc. All of that is money that could be spent on teachers and classrooms.

So, unless you have specific reason to believe that FCPS isn't spending money on what it says it spends money on, or that FCPS is paying people who never show up to work, etc., an "independent audit" is probably a waste of money, an excuse to plant a critic inside FCPS to criticize employees, or both.

Yes, I'm aware that independent audits aren't free. As you know, they cover more than people not showing up to work. As I stated, I'd like to know what each paid slot entails and how much that person is paid. I'd like total transparency regarding the "studies" FCPS is constantly doing. Although I'm not a teacher, I come from a long line of teachers, and I know the consultant piece in the public school system is mostly rotten to the core.

Why is Karen Garza "continuing" to look into scheduling changes for elementary and middle schools? What could possibly be served by more changes, who is getting paid to do this work, and outside of the SLEEP faction, who asked for this scope of study? SLEEP got what they wanted. The matter should be well over and done with by now. Just ONE of the areas I would like to see covered in this audit. These are not frivolous questions. If FCPS has nothing to hide, it should not mind its business truly being made public.

Your raising "an excuse to plant a critic inside FCPS to criticize employees" is so far out of left field that I'm curious about your own affiliation, if you care to share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe an audit is necessary after they just did one, but I would like to know what areas they feel will need to have more spending in the future. I can't keep tabs on whether FCPS has enough money for their bus fleet. They need to make the public aware of what items are underfunded.

An internal audit? No--not what's being asked for here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Calling for an "independent audit" sounds nice, but it's a silly way to react because you disagree with policy decisions or views expressed by individual employees. It wouldn't be free, either; if you want an "independent audit" you have to pay for someone to perform it, and then someone else gets paid to address the recommendations, etc. All of that is money that could be spent on teachers and classrooms.

So, unless you have specific reason to believe that FCPS isn't spending money on what it says it spends money on, or that FCPS is paying people who never show up to work, etc., an "independent audit" is probably a waste of money, an excuse to plant a critic inside FCPS to criticize employees, or both.

Yes, I'm aware that independent audits aren't free. As you know, they cover more than people not showing up to work. As I stated, I'd like to know what each paid slot entails and how much that person is paid. I'd like total transparency regarding the "studies" FCPS is constantly doing. Although I'm not a teacher, I come from a long line of teachers, and I know the consultant piece in the public school system is mostly rotten to the core.

Why is Karen Garza "continuing" to look into scheduling changes for elementary and middle schools? What could possibly be served by more changes, who is getting paid to do this work, and outside of the SLEEP faction, who asked for this scope of study? SLEEP got what they wanted. The matter should be well over and done with by now. Just ONE of the areas I would like to see covered in this audit. These are not frivolous questions. If FCPS has nothing to hide, it should not mind its business truly being made public.

Your raising "an excuse to plant a critic inside FCPS to criticize employees" is so far out of left field that I'm curious about your own affiliation, if you care to share.

The continued "look" at scheduling changes for middle schools is just a fig leaf to deflect criticism from those parents. Middle school kids got royally screwed by the hypocrites at SLEEP and everyone knows it. When the later start times demonstrate no benefits, Garza can claim she had a plan all along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe an audit is necessary after they just did one, but I would like to know what areas they feel will need to have more spending in the future. I can't keep tabs on whether FCPS has enough money for their bus fleet. They need to make the public aware of what items are underfunded.

An internal audit? No--not what's being asked for here.

They just had an outside agency review their spending. Do you really think another review will give a different outcome?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Calling for an "independent audit" sounds nice, but it's a silly way to react because you disagree with policy decisions or views expressed by individual employees. It wouldn't be free, either; if you want an "independent audit" you have to pay for someone to perform it, and then someone else gets paid to address the recommendations, etc. All of that is money that could be spent on teachers and classrooms.

So, unless you have specific reason to believe that FCPS isn't spending money on what it says it spends money on, or that FCPS is paying people who never show up to work, etc., an "independent audit" is probably a waste of money, an excuse to plant a critic inside FCPS to criticize employees, or both.

