The Bottom Line

Q: Why haven’t central office support staff members and administrators taken their fair share of cuts?

A: We hear that rumor often. First, let’s look at some context. FCPS has the lowest ratio (0.80 percent) of non-school-based management positions (meaning coordinators, directors, and Leadership Team members) to total school system positions in the entire metropolitan region. Compare this ratio to Arlington’s 1.8 percent, Prince William’s 1.9 percent, and Montgomery County’s 1.7 percent. (Source: Washington Area Boards of Education)

Second, FCPS has had a significant decline in the ratio of nonschool-based positions compared to students over the last 20 years. So while FCPS student enrollment has increased 34 percent since 1991, our non-school-based positions decreased nearly 13 percent. This is a testament to the efficiency of central office support to schools.

Third, central office support has been cut 20 percent over the last three years (including a 5 percent cut in nonschool-based positions in the FY 2011 proposed budget).

Heard a rumor? Want the facts? E-mail it to thebottomline@fcps.edu, and we’ll respond to the most frequently mentioned rumors in upcoming issues.

Budget Fact

The main source of FCPS revenue (75 percent) comes from Fairfax County, primarily through real estate and personal property taxes. The state of Virginia provides just over 17 percent (including sales tax revenue), and the federal government provides 3.5 percent. Remaining funds come from a variety of other sources including local fees and tuition from Fairfax City.

You are here: Fairfax County Public Schools > FY 2011 Budget > The Bottom Line

January 8, 2010

Welcome to The Bottom Line, a new publication that will be sent to all FCPS parents and employees every two weeks while the budget for next school year (FY 2011) is proposed, discussed, and approved (in May 2010). It contains the latest budget news, facts, dates, and rumor busters to help the FCPS community better understand the budget and the budget process.

On January 7, Superintendent Jack Dale presented to the School Board a $2.3 billion FY 2011 proposed budget that includes $104.8 million in program cuts and cost avoidances and $3.4 million in increased and new fees. In his presentation, Dale noted that the cuts and fees reflected community and employee feedback, as well as School Board priorities.

“These cuts will have a long-term and far-reaching impact on maintaining our high student achievement and the excellence for which FCPS is widely known and respected,” said Dale. “Unfortunately, this is the third straight year I have had to submit a budget with major cuts due to dismal local and state economic conditions.”

The proposed budget:

includes a class size increase of one student.
eliminates foreign language in the elementary school (FLES).
eliminates summer school for general education students.
eliminates all freshman sports.
eliminates 594 positions, including 81 in central office support for schools.
includes new fees for athletic participation.
includes new fees for AP and IB tests.
includes no salary increases for ALL employees (including the superintendent) for the second year in a row.
closes one of three alternative high schools.
cuts central office departments that provide support to schools (such as human resources, facilities and transportation, and information technology) approximately 5 percent.

More programs may be at risk. Dale has recommended a county transfer increase of $57.8 million to preserve programs, such as full-day kindergarten, elementary band and strings, foreign language immersion, and further increases to class sizes for all classes except special education with additional increases to advanced academics, including Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

The FY 2011 proposed budget was developed based on the current fiscal realities. The Superintendent noted that if he presented a needs-based budget—a budget that would allow FCPS to continue to maintain high student achievement and excellence at the level at which Fairfax County residents expect—it would require an increase in the county transfer of $248.4 million.

We invite parents, employees, and other Fairfax County residents to become familiar with the budget and take opportunities to provide input as the budget process continues. More details on the budget and the schedule of work sessions, public hearings, and other activities through which the budget will reach its final form can be found at http://www.fcps.edu/news/fy2011.htm.

In his budget presentation, Superintendent Dale noted that “FCPS is at a crossroads. Student achievement, of course, is our highest priority, but we are also concerned with losing the many innovative programs that meet individual student needs and make Fairfax County a magnet for individuals and businesses alike.”

We invite you to stay informed and read upcoming issues of The Bottom Line as the budget process continues.

Upcoming Important Dates

January 7—Superintendent Releases FY 2011 Proposed Budget.
January 11—School Board Budget Work Session (Gatehouse Administration Center, room 1600).
January 25 and 26—School Board Budget Public Hearings (Jackson Middle School).
January 28—School Board Budget Work Session (Jackson Middle School).
February 4—School Board Adopts FY 2011 Advertised Budget.
February 23—County Executive Releases FY 2011 Advertised County Budget.
March 9—County Board of Supervisors Advertises Tax Rate.
April 6—School Board Presents Budget to County Board of Supervisors.
April 6 through 8—County Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearings.
April 27—County Board of Supervisors Approves County Budget, Tax Rate Resolution, and Transfer Amount to Schools.
May 11 and 12—School Board Budget Public Hearings (Jackson Middle School).
May 13—School Board Budget Work Session (Gatehouse Administration Center, room 1600).
May 20—School Board Adopts Approved Budget.

Want to Get Involved?

Learn more at the FCPS budget web site at http://www.fcps.edu/news/fy2011.htm.
Attend School Board meetings.
Speak at a School Board public hearing (www.fcps.edu/schlbd/requestspeak.htm).
Speak at a Board of Supervisors public hearing (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/speaker_bos.htm).

The Bottom Line is published by the FCPS Department of Communications and Community Outreach. Send your questions or ideas for future issues to thebottomline@fcps.edu.