The Bottom Line - April 9, 2010 - FCPS
Budget Recap: Where We Are Now
As a result of recent actions approved by Virginia’s General Assembly, Kathy Smith, School Board chair, has requested that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors fund the school transfer at the same level as FY 2010, despite the county executive’s recommendation of a 1 percent decrease in the transfer to the school system.
At the Board of Supervisors' April 6 public hearing, Smith’s testimony highlighted FCPS’ efficiency and fiscal responsibility:
•Over the past two years, FCPS has taken reductions and cost avoidances exceeding $265 million and eliminated more than 1,200 positions. In addition, FCPS increased class size by one student and reduced teaching positions. The school system redesigned programs including summer school and college success and adjusted bus routes and bell schedules to achieve greater efficiencies. No employee received a salary increase this year. The per-pupil allocation principals received to operate their schools this year is the same amount they received in 2007, and it will be even lower next year. Per-pupil spending has continued to decline as FCPS’ enrollment has increased by thousands.
•Even with a level transfer, the School Board’s advertised budget still includes reduced services and programs for the coming school year. These cuts include a reduction of more than 200 positions (nearly half from central office support); a salary freeze for all employees; a reduction of custodial support; the closing of Pimmit Hills Alternative High School; the elimination of summer school except for some special education students and credit recovery to ensure graduation; the elimination of the extended school day and modified elementary school calendar; and a 15 percent reduction in supplies and textbooks. In addition to these reductions, fees will be instituted for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and PSAT tests and for Virginia High School League sports participation.
Click on the link to read the rest: The Bottom Line - April 9, 2010 - FCPS
Friday, April 9, 2010
FCPS Board Chair Remarks to FC Board of Supervisors
http://www.fcps.edu/news/fy2011/BOSspeech040610.pdf
Follow this link to read Kathy Smith's presentation to the Board of Supervisors on the school budget -- presented April 6. Excerpt follows:
As I listened to the hundreds of speakers over three nights of budget public hearings in January, a common theme emerged: "I chose to live in Fairfax County because of the schools." Let me share a few of their comments with you:
A Hunters Woods Elementary School student said that his parents moved from St. Louis three years ago, "partly because my parents heard of the excellent Fairfax County Public Schools, which are known across the country."
A parent who chose Fairfax County because of the schools is now concerned
that programs that drew him to FCPS might be cut. He said, "If we strip the
schools of these programs, this county loses one of its greatest distinctions and with it a competitive edge over neighboring counties for potential businesses and residents."
A mother said, "Why do people come to Fairfax County? They don't come for the beautiful scenery, although we have some. They don't come because it is inexpensive to live here. They certainly don't come because their commutes are easier. They come because of our outstanding schools and the culture the schools create."
Click the link at the beginning of this article to read her full remarks.
Follow this link to read Kathy Smith's presentation to the Board of Supervisors on the school budget -- presented April 6. Excerpt follows:
As I listened to the hundreds of speakers over three nights of budget public hearings in January, a common theme emerged: "I chose to live in Fairfax County because of the schools." Let me share a few of their comments with you:
A Hunters Woods Elementary School student said that his parents moved from St. Louis three years ago, "partly because my parents heard of the excellent Fairfax County Public Schools, which are known across the country."
A parent who chose Fairfax County because of the schools is now concerned
that programs that drew him to FCPS might be cut. He said, "If we strip the
schools of these programs, this county loses one of its greatest distinctions and with it a competitive edge over neighboring counties for potential businesses and residents."
A mother said, "Why do people come to Fairfax County? They don't come for the beautiful scenery, although we have some. They don't come because it is inexpensive to live here. They certainly don't come because their commutes are easier. They come because of our outstanding schools and the culture the schools create."
Click the link at the beginning of this article to read her full remarks.
Respite Day for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Set for May 15
Respite Day for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Set for May 15: "Grandparents and other relatives raising children can take part in a respite day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, at two locations in Fairfax County."
Kids gone wild, parents gone missing
This article asks a particularly relevant question: if the parents read and accessed their kids' texts and Facebook pages, they would have known, without a doubt, what their kids were doing. Maybe they don't care -- we'll never know. Is your kid a bully online? On his or her phone? Have you checked your student's FB/texts recently? Well, what are you waiting for?
Kids gone wild, parents gone missing: "At South Hadley High, kids went wild. But where were the parents?
Kids gone wild, parents gone missing: "At South Hadley High, kids went wild. But where were the parents?
Why great teachers matter to low-income students
Why great teachers matter to low-income students: "They're crucial -- and here's how to get better ones.
Korean Bell Garden Grows
Korean Bell Garden Grows: "
Meadowlark to showcase cultural icon. Korean Ambassador Dr. Duk-soo Han and more than 50 other volunteers dug in - literally - to celebrate the dedication of the new 4.7-acre Korean bell garden at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
Meadowlark to showcase cultural icon. Korean Ambassador Dr. Duk-soo Han and more than 50 other volunteers dug in - literally - to celebrate the dedication of the new 4.7-acre Korean bell garden at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
Commentary: Isn't It Obvious? - Fairfax Connection
Commentary: Isn't It Obvious? - Fairfax Connection: "
"
Commentary: Isn't It Obvious? Fairfax Connection ... that the Local Composite Index (LCI) for school funding that finally adjusted to Fairfax County's favor not be frozen at last year's level granting us ... and more » |
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Southwest Vienna Neighborhood Association - RSS Feed
You can subscribe to this RSS Feed on any computer with an RSS-compatible program installed, such as Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. To view and subscribe to this RSS Feed, copy and paste the following Web address into your Web browser:
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Northrop Grumman narrows choices for its Washington area headquarters
Northrop Grumman narrows choices for its Washington area headquarters: "Northrop Grumman, whose plan to relocate its West Coast headquarters to the Washington area has spurred a high-stakes competition among local governments, has narrowed its choices to Arlington, Fairfax and Montgomery counties, according to several sources in government and real estate."
Bullying is a Big Problem
Bullying is on the Rise...learn more from the Virginia PTA
Click the link for bullying webisodes for children: http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/webisodes/default.aspx
Virginia PTA - Health & Safety
Click the link for bullying webisodes for children: http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/webisodes/default.aspx
Virginia PTA - Health & Safety
Parents spending more time with teens, college race blamed
Parents spending more time with teens, college race blamed: "Two economists who work 2,274 miles away have identified the essence of parenthood in the Washington area since 1995. It turns out we have been spending all that time with our older children — chauffeuring, applauding, coordinating, correcting, planning, obsessing — because we have a deep need to beat the other stressed-out parents in getting our kids into good colleges. The researchers are Garey and Valerie A. Ramey, a married couple at the University of California-San Diego. They have done the hyper-active parent thing themselves and have a son at Stanford University to show for it. They also admit that most of this exhaustive parenting is done not by men but by women, including, by her own account, Ms. Ramey herself. To sum up, college-graduate soccer moms are trying to outdo all the other soccer moms to get their children into a good school so their daughters can repeat...
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