Yes, I'm aware that independent audits aren't free. As you know, they cover more than people not showing up to work. As I stated, I'd like to know what each paid slot entails and how much that person is paid. I'd like total transparency regarding the "studies" FCPS is constantly doing. Although I'm not a teacher, I come from a long line of teachers, and I know the consultant piece in the public school system is mostly rotten to the core.

Why is Karen Garza "continuing" to look into scheduling changes for elementary and middle schools? What could possibly be served by more changes, who is getting paid to do this work, and outside of the SLEEP faction, who asked for this scope of study? SLEEP got what they wanted. The matter should be well over and done with by now. Just ONE of the areas I would like to see covered in this audit. These are not frivolous questions. If FCPS has nothing to hide, it should not mind its business truly being made public.

Your raising "an excuse to plant a critic inside FCPS to criticize employees" is so far out of left field that I'm curious about your own affiliation, if you care to share.

My impression is that you can put in a FOIA request for salary by job title.

I agree that, if it is does not currently exist, having a place to locate and review both regular and special studies undertaken or paid for by FCPS would be a good idea. You don't need an independent audit to act on that recommendation.

Forgive me if I'm not too impressed by your effort to burnish your own credentials and suggest you have some special insight into whether studies are padded or awarded to cronies. It may or may not happen, but again I wouldn't start writing checks to third parties to audit those expenditures absent specific reasons to question their validity.

I have no affiliation with FCPS, if that's what you're insinuating. However, I have seen people who try to use attacks on public educators as a means to boost their own profiles, and I've come across quite a few self-aggrandizing IGs within the Federal Government who basically created an atmosphere of intimidation for employees and made it harder for them to do their jobs without wondering whether their every decision would be second-guessed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Calling for an "independent audit" sounds nice, but it's a silly way to react because you disagree with policy decisions or views expressed by individual employees. It wouldn't be free, either; if you want an "independent audit" you have to pay for someone to perform it, and then someone else gets paid to address the recommendations, etc. All of that is money that could be spent on teachers and classrooms.

So, unless you have specific reason to believe that FCPS isn't spending money on what it says it spends money on, or that FCPS is paying people who never show up to work, etc., an "independent audit" is probably a waste of money, an excuse to plant a critic inside FCPS to criticize employees, or both.

Yes, I'm aware that independent audits aren't free. As you know, they cover more than people not showing up to work. As I stated, I'd like to know what each paid slot entails and how much that person is paid. I'd like total transparency regarding the "studies" FCPS is constantly doing. Although I'm not a teacher, I come from a long line of teachers, and I know the consultant piece in the public school system is mostly rotten to the core.

Why is Karen Garza "continuing" to look into scheduling changes for elementary and middle schools? What could possibly be served by more changes, who is getting paid to do this work, and outside of the SLEEP faction, who asked for this scope of study? SLEEP got what they wanted. The matter should be well over and done with by now. Just ONE of the areas I would like to see covered in this audit. These are not frivolous questions. If FCPS has nothing to hide, it should not mind its business truly being made public.

Your raising "an excuse to plant a critic inside FCPS to criticize employees" is so far out of left field that I'm curious about your own affiliation, if you care to share.

My impression is that you can put in a FOIA request for salary by job title.

I agree that, if it is does not currently exist, having a place to locate and review both regular and special studies undertaken or paid for by FCPS would be a good idea. You don't need an independent audit to act on that recommendation.

Forgive me if I'm not too impressed by your effort to burnish your own credentials and suggest you have some special insight into whether studies are padded or awarded to cronies. It may or may not happen, but again I wouldn't start writing checks to third parties to audit those expenditures absent specific reasons to question their validity.

I have no affiliation with FCPS, if that's what you're insinuating. However, I have seen people who try to use attacks on public educators as a means to boost their own profiles, and I've come across quite a few self-aggrandizing IGs within the Federal Government who basically created an atmosphere of intimidation for employees and made it harder for them to do their jobs without wondering whether their every decision would be second-guessed.

All base salaries are already available from the cops website. They don't include benefits but those should be similar across the board.

[Anonymous]

Instead of guessing what has or hasn't happened, how about actually reviewing what has been done:

http://www.fcps.edu/fs/transparency/index.shtml