Friday, January 11, 2013
Superintendent Jack Dale's proposed $2.5 billion budget for FY 2014 doesn't adequately compensate educators compared to neighboring jurisdictions, leaders say.
As he presented his $2.5 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014 on Thursday, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Dale threw up a "red flag" about the county's ability to pay teachers compared to other neighboring jurisdictions, which could hurt its ability to attract and retain educators, he said. Dale's proposed budget is $62.7 million larger than last year's budget but relies heavily on a proposed 5.5 percent increase ($92.4 million) in funding from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors — for a total transfer of $1.77 billion — as a revenue source. Compensation — including an extra 293 positions to accommodate student growth and the costs of benefits and a state-mandated Virginia Retirement System shift — makes up …
FY 2014 spending plan adds nearly 293 positions to accommodate 2,857 extra students -- but 'bare bones budget' falls short on some needs, Superintendent Jack Dale says.
Superintendent Jack Dale unveiled a $2.5 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2014 on Thursday — a budget $62.7 million larger than last year's spending plan largely driven by huge enrollment growth and the staffing needed to accommodate it. But the plan is "bare bones," Dale said, compared to an earlier Fairfax schools fiscal forecast that anticipated giving more compensation to teachers and reducing class sizes or creating a permanent line item for textbooks, among other program needs. "It's nothing extravagant but it does recognize some of the things Fairfax expects," Dale said Thursday morning after a meeting with reporters. The budget Dale presented to the school board Thursday finds $50 million in savings, but relies heavily on a proposed …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Police say no injuries reported by Shrevewood Elementary School students Wednesday; SUV driver slightly injured.
An SUV slammed "head on" into a school bus Wednesday afternoon on rain-slicked roads in Merrifield, but no serious injuries are reported, Fairfax County Police say. Police received a call about the crash at 4:23 p.m. Wednesday. The bus and students were coming from Shrevewood Elementary School, FCPS Spokesman John Torre told Patch. The crash — which occurred near the intersection of Gallows Road and Park Tower Drive, about two blocks south of the Dunn Loring Metro Station — closed down southbound Gallows Road during rush hour, Fairfax County Police spokesman Don Gotthardt said. Students were being taken off of the damaged school bus and boarding a second school bus, believed to be a Fairfax County Public Schools bus, according to …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Fairfax County school board members will vote on five-year school building, renovation plan later this month.
Parents and students told the Fairfax County School Board Monday night they're worried the 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) won't adequately address overcrowding in all places. Making small boundary adjustments to overcrowded areas and then readjusting the plan's renovation queue, which calculates the order in which major school repairs will occur, might be a better, more efficient long-term strategy, they said. The five-year CIP budget will total $871.2 million or roughly $174.2 million per year. Funds approved in the 2011 School Bond Referendum and previous referenda will address approximately $190.8 million of the five-year requirement, leaving a balance of $680.3 million unfunded. Officials expect another school bond referendum…
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Fairfax County School Board members shared their priorities, values with Patch this week.
According to some Fairfax County School Board members, 2013 will be a big year for the system. Ryan McElveen (At-large), Pat Hynes (Hunter Mill) and Sandy Evans (Mason) shared their goals, priorities and visions for the new year with Patch this week. Chief among their lists: the search for a new superintendent to replace Jack Dale, who will retire in June. Other concerns: advanced academics, overcrowding, closing the achievement gap and early intervention, among others. To read their full lists, follow the links below. What are your goals for local schools in 2013? 2013: Sandy Evans' Goals for Fairfax Schools 2013: Pat Hynes' Goals for Fairfax Schools 2013: Ryan McElveen's Goals for Fairfax Schools
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Fairfax County School Board member shares priorities, vision for the new year.
Patch asked Fairfax County School Board members to share their goals and priorities for 2013. Board member Sandy Evans (Mason) shares her top five points below. They run unedited. The upcoming year will be a particularly busy one on the School Board, from our Superintendent search to another difficult budget to some far-reaching instructional issues. Here’s what I see at the Top 5 Priorities for 2013, plus a note about a Vision for the Future: Overall, the Board will have an opportunity to create a new Vision for the Future. With a new Board having come in in 2012 and a new Superintendent in 2013, this will provide a good time for us to reassess where we are as a school system and where we need to be going in the next two decades. We have …
Monday, December 31, 2012
Fairfax County School Board member shares visions for the new year.
As 2013 approaches, Patch has asked Fairfax County School Board members to share their goals and priorities for 2013. Member Pat Hynes' (Hunter Mill) goals run unedited below. As I finish my first year on the school board, I’m humbled by many debts of gratitude. Thank you to all those who helped me understand, were patient with my mistakes, who had the courage to advocate and the courage to move forward with faith. Thanks, especially, to the educators, who take good care of our children’s minds and hearts every day. Finally, thanks to The Patch for giving me this opportunity to look forward. My five goals for the next year on school board - in no particular order because everything is crucial and should have been done yesterday - are: …
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Fairfax County School Board member shares list of "ins" and "outs" for the new year.
As 2013 approaches, Patch has asked Fairfax County School Board members to share their goals and priorities for 2013. Member Ryan McElveen (At-large) chose to write an "Unofficial FCPS 2013 In-and-Out List." It runs unedited below. It’s that time of year when we reflect on all we’ve done over the past year and look ahead to what the New Year will bring. In a county as big as Fairfax, the to-do list is endless, but here are some of the things on which the School Board is setting its sights for 2013. I wish you a wonderful holiday break! Out In Quesadillas Quinoa Streamline and Focus Hocus Pocus South County Secondary South …
Sunday, December 23, 2012
As the Fairfax County School board stares down $162 million deficit, midyear review funds will help boost next year's beginning balance.
Fairfax County Public Schools has found an extra $9.7 million in its fiscal year 2013 budget, much of which school board members voted Thursday night to set aside for its FY2014 beginning balance — a budget year in which the system faces a $162 million deficit. The money will increase next year's beginning balance from $41.6 million to $51.1 million. School board members have been waiting for the outcome of a midyear budget review since the fall, as it began to grapple with a projected deficit of $93.7 million in fiscal year 2014, a number that doesn't include another $68.4 million shortfall in "significant program needs." At a joint meeting in November, Fairfax County Executive Ed Long said the county anticipates being able to give the …
Friday, December 21, 2012
Administrator Cary Wiedemann responds to FCPS.
Fairfax Underground administrator Cary Wiedemann told Fairfax County Public Schools lawyers he's reluctant to remove the post that details the grades of Fairfax High School students from the 2011-12 school year. He replied Thursday night to an email sent by Fairfax County Public Schools lawyers about student information published in the Fairfax Underground thread titled "Leaked! Fairfax High School Report Cards from 2011-2012 School Year for Every Student! 2,166 page PDF file." FCPS told Wiedemann to remove the files from Fairfax Underground and keep records of "all user accounts, IP addresses and any other information about those who posted, downloaded, or accessed these files." Here is his response: This is an interesting legal and moral…
Betty white
1:43 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Erica, how do people find 9 million dollars? more ›