Tough decisions on closing FCPS $3.5M budget gap

Decisions loom on teacher pay, expanding kindergarten

In budget reviews, school board weighs options to close shortfall
by Kali Schumitz | STAFF WRITER

The Fairfax County School Board is weighing program expansion versus teacher pay raises or saving for future needs as it decides how to close a $3.5 million gap in the $2.2 billion fiscal 2012 school budget.

Superintendent Jack Dale is recommending giving a smaller raise to schools staff than he proposed earlier this year -- a 1 percent cost-of-living increase as opposed to the 2 percent raise that had been planned. He also proposed expanding full-day kindergarten to all 36 schools that now have half-day kindergarten starting next school year, rather than spreading out the expansion during multiple years.

But doing those things will cost $3.5 million more than the school is receiving in funding. The school system asked for a $48.8 million increase in county funding, but did not receive it.

Dale's preference for closing the gap is to use reserve funding that would otherwise be set aside for fiscal 2013.

"The downside of doing that is the $3.5 million is an ongoing expense, and this is one-time money," he said.

School Board members also could opt to roll out full-day kindergarten during the course of two school years -- 16 schools next school year and 20 in the 2013-14 school year. The third option Dale presented is to give employees a 1 percent bonus, instead of a 1 percent salary increase.

At a work session Monday, School Board members did not seem inclined to go back on their earlier promise to give employees a raise this year, and several said they supported the use of reserve funds to balance the books.

Some board members would like to see funds shifted to other priorities, such as summer school programs to help students who are failing classes.

"I am troubled by our ability to find the money in our budget for some programs and not others," said board member Tina Hone (At large), who advocates spending less on expanding full-day kindergarten and more on restoring extended learning options for students.

The schools that have half-day kindergarten programs are all high-achieving schools in wealthier areas of the county, Hone said.

Expanding full-day kindergarten to all 36 schools next year will cost about $8 million.

Other board members said that the expanded curriculum demands for kindergartners make it impetrative that the expansion be completed as soon as possible.

"We have been shortchanging those 36 schools," said Ilryong Moon (At large).

School Board members are met with stakeholder groups this week to get feedback on the budget options. Public hearings are scheduled for 6 p.m. May 17 and 18 at Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road in Falls Church. The School Board is expected to adopt a final budget May 26.

kschumitz@fairfaxtimes.com