Direct From the Superintendent: FY 2011 Budget
Our schools continue to provide an excellent education to all students. Despite fiscal challenges and budget reductions, we hope that students will continue to achieve at the levels of recent years. Although FCPS received nearly $50 million in federal stimulus funding, FCPS needed to implement $171 million in budget reductions and cost avoidances, which included the elimination of 788 positions, to balance the budget for this school year. FCPS’ employees continue to provide excellent services for all our students; however, with cuts in staff, program reductions are unavoidable.
Unfortunately, as we develop the budget for fiscal year 2011 (next school year), we are projecting that, without additional revenue, FCPS will need to make significantly more reductions for next school year. To begin the budget planning discussions for next year, FCPS and Fairfax County held community dialogue meetings. We have also gathered feedback on budget priorities from our employees. With a deficit this significant, we will be reviewing each of FCPS’ programs with the possibility of increasing class sizes further, discontinuing full-day kindergarten except in very high-need schools, adding new student fees for activities and for Advance Placement and International Baccalaureate tests, eliminating foreign language instruction in elementary schools, eliminating elementary band and strings, reducing school-based technology specialists, and implementing an additional five percent reduction to central office support. These are just examples of the magnitude of the reductions and decisions that may be made. No decisions have been made at this time.
Let me note that our cost per pupil is in the middle of metropolitan Washington school systems, and $2,000 less than Montgomery County Schools in Maryland. Our percentage of nonschool-based management positions to total positions is the lowest in the area at 0.89 percent (next lowest is Montgomery County at 1.1 percent). Our school system is recognized nationally (and even internationally) as one of the very best, and we are doing this—with the help of great parents, who support us—while doing a lot more with a lot less than other excellent school systems. But we cannot keep cutting forever without undermining our success.
In this issue is a link to a planning calendar for the FY 2011 budget. As you will note on this calendar, after I release the proposed budget in early January, the School Board will hold public hearings in late January, and the Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings in April.
I urge you all to contact state and local officials with your views about revenues and their effects on the budget. I look forward to the support of the Fairfax community as we work together to develop the school system budget in a far from ideal economic climate.
Jack Dale, Superintendent of Schools
All Fairfax County Public Schools Earn Full State Accreditation; On-Time Graduation Rate Is 90.4 Percent for Class of 2009
One hundred percent of the 190 Fairfax County public schools earned full accreditation from the Virginia Department of Education based on the 2008-09 Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. Ratings are based on the achievement of students tested in the four core subjects in 2008-09 or may reflect the overall achievement during the three most recent years. Test results in each subject area are combined to produce overall passing percentages in English, mathematics, history and social science, and science.
In addition, Fairfax County Public Schools reports an on-time graduation rate of 90.4 percent for members of the class of 2009—which includes students who entered ninth grade for the first time during the 2005-06 school year—as part of the Virginia Department of Education’s on-time graduation rate report. (more: Accreditation | Graduation Rate)
Good News—Interview With Superintendent Jack Dale
Take a look at this interview with Dr. Jack Dale in which he reports on some good news for FCPS. (watch video)
Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Plans
Due to inclement weather or other emergency situations, it may be necessary to close schools for the entire day, to open schools late, or to close early.
Parents are urged to make arrangements now for the care of their children when schedule changes are made (and to provide for the rare situation when it is necessary to close an individual school because of a power failure or other circumstances). Children should know where to go if a parent will not be home.
Decisions on schedule changes are made after careful study of the best information available from many sources including weather services, the highway department, the police, and FCPS transportation staff members who are out checking the roads. FCPS will make every effort to decide, before 5 a.m., whether to close or delay schools before and will begin communicating the decision once it is made. The 5 a.m. decision time is a goal. Weather conditions can deteriorate after 5 a.m., which means that it may not be possible for FCPS to meet that goal.
While no sources dealing with weather predictions can be infallible, decisions are made with one overriding consideration—the safety of all students—those who ride buses and those who walk to school each day.
FCPS has several schedules set up to deal with inclement weather; these are put into effect when conditions threaten the safety of children who are walking or riding school buses to schools. These schedules are:
(1) Keep schools closed. (2) Open two hours late. (3) Close two hours early.
