Anonymous
02/05/2026 08:38
Subject: Re:How would you cut the budget?
I would cut Gatehouse by 50%. Any position with more then 1 person is halved. The layer of bureaucracy in that building is massive and not needed.
OK, so I would look at it in more depth but that is where I would start. What bureaucratic positions that are not directly interacting with the students are redundant or nice to haves that don't provide much. Clean out that building first and then look at the admin structure in the schools. The people whose jobs are to teach teachers to teach who have not taught in ages, probably the majority of those are gone.
I would hope to increase the support staff for SPED so that those teachers have less paper work and more support so that they have time to work with the kids. That would decrease law suits and meetings and the loss of SPED teachers, which would save money.
I would end IB. I would keep IB at 4 HS but I would have them be geographically centered as best as possible in schools with space in each direction of the County so that kids who want IB can attend. That would remove the cost of 4 IB programs and would hopefully improve the IB numbers by concentrating IB kids together forming a bigger cohort. I would keep full AP at those schools, not Robinson APs but the regular AP course offerings.
OK, so I would look at it in more depth but that is where I would start. What bureaucratic positions that are not directly interacting with the students are redundant or nice to haves that don't provide much. Clean out that building first and then look at the admin structure in the schools. The people whose jobs are to teach teachers to teach who have not taught in ages, probably the majority of those are gone.
I would hope to increase the support staff for SPED so that those teachers have less paper work and more support so that they have time to work with the kids. That would decrease law suits and meetings and the loss of SPED teachers, which would save money.
I would end IB. I would keep IB at 4 HS but I would have them be geographically centered as best as possible in schools with space in each direction of the County so that kids who want IB can attend. That would remove the cost of 4 IB programs and would hopefully improve the IB numbers by concentrating IB kids together forming a bigger cohort. I would keep full AP at those schools, not Robinson APs but the regular AP course offerings.
Anonymous
02/05/2026 08:27
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Eliminate the 60+ full time employees in the Gatehouse Office of DEI.
Anonymous
02/03/2026 16:39
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Anonymous wrote:Fire kindergarten Assistants.
CUt 50% of AP.
FIRE THE DEANS OF SCHOOL \
Definitely do not fire kindergarten assistants. Those people are doing the Lord's work for $20 per hour. Some of the kindergarten classes are huge and there's no way one teacher can keep up with 27 5 and 6 year olds, some of whom aren't toilet trained, or aren't yet identified for Special Education, or have no previous experience being around other children.
APs and Deans are needed at larger schools, especially if they hold the line with discipline. The ones who don't should be fired.
Half the staff at Gatehouse could be cut and no one would miss them.
SLPs, OTs, and PTs should be contract positions. I would say the same for a lot of the Behavior Intervention Department too.
Anonymous
02/03/2026 13:53
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
The core issue is enrollment driven cost, not just management or efficiency.
When you add it up honestly, the numbers are staggering. Independent demographic estimates indicate roughly 9,000 undocumented students are enrolled in local public schools. At about $19,600 per student, that is roughly $175 million per year in base education spending. Once you include ESOL services, FARMS meals, additional aides, specialists, counseling, and transportation, a realistic total cost is closer to $230 million per year.
The bigger impact comes from undocumented household driven enrollment. Estimates suggest another 11,000 to 22,000 US born students live with at least one undocumented parent. Even assuming only 10,000 of those students are enrolled in FCPS, the base cost alone is about $196 million per year. Adding the same high needs services pushes that total to roughly $250 million to $270 million annually.
Combined, enrollment tied directly or indirectly to undocumented households plausibly costs FCPS on the order of $450 million to $500 million per year. That is a massive structural burden on the school system and taxpayers.
This is why enforcing existing laws where the county legally can matters. FCPS cannot deny enrollment, but the county can reduce the pull factors that keep attracting and retaining high cost households. Reducing these populations reduces enrollment pressure across the entire system.
Fewer students means fewer classrooms, fewer aides, fewer specialists, and less administrative overhead over time. This does not require firing teachers. Staffing reductions happen naturally through attrition as enrollment declines, which is already how FCPS adjusts positions. With a smaller student body, union contract increases become affordable and remaining teachers can be paid more while teaching fewer students with lower overall needs.
