FY 2018 Budget
The
Fairfax County School Board will be voting on the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget
during the next Regular Board Meeting Thursday, May 25. The proposed budget
motion includes closing the budget gap of over $45 Million by raising the class
size, fees for Athletes, restricting non-mandated travel and more. Details may
be found in the most
recent Superintendent recommendation to balance the FY 2018 Approved Budget.
Most notably, in an effort to close the budget gap, an increase in
the class size formula of 0.5 students has been proposed by Interim
Superintendent Lockard in order to save $14.7 Million. Considering the
inevitable impact to schools in the Springfield District, the teacher workload
that comes with higher class sizes and the disproportionate number of schools
which will be impacted by a class size increase in the our district, I am
concerned about the proposed motion.
As a result, I will offer a number of motions with alternative
solutions to closing the gap which will preserve class sizes for our students,
their achievement and our teachers. In addition, asking only student athletes
to bear a participation fee is untenable. Student athletes and their families
and supporters bring a tremendous amount of resources to our schools in the way
of unappropriated monies through the boosters, gate receipts, fundraising and
more. I will work to eliminate that fee and other potential fees levied on
students and their families, including one proposed amendment to increase
student parking passes to $400 or even $600.
Finally, significant concerns have been expressed about the prior
reduction in substitute pay. This has resulted in a real strain on securing
substitutes in our classrooms when needed by teachers. I will keep working to
find common ground with my colleagues to see if we can agree on a Budget
amendment which will improve pay for substitutes, including retired teachers.
The Budget documents
may be found on the FCPS website.
Please feel free to reach out and share any thoughts or concerns
with me as the Board heads into the final week of Budget discussions prior to
the vote on May 25th. Citizen input and engagement are critically
important to help the Board arrive at the best budget which most reflects the
needs of all students in all areas of our county.
In service,
Elizabeth
|