When Fairfax County Public Schools has a schedule change (closing or delay) due to inclement weather or other emergencies, the information is communicated as soon as the decision is made in these ways:
- Called in to local radio and television stations, which are notified as soon as a decision is made.
- Posted on cable Channel 21, a channel programmed by FCPS.
- Posted on www.fcps.edu.
- Sent via e-mail to parents through the Keep in Touch e-mail notification system.
Do not phone the school or one of the stations for this information. To subscribe or update your Keep in Touch information, go to www.fcps.edu/kit/.)
For more information, go to http://www.fcps.edu/news/weather.htm.
Inclement Weather Closing Decision Video
If you want to learn more about how FCPS administrators decide to delay or close schools during inclement weather, you can check out a short video, which is available by going to http://www.fcps.edu/DIT/streaming/ss10_snow.asx.
Effects of Inclement Weather on Kindergarten Transportation
Two-Hour Late Opening–Morning Kindergarten
Students report two hours later than their regular schedule, are released approximately one hour later than the usual Tuesday through Friday time, and are transported to their midday kindergarten stops. Afternoon kindergarten (half-day only) students are picked up at their midday kindergarten stops approximately one hour later than the usual Tuesday through Friday time. If a late opening occurs on a Monday, elementary schools will not close early but will observe the usual Tuesday through Friday schedule.
Two-Hour Early Closing–Morning Kindergarten
Students will be given lunch at no cost and released with other students. Those morning kindergarten students who rode buses to school in the morning will ride on those same buses to the same stops at which they were picked up. The buses will not stop at the special midday kindergarten bus stop locations. Kindergartners who live within the normal walking boundary will not have transportation and must walk home.
If your kindergartner goes to a day care provider who lives in a location to which older students are transported, talk with a school staff member to determine which bus your child should ride on during the days of a two-hour early closing. Afternoon kindergarten (half-day only) classes will be canceled. If early closing occurs on a Monday, elementary schools will close two hours earlier than the Tuesday through Friday schedule.
Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences Information Night
Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences has been a magnet school since 1992, and, in addition to serving the surrounding community, welcomes students from other parts of Fairfax County. The school integrates arts, sciences, and technology as students learn through an active process of creating, inquiring, and connecting. The school is focused on each student meeting three goal areas:
- academic proficiency and growth.
- learning that is well-rounded in the arts, sciences, technology, and multiple languages (for the partial-immersion and ESOL programs).
- connecting with others and communities.
Bailey’s is unique in its spaces and in its teachers who support learning in science, technology, and the arts. Additionally, partnerships with the Kennedy Center, the U.S. Forest Service, and Capital One strengthen the resources for both student and teacher learning. After-school opportunities in the theater program and the PTA-sponsored classes are extensive.
Applicants for admission must be entering grades kindergarten through 5 in the 2010-11 school year, be working on or above grade level in language arts and math, and demonstrate positive interpersonal and school behaviors. The partial-immersion program in Spanish is an option on the application for entering first grade. Applications are available in all Fairfax County elementary schools beginning in January or can be downloaded from the Bailey’s web site at www.fcps.edu/BaileysES/. Applications must be completed and postmarked by March 1, 2010, and submitted to the Office of Elementary Instruction and Administrative Services.
An information night will be held at the school on Thursday, February 4, 2010, at 7 p.m. (snow date February 11).
For information, contact Marjorie McCarthy at Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences at 6111 Knollwood Drive, Falls Church, VA 22041, 703-575-6836.
Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences Information Night
Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences magnet program will have openings for qualified students in grades K through 6 for the 2010-11 school year. To be selected, students must be working on or above grade level in language arts and mathematics and must possess good citizenship and study skills. The magnet program weaves the arts, sciences, and technology into all areas of the curriculum in order to stimulate and extend the educational potential of all students.
Each year, students are selected by a computer-generated lottery. The number of students chosen varies from year to year according to the number of openings at each grade level. This is not determined until the actual time of the lottery. Students not selected for the lottery are placed on a wait list.
