FCPS: Preliminary Menu of Potential Reductions and Fees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why have they never considered cutting the IB program as a whole and reverting those schools back to AP?

It would cut massive expenditures and eliminate a lot of student transfers.

It is an option on the list.

But it is not a "massive" cut in expenditures. Relatively speaking, it is listed as a "medium" cut, meaning it would save 2-5million.

The detailed costing data has not yet been provided. It is my understanding it will be included in the next round (for the August 4 meeting) and will be included in the online budget balancing tool, to be made available in about a month.

The budget tool looks pretty good.

http://budgettool.fcps.edu/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would vote for eliminating IB (including middle and elementary schools, which is lot listed) and undoing the later start times. That should be around $10 million right there.

"It is not something we can consider at this time." --Dr. Karen Garza

39:50 mark of the linked YouTube video

That's because they will never admit it's the wrong move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would vote for eliminating IB (including middle and elementary schools, which is lot listed) and undoing the later start times. That should be around $10 million right there.

"It is not something we can consider at this time." --Dr. Karen Garza

39:50 mark of the linked YouTube video

That's because they will never admit it's the wrong move.

What I saw in the video was Dr. Garza stating the buses were already purchased.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would vote for eliminating IB (including middle and elementary schools, which is lot listed) and undoing the later start times. That should be around $10 million right there.

"It is not something we can consider at this time." --Dr. Karen Garza

39:50 mark of the linked YouTube video

That's because they will never admit it's the wrong move.

So we're supposed to choose between band with 7am start times or no band and start times of 7:45am? Why can we have both? Why can't we demand (and pay for) more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would vote for eliminating IB (including middle and elementary schools, which is lot listed) and undoing the later start times. That should be around $10 million right there.

"It is not something we can consider at this time." --Dr. Karen Garza

39:50 mark of the linked YouTube video

That's because they will never admit it's the wrong move.

So we're supposed to choose between band with 7am start times or no band and start times of 7:45am? Why can we have both? Why can't we demand (and pay for) more?

No one has said that is not an option. Make your voice heard if it's important to you. Bitching here doesn't count. You have to let your Board of Supervisor know what you want and what you're willing to pay for.

[Anonymous]

No one has said that is not an option. Make your voice heard if it's important to you. Bitching here doesn't count. You have to let your Board of Supervisor know what you want and what you're willing to pay for.

How about the School spend the money wisely instead? And, yes, we should have band. What we don't need is expensive trips and programs that have little or no value. FLES, for example. Band has great value--and, no, my kids did not do band. I have friends whose kids did and it is a great thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would vote for eliminating IB (including middle and elementary schools, which is lot listed) and undoing the later start times. That should be around $10 million right there.

"It is not something we can consider at this time." --Dr. Karen Garza

39:50 mark of the linked YouTube video

That's because they will never admit it's the wrong move.

Look at the science, there's nothing wrong with correcting something that was detrimental to teen's health. Sorry, FCPS was behind the rest of the country on this one. The start times for high schoolers were crazy early. Kids were walking around like zombies because they never slept. Mental health issues out the wazoo. FCPS ain't going back on this one.

[Anonymous]

They're going to create middle school zombies instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're going to create middle school zombies instead.

Well, in my fantasy world, all the schools would have reasonable start times. But that's totally unfeasible, in reality.

[Anonymous]

Just watch and see. Your bus is going to come about 10 minutes later than it did last year due to traffic.

[Anonymous]

Just watch and see. Your bus is going to come about 10 minutes later than it did last year due to traffic.

And, they will get home lots later. It will take longer on the reverse trip, as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would vote for eliminating IB (including middle and elementary schools, which is lot listed) and undoing the later start times. That should be around $10 million right there.

"It is not something we can consider at this time." --Dr. Karen Garza

39:50 mark of the linked YouTube video

That's because they will never admit it's the wrong move.

What I saw in the video was Dr. Garza stating the buses were already purchased.

Not a problem, one of the issues is an aging bus fleet. They can use the new buses and retire some of the old ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would vote for eliminating IB (including middle and elementary schools, which is lot listed) and undoing the later start times. That should be around $10 million right there.

"It is not something we can consider at this time." --Dr. Karen Garza

39:50 mark of the linked YouTube video

I don't have time right now to watch the whole video, but did she say WHY that's not an option at this time? Is it b/c they spent so much money and political capital getting it implemented?

[Anonymous]

So glad they've put getting rid of IB on the table. It's a crappy program and the budget issues allow FCPS to finally get rid of it without having to say it was a big mistake in the first place,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would vote for eliminating IB (including middle and elementary schools, which is lot listed) and undoing the later start times. That should be around $10 million right there.

"It is not something we can consider at this time." --Dr. Karen Garza

39:50 mark of the linked YouTube video

I don't have time right now to watch the whole video, but did she say WHY that's not an option at this time? Is it b/c they spent so much money and political capital getting it implemented?

Pretty much what you said -- they already purchased the buses and the changes have already been put in place for FY 2016.

She also stated -- and the chair of the Budget Task Force explained in more detail -- what is on the possibilities list is just the result of brainstorming efforts. The task force did not remove items because it didn't fit with the philosophy of the School Board, etc. They just put everything on the table, and the only things removed were if it would not affect the operating budget in FY 2017, if it is already being done, or if it is illegal.

Dr. Garza emphasized the ultimate decision makers on any of these possibilities is the School Board, with her working with the Board.