Again, I am shocked that people don't see a problem here.... Schools are cutting teachers and assistants. Class sizes are increasing. Teachers as well as other county employees are having their salaries frozen. And nobody thinks sending a bunch of principals to a conference in Las Vegas at close to $2,000 a head is problematic? Maybe it is this forum with a bunch of upper middle class folks.... I can assure you that most of the "regular" folks in the county are/would be upset by this gross misuse of taxpayer money.

I have problems with this. However, I have not yet read any proof that this trip did, in fact, occur.

Anonymous wrote: I can assure you that most of the "regular" folks in the county are/would be upset by this gross misuse of taxpayer money.

Did you take a poll?

Again, I am shocked that people don't see a problem here.... Schools are cutting teachers and assistants. Class sizes are increasing. Teachers as well as other county employees are having their salaries frozen. And nobody thinks sending a bunch of principals to a conference in Las Vegas at close to $2,000 a head is problematic? Maybe it is this forum with a bunch of upper middle class folks.... I can assure you that most of the "regular" folks in the county are/would be upset by this gross misuse of taxpayer money.

And these are people who have significant professional positions that involve uncontrollable overtime, changes to their job requirements, selecting and managing white-collar subordinates, and overseeing multi-million $, difficult-to-replace facilities. From time to time, there will be meetings. Sometimes travel. Sometimes both. So?

I just saw a principal on Weds night at a school concert so I know of another one that wasn't there.

Good for them! I hope our FCPS principal is there and was able to bring her DH to make it a working vacation. Our principal is fairly new but she's made a positive change at the school and works so hard. There are very few perqs available to our hardworking educators and I'm glad they were able to do this. Given the number of people that would be going, I'm sure they were able to get some great flight/hotel rates.

Our FCPS principal hadn't gone anywhere in ages.

I hope my dd's principal is there, and that she is finding some time to enjoy herself along with the professional development. She works her ass off and is amazing.

Anonymous wrote:Apparently all fcps principals are in Vegas for a retreat this week. Great way to spend school money.

DRAT! I must not have received that memo because I've been at school all week in meetings with my cluster assistant superintendent, planning with teachers, hanging out in the cafeteria at lunch to be sure the sixth graders are behaving themselves, greeting parents at our Volunteer Appreciation lunch, having parent discipline conferences, observing in classrooms, attending IEP meetings, meeting with Human Resources to go over our staff allocations, and almost forgetting that it's Secretary Appreciation week.

I sure hope my 160+ principal colleagues are having a good time in Vegas because if you say they're all there, then they must be.

--an FCPS principal

Pete and Repeat....

Really? Tell me you've never taken part in a work-related event that wasn't paid for by you.

There's a benefit to talking together, sharing ideas, learning. Who gives a rat's ass if it happens in Vegas?

Rather hyperbole, all? I know at least one who isn't.

Amazing! I wonder where they're staying...

We did this already. Most people were supportive.

Apparently all fcps principals are in Vegas for a retreat this week. Great way to spend school money.