Applications will be available in all Fairfax County public schools beginning in January 2010 or can be downloaded from the Hunters Woods web site at www.fcps.edu/HuntersWoodsES/. Applications must be completed and submitted to: Magnet Lottery, Office of Elementary Instruction and Administrative Services, 3705 Crest Drive, Annandale, VA 22003. Applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, March 1, 2010.
An information meeting will be held at Hunters Woods on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 7 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at 7 p.m.
For additional information, contact Diane Beers, parent liaison, Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, 2401 Colts Neck Rd., Reston, VA 20191, 703-262-7405.
What Is the Student Assistance Program?
The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a partnership between Fairfax County Public Schools’ Office of Student Safety and Wellness and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board’s Alcohol and Drug Services and Youth Services. The primary goal is to help students succeed academically and socially by addressing concerns related to alcohol and other drug use.
The program provides substance abuse prevention, consultation, education, intervention, and treatment referral services for students and their families.
Students:
- Are you feeling pressure to use alcohol or drugs?
- Are you concerned about your alcohol or drug use?
- Do you want to know how to tell if a friend’s drug use is out of control?
- Do you know the signs of alcohol poisoning?
- Do you know the harmful effects of marijuana use?
- Are you concerned about a family member’s use of alcohol or drugs?
Parents:
- Have you seen a change in your child’s behavior and/or attitude?
- Have you seen a drop in your child’s grades?
- Do you want to recognize the signs and symptoms of substance abuse?
- Do you suspect that your child might be using alcohol or drugs?
- Do you want to know if substance use is contributing to your child’s problems?
- Has you child gotten into trouble because of alcohol and/or drug use?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions or just want more information on alcohol and drug use or the Student Assistance program, contact Desiree Gordon by phone at
703-538-3224 or by e-mail at Desiree.Gordon@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Please note that all referrals are kept confidential. Information is only released when written consent is provided.
Tip Sheet for Parents: The New Problem of “Sexting”
“Sexting” refers to sending a text message with pictures of children or teens that are inappropriate; pictured children or teens may be naked or engaged in sex acts. According to a recent survey, about 20 percent of teen boys and girls have sent such messages. The emotional pain it causes can be enormous for the child in the picture as well as for the sender and the receiver—often with legal implications. Parents must begin the difficult conversation about sexting before there is a problem and introduce the issue as soon as a child is old enough to have a cell phone.
Here are some tips for how to begin these conversations with your children:
- Talk to your kids, even if the issue hasn’t directly affected your community. Ask, “Have you heard of sexting?” and “Tell me what you think it is.” For the initial part of the conversation, it is important to first learn what your child’s understanding of the issue is and then add to it an age-appropriate explanation (see next bullet).
- Use examples appropriate for your child’s age. For younger children with cell phones who do not yet know about sex, alert them that text messages should never contain pictures of people—kids or adults—without their clothes on, kissing or touching each other in ways that they’ve never seen before. For older children, use the term “sexting” and give more specifics about sex acts they may know about. For teens, be very specific that “sexting” often involves pictures of a sexual nature and is considered pornography.
- Make sure kids of all ages understand that sexting is serious and considered a crime in many jurisdictions. In all communities, if they “sext,” there will be serious consequences, quite possibly involving the police, suspension from school, and notes on the sexter’s permanent record that could hurt his or her chances of getting into college or getting a job.
- Experts have noted that peer pressure can play a major role in the sending of texts, with parties being a major contributing factor. Collecting cell phones at gatherings of tweens and teens is one way to reduce this temptation.
- Monitor headlines and the news for stories about “sexting” that illustrate the very real consequences for both senders and receivers of these images. Ask, “Have you seen this story?” and “What did you think about it?” and “What would you do if you were this child?” Rehearse ways they can respond if asked to participate in inappropriate texting.
- Attend school and town assemblies for parents, teachers, and students on the topic.
Students should report sexting incidents to their teacher, principal, or school resource officer.
Source: The American Academy of Pediatrics, www.aap.org.