The real goal should be a smaller student population with fewer high needs and a higher share of tax producing households. That lowers costs and strengthens revenue at the same time. Anything else leads to the downward spiral we are already seeing. Ballooning budgets, escalating labor costs, more bonds, higher taxes, and a system that becomes even more attractive to additional high needs households.
If leaders refuse to enforce the law where they can and reduce enrollment pressure, FCPS will continue to get more expensive, not better.
When you add it up honestly, the numbers are staggering. Independent demographic estimates indicate roughly 9,000 undocumented students are enrolled in local public schools. At about $19,600 per student, that is roughly $175 million per year in base education spending. Once you include ESOL services, FARMS meals, additional aides, specialists, counseling, and transportation, a realistic total cost is closer to $230 million per year.
The bigger impact comes from undocumented household driven enrollment. Estimates suggest another 11,000 to 22,000 US born students live with at least one undocumented parent. Even assuming only 10,000 of those students are enrolled in FCPS, the base cost alone is about $196 million per year. Adding the same high needs services pushes that total to roughly $250 million to $270 million annually.
Combined, enrollment tied directly or indirectly to undocumented households plausibly costs FCPS on the order of $450 million to $500 million per year. That is a massive structural burden on the school system and taxpayers.
This is why enforcing existing laws where the county legally can matters. FCPS cannot deny enrollment, but the county can reduce the pull factors that keep attracting and retaining high cost households. Reducing these populations reduces enrollment pressure across the entire system.
Fewer students means fewer classrooms, fewer aides, fewer specialists, and less administrative overhead over time. This does not require firing teachers. Staffing reductions happen naturally through attrition as enrollment declines, which is already how FCPS adjusts positions. With a smaller student body, union contract increases become affordable and remaining teachers can be paid more while teaching fewer students with lower overall needs.
The real goal should be a smaller student population with fewer high needs and a higher share of tax producing households. That lowers costs and strengthens revenue at the same time. Anything else leads to the downward spiral we are already seeing. Ballooning budgets, escalating labor costs, more bonds, higher taxes, and a system that becomes even more attractive to additional high needs households.
If leaders refuse to enforce the law where they can and reduce enrollment pressure, FCPS will continue to get more expensive, not better.
Anonymous
02/03/2026 12:04
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Fire kindergarten Assistants.
CUt 50% of AP.
FIRE THE DEANS OF SCHOOL \
CUt 50% of AP.
FIRE THE DEANS OF SCHOOL \
Anonymous
01/28/2026 11:51
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Anonymous wrote:Why does FCPS have both a Chief Human Resources Officer and an Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources?
If the Chief Engagement and Experience Officer left tomorrow, what direct impact would that have on any child’s academic achievement? I would apply the same question to the Chief Equity Officer. These are nice to haves, not need to have positions.
I understand the need for a CFO and a CIO in a large organization, but FCPS is lying when they say they don’t have unnecessary top management.
Gatehouse is absolutely where the cuts should be made but they won't.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 11:12
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Why does FCPS have both a Chief Human Resources Officer and an Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources?
If the Chief Engagement and Experience Officer left tomorrow, what direct impact would that have on any child’s academic achievement? I would apply the same question to the Chief Equity Officer. These are nice to haves, not need to have positions.
I understand the need for a CFO and a CIO in a large organization, but FCPS is lying when they say they don’t have unnecessary top management.
If the Chief Engagement and Experience Officer left tomorrow, what direct impact would that have on any child’s academic achievement? I would apply the same question to the Chief Equity Officer. These are nice to haves, not need to have positions.
I understand the need for a CFO and a CIO in a large organization, but FCPS is lying when they say they don’t have unnecessary top management.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 11:12
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Getting rid of Reid, her security detail and half or more of Gatehouse would be a step in the right direction.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 11:11
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Let’s see, the new early response button monitors are going to be using cost almost 2 million set up and 1 million annually. It’s a button, teachers have cell phones and do no need this. Performance matters is another useless piece of tech they spend over a million annually all so they can track a bunch of data but do nothing with. Ehall pass is a tracking for student passes but nobody uses it correctly and nobody looks at the reports, it is 800k annual is utterly useless. Fire about 50 people at central office that only collect data and send out surveys that nobody pays attention to. I could go on but I figure that 5-10 million right there
Anonymous
01/28/2026 10:50
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
No familiar with all programs, but won’t one start with the lowest performing program?
