SCAC Minutes
January 28, 2003

Eileen Kugler opened the meeting and mentioned that the Fairfax Education Association had cited SCAC for its help in getting accurate information out to the Fairfax County community during the sniper crisis. Nell Hurley noted that she had found a TV truck in her driveway across from Woodson High School during the crisis and had known enough to call the FCPS Office of Community Relations, which saw to it that the truck left.

Superintendent Domenech noted that there had been a good turnout at the previous day's rally in Richmond for education funding, even though the weather was very cold. He noted that the governor had submitted a budget with no cuts in education and that it was unlikely any such cuts would be made by the General Assembly. He said he was happy that FCPS will not lose any state revenue. He also said that the growth in FCPS student population will lead to an increase in sales tax revenue.

Domenech said he had budgeted for a $30 million reduction in state revenue. Because of the governor's proposed budget, the Superintendent's proposed budget reduces its request for an increase in the county transfer of funds from 9 percent to 7.9 percent. Some funds in the proposed budget compensate for state cuts if they come, but these may be needed if the county does not provide the full 7.9 percent increase in the transfer.

He noted that Representative Dillard had proposed a bill to raise sales tax across the state by a penny for education but said he did not believe this would become law.

Ellen Oppenheim asked about a bill that would require Virginia colleges and universities to report the immigration status of students. She said she had heard that some FCPS graduates are not going on to college because of this bill.

Lynn Terhar listed the delegates who had attended a Fairfax County Council of PTAs function.

Kugler asked the Superintendent and Chuck Woodruff to discuss the proposed budget.

Domenech said that at this point he was optimistic. However, he noted that the percent increase in the transfer that the Board of Supervisors was currently offering (5.6 percent) was the smallest since he became FCPS Superintendent.

The budget contains no program increases. Almost the entire increase over the previous year comes from increases in enrollment and in employee compensation. Domenech said he anticipates at least three more years of budget constraints in which we will need to hold on to what we have and will probably need to whittle away at existing programs. Holding on to our high-quality employees is the only strategy for surviving those lean years as a quality school system.

He said FCPS' demographics are changing in ways that, in most parts of the country, would mean decreasing achievement levels, but FCPS' achievement levels are higher than ever--on all measures.

To keep and attract top-notch staff members, we will need to continue this success. The budget includes an average 6.1 percent salary increase which includes a pickup of a half percentage point of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) cost currently paid by employees, and an additional step in the salary scale for employees who are not teachers (teachers already have more steps).

Janet Oleszek mentioned that the VRS premiums could be raised.

Dick Reed mentioned that the additional two days in the teacher year that are in the revised proposed budget will provide great benefit in additional opportunities for teacher training.

Domenech said that one of his goals is that FCPS have the best compensated staff in the Washington, D.C. area. We have not achieved that yet but are working on it.

Oppenheim asked if FCPS would continue to administer the Stanford 9 exams. Domenech said that we would not continue to administer the exams now that the state is not requiring or funding these tests.

Kugler asked Domenech what message SCAC members should take to politicians. He said the message to state legislators is, "Pass the governor's budget." The message to the Board of Supervisors is, "Provide the full 7.9 percent increase in the transfer."

Kugler asked if colder weather this year is making it more difficult to stay within the budget. Woodruff said it was.

Domenech said that two years ago FCPS had seen that tougher economic times were ahead and put the brakes on spending, moving each year's savings forward into the next year's budget.

Brenda Greene asked about the functions of the School Board's budget committee. Domenech said they may find possible savings that have been overlooked. Woodruff said the committee will consider persistent structural shortfalls. A consultant will also do a management study to determine how efficiently various functions in FCPS are managed.

Reed noted that programs like Excel schools have actually saved money through cost avoidance.

Suzanne Levy said that the county government has a "sinking fund" for computers and asked if FCPS had that. Woodruff said that we are working with the county on that issue.

Brad Center asked Council members not to oppose a tax cut but, rather, to compare items in the Superintendent's proposed budget with items in the general county budget.

Ray Worley asked about confidence in the FCPS student population growth projections. Woodruff said that we are confident in these projections, even though the estimates were higher than the actuals for this year. This overestimate saved $7 million, which helped us get through the year. In some previous years, the growth had been underestimated, which meant that additional funds needed to be found in an already approved budget.

Pam Charin said she hears people say FCPS is "wasting" money on administrators but cannot find where this is happening. Domenech said that FCPS administration has shrunk in relationship to the growing number of employees as a percent of the budget and is now 0.9 percent. Woodruff said that, if members hear specific complaints about this, he can provide accurate information.

Elisabeth Freed asked if the elementary school early release day could be moved from Monday to Wednesday. Domenech said his preference would be for no early release at all, as is the case in most Excel schools.

Todd Rowley asked if the Council could send a letter to the principal at Navy Elementary School in sympathy with the loss of a loved one that the principal had recently experienced. Council members were sympathetic but felt it was not the place of the Council to send letters in such cases.

Center said that progress on construction of an elementary school at the Island Creek site had not been as great as he would have expected and wondered if it would be ready to open in September. Domenech said he could guarantee that it would be ready to open on time.

Worley asked what was happening in FCPS concerning vouchers and charter schools. Domenech said that, pursuant to state law, FCPS would accept applications for charter schools.

The meeting was adjourned.