Survey Results Offer a Look at Fairfax County Youth
Find out what is going on with youth in our community. Seven fact sheets, which are based on the results of the anonymous, voluntary Fairfax County Youth Survey administered in 2008 to 22,251 randomly selected FCPS students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12, look at:
- Teenage alcohol use.
- Teenage drug use.
- Teenage depression and suicide.
- Teenage inhalant use.
- Risk and protective factors.
- Middle schoolers.
- High school girls.
In addition to the facts, there are tips on what you can do and who can help. The fact sheets can be printed out and used for presentations and handouts and are available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey.
The youth survey looks at behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of Fairfax County youth. The survey is a collaborative effort of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, and Fairfax Partnership for Youth.
Note: This year's Healthy Behavior Youth Survey is being administered November 10 through 13 to all students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12.
Adopt a Family for the Holidays
Are you looking for ways to make the holiday season more meaningful for you and your family members? Consider adopting a family for the holidays. Even before the recession hit, there were thousands of families in Fairfax County who were struggling to make ends meet. Now, with many working families in the area experiencing job losses and reduced hours, the need is even greater. And as the holidays approach, these families are wondering if they will be able to provide a present for their children or even a holiday meal to celebrate the season.
Through a grant from Fairfax County, a local nonprofit organization, Our Daily Bread, Inc. (ODB), administers a holiday program that matches local families with donors who provide Thanksgiving and December holiday meals, as well as gifts for the children in the family.
Families are referred to the program by Fairfax County Public Schools social workers and counselors, as well as local social services agencies. Many of the families served by ODB work multiple jobs to make ends meet but still are unable to keep up with the high cost of housing, food, transportation, and utilities in the county. Others are searching for work after being laid off or cannot work because of illness or injury.
When you adopt a family, you can feel the true spirit of the season. Participating in the holiday program is a wonderful group or family activity. And it’s a great way to give back to the community, because your help goes directly to a local family in need.
How Can I Help?
When you choose to adopt a family, you simply purchase food for a holiday meal and arrange to deliver it to the family. For December holidays, you also purchase gifts or gift cards for the children in the family. Our Daily Bread also welcomes contributions of cash or gift cards, which will be distributed to families that are not adopted.
How Do I Sign Up?
Simply log on to www.our-daily-bread.org and fill out a donor form. The organization will match you up with a family and send you all the information you need. You can also send an e-mail to Laura Vaughn at holiday@odbfairfax.org or call her at 703-273-8829.
If you prefer to make a donation, visit the web site and click on “Donate Now,” or mail your contribution to Our Daily Bread Holiday Program, 10777 Main Street, Suite 320, Fairfax, VA 22030.
Virginia State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Web Site
The Virginia State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Web Site can be found at http://sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor/. This web site, which includes the Public Notification Database, provides access to publicly available information about persons convicted of specified violent and sexual offenses. Members of the public can use this web site to educate themselves about the possible presence of such offenders in their local communities.
FCPS Nondiscrimination Policy Notice
No student, employee, or applicant for employment in Fairfax County Public Schools shall, on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity. Compliance is coordinated by the directors of the following:
- Office of Equity and Compliance, Department of Human Resources, suite 2100,
571-423-3050 or TTY 1-800-828-1120 or dial 711, regarding equal employment opportunity, discrimination, and sexual harassment issues. - Office of Monitoring and Compliance, Department of Special Services, suite 3200, 571-423-4210, regarding programs and activities for students with disabilities.
Correspondence may be addressed to the above offices at 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.
For facilities access issues, contact the Office of Design and Construction Services,
703-246-6270, 10640 Page Avenue, suite 400, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.
Guidelines on Religious Accommodations
FCPS makes reasonable accommodations so that individuals are able to meet their personal religious obligations. Parents, teachers, and administrators are encouraged to consult FCPS Guidelines for Religious Activities for Students. These may be accessed directly from the Calendar of Religious and Cultural Observances on the Calendars menu from the FCPS web site at http://www.fcps.edu/DHR/employees/oec/relcal10.htm.
If you have questions, call the Office of Equity and Compliance at 571-423-3050.