quote=Anonymous]FCPS runs like Crate and Barrell in terms of revenue. With the new budget they might take in more money than them. Why can’t FCPS manage the budget? Now we have new food tax, higher real estate, more property tax and nova wants a casino to fund it all. What?
quote=Anonymous]FCPS runs like Crate and Barrell in terms of revenue. With the new budget they might take in more money than them. Why can’t FCPS manage the budget? Now we have new food tax, higher real estate, more property tax and nova wants a casino to fund it all. What?
wAnonymous wrote:We are already facing a budget shortfall and if the economy tanks it will be worse. What do you think should be done to cut the budget?
Anonymous
01/28/2026 10:24
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
FCPS runs like Crate and Barrell in terms of revenue. With the new budget they might take in more money than them. Why can’t FCPS manage the budget? Now we have new food tax, higher real estate, more property tax and nova wants a casino to fund it all. What?
wAnonymous wrote:We are already facing a budget shortfall and if the economy tanks it will be worse. What do you think should be done to cut the budget?
Anonymous
01/23/2026 10:53
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Anonymous wrote:The 2027 budget ask last night by Reid is now $4.1 billion, a $197 million (5% increase) over last year, with that $197 million being due to union collective bargaining agreements. That’s a 57% increase ($1.5 billion) increase over the past 10 years, even though there are fewer students than 10 years ago. And the school board voted to give principals, supervisors, and admin collective bargaining rights last night.
When you say that there are fewer numbers now, then there were 10 years ago you’re talking about approximately 5000 students, but you neglected to mention the additional resources that are needed for ESOL, SPED, and other at-risk students.
Anonymous
01/23/2026 10:50
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: . . .
2. Cut all GT centers except TJ. Cut gifted resource teachers.
5. Cut all math specialists at the elementary level
. . .
8. Push LLIV up to fourth grade, instead of third.
We really need to get the budget under control so we can give raises to teachers. This will help with retention.
This plan is likely illegal. It is also unethical.
AAP (gifted and talented) students are SPECIAL NEEDS.
Public schools are required to provide an appropriate education for students at all levels; that includes advanced levels. Your proposals 2, 5, and 8 are horrendously bad.
Not to mention:
Do you want to force parents to vote for educational vouchers? - because your continued attacks on the existence of AAP services is exactly how you push students into private schools and persuade parents to vote for vouchers.
1. AAP is NOT GT.
2. If we are required to mainstream "special needs" students, should that not also apply to GT students?
No one ever said that the way to provide special services required separation from GenEd.
Anonymous
01/23/2026 10:30
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: . . .
2. Cut all GT centers except TJ. Cut gifted resource teachers.
5. Cut all math specialists at the elementary level
. . .
8. Push LLIV up to fourth grade, instead of third.
We really need to get the budget under control so we can give raises to teachers. This will help with retention.
This plan is likely illegal. It is also unethical.
AAP (gifted and talented) students are SPECIAL NEEDS.
Public schools are required to provide an appropriate education for students at all levels; that includes advanced levels. Your proposals 2, 5, and 8 are horrendously bad.
Not to mention:
Do you want to force parents to vote for educational vouchers? - because your continued attacks on the existence of AAP services is exactly how you push students into private schools and persuade parents to vote for vouchers.
DP
2. Couldn’t APP/GT students be serviced at the base school?
5. All schools don’t have math specialist now.
8. Do all schools have LLIV in third?
Anonymous
01/23/2026 10:16
Subject: How would you cut the budget?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: . . .
2. Cut all GT centers except TJ. Cut gifted resource teachers.
5. Cut all math specialists at the elementary level
. . .
8. Push LLIV up to fourth grade, instead of third.
We really need to get the budget under control so we can give raises to teachers. This will help with retention.
This plan is likely illegal. It is also unethical.
AAP (gifted and talented) students are SPECIAL NEEDS.
Public schools are required to provide an appropriate education for students at all levels; that includes advanced levels. Your proposals 2, 5, and 8 are horrendously bad.
Not to mention:
Do you want to force parents to vote for educational vouchers? - because your continued attacks on the existence of AAP services is exactly how you push students into private schools and persuade parents to vote for vouchers.