FCPS Superintendent Presents $1.8 Billion Proposed Budget For FY 2005
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech has proposed a $1.8 billion budget for FY 2005, a budget that holds the line on operating costs while working to keep FCPS competitive in the market for excellent employees. The proposed budget includes $7.1 million to support continued student population growth as well as a 7.1 percent increase in the total compensation packages offered to eligible teachers and support employees.
In order to fund compensation increases that keep FCPS competitive in the market for excellent employees, reductions have been made in other parts of the budget. The total increase in the FY 2005 budget, $136 million, is less than the total increase in employee compensation, $144 million.
The FY 2005 budget reflects slower growth in overall student membership but a steady increase in the number of students with limited English proficiency, students with disabilities, and students from low-income homes. As in the past four consecutive years, this budget includes almost no new program or service increases and provides for cuts in school and department budgets.
FCPS faces continuing revenue challenges. The Superintendent’s FY 2005 budget requests a 9.7 percent transfer request from Fairfax County, although the county has set 5.5 percent as a guideline. The FY 2005 budget anticipates
$37.5 million in federal funds, $332.6 million in state funds, $1,361.2 million in local funds, and $38.6 million from other sources, added to a beginning balance of $34.8 million.
“Our student demographics continue to shift,” said Domenech. “Students in our English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) program have risen 79.8 percent since FY 2000, while students needing special education services and those eligible for free and reduced-price lunch have risen 18.1 percent in that same period. We have a higher number of students needing extra services, which require additional funds.
“We must continue to provide the best possible education for all our students, and an integral part of that effort is to hire and retain the best educational professionals possible,” said the Superintendent. “This year’s budget includes specific compensation initiatives that teachers and support employees have requested, including a market scale adjustment of 3 percent for teachers and 2 percent for support employees. There is a step increase of 3.1 percent for all eligible employees. The budget also allows FCPS to keep its promise to pick up the employee contribution to the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) over a five-year period.”
The market scale adjustments will cost the school system $36.7 million, while the step increase comes to $33.1 million. The budget also covers a $13.6 million health insurance increase and $29.1 million for a projected VRS rate increase. A total of $5 million is earmarked for staffing initiatives for the autism program and elementary-level staffing.
Domenech pointed out the high levels of achievement displayed by FCPS students and teachers, noting that students posted their highest Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) scores ever in 2003 (1110) and that 91 percent of Fairfax County schools are now fully accredited under the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).
“The SOL achievement gap has diminished significantly for Black and Hispanic students since 1998,” said Domenech. “SAT verbal and math scores for Black and Hispanic students far exceed national averages. And our students continue to excel at local, state, and national competitions in all subjects. The class of 2004 boasts 210 National Merit Semifinalists. Remarkable things are happening in Fairfax County schools. We need to make sure remarkable things keep happening by providing the funding necessary to keep instruction and learning at high levels.”
Domenech has proposed $15.4 million in budget reductions, including $4 million for elementary instructional assistants, a $3 million summer school transfer, $2.9 million in high school staffing adjustments, and $2.7 million in department reductions. The Superintendent is proposing that some of these cuts be restored to the budget; however, if the state makes additional reductions in education funding or if the Board of Supervisors does not support a 9.7 percent transfer increase, the cuts may have to be made.
The School Board will hold work sessions on the FY 2005 budget on Tuesday, January 20, and Thursday, February 5, and will hold public hearings on Monday, January 26, and Tuesday, January 27, (if needed) before formally adopting the advertised budget at its business meeting on Thursday, February 12. On Tuesday, March 30, (tentative) the School Board will present its budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and the transfer to the schools will be set by the Board of Supervisors on April 28 (tentative). Additional work sessions and public hearings will be held by the School Board in May prior to formal adoption of the FY 2005 budget at its business meeting on Thursday, May 27. Citizens interested in speaking at a School Board public hearing should call 571-423-1075.###
Note: For more information, contact Deirdra McLaughlin, assistant superintendent of financial services and chief financial officer, at 703-246-2811 or Andy Hawkins, director of the Office of Budget Services, at 703-246-3702.
