The Dunne Dispatch - 03/01/2024

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The Dunne Dispatch - 03/01/2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

On February 8, the Superintendent presented her proposed budget to the School Board. In my first newsletter, I shared my budget priorities, and they remain the same: academic excellence, school safety and security, mental and behavioral health support, workforce compensation, and fiscal responsibility.

The Superintendent proposed a $301.6 million increase in the FCPS budget (from $3.5 billion to $3.8 billion), to include $254 million in additional funding from the County and $42.2 million in additional funding from the State. I applaud the Superintendent for focusing the proposed budget on the essential needs of our diverse student population and talented workforce. In recent years, the proportion of students requiring additional support has increased substantially. Since FY 2020, the percentage of students receiving special education services has increased from 14.7% to 16.3%, ESOL services from 19.3% to 21.0%, and Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) from 30.7% to 36.9%. Meanwhile, there is a regional and national teacher shortage, and FCPS is losing talented educators to surrounding jurisdictions because it does not offer competitive compensation. To address these challenges, the Superintendent focused her proposed budget on increasing workforce compensation (with a 6% raise for all employees) and continuing investments in support for students requiring special education services, ESOL services, and FRM. Importantly, the proposed budget is aligned with the Strategic Plan and consistent with the constitutional obligation to provide “an educational program of high quality,” which will help to advance strategic and systemic goals.

While I agree with the direction of the proposed budget, I disagree with some of the choices reflected therein. First, the proposed budget does not propose any reductions in operating costs. By contrast, the Board of Supervisors proposed to reduce their operating costs by $33.82 million. I have already identified multiple avenues by which FCPS could reduce its operating costs, which would liberate funding to dedicate to priorities such as increased workforce compensation.

Second, the proposed budget includes a 6% across-the-board pay increase. I support the proposed pay increase, but I disagree with the manner in which it is proposed to be allocated. Across-the-board pay increases are simple to administer but do nothing to resolve inequities in compensation, wherein some employees are at (or near) market and others are far below market. The modern best practice is to develop a compensation strategy, determine which positions are being paid below market (and to what extent), determine which positions are most critical to the mission of the organization, and allocate the funding accordingly. I believe FCPS should limit the raise to employees on the frontlines of serving our children—school principals, teachers, and staff (from cafeteria workers to bus drivers). From personal conversations and public testimony, our frontline employees are working far in excess of the hours for which they are paid, and they are making great sacrifices for our children. It is time to recognize and reward their above-and-beyond efforts. I also believe FCPS should establish above-market compensation for special education teachers, teachers in Title I schools, and other hard-to-fill positions. For example, approximately one-third of our special education teacher workforce consists of long-term substitutes or provisionally licensed teachers. We must act with urgency to resolve this crisis. I supported a motion to include increased compensation for special education teachers in the proposed budget, but the motion did not pass. The Superintendent has proposed to fund increased compensation through year-end funding.

Third, I strongly support the Superintendent. We are fortunate to have someone of her caliber and vision leading our school system at this critical moment in time. She has recruited an incredible team to lead FCPS to new heights, and I am grateful for their service. That being said, I respectfully oppose any pay increase for the Superintendent and her senior leadership team. The Superintendent is paid about the same amount ($380,000) as President Biden ($400,000), and some FCPS officials are paid more than the Secretary of Defense ($221,000) or senior civil servants ($191,900).I made a motion to exclude the 25 highest-paid employees from any pay increase, but it did not pass

Going forward, I will work with my colleagues to collaborate with the Board of Supervisors and seek to reduce our reliance on property taxes to fund our public schools. During the February 27 Joint Budget Work Session with the Board of Supervisors, I raised the point that property taxes are regressive and have a disproportionate impact on low-income families and people living on fixed incomes. Last year, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), which performs policy analysis for the State Legislature, published a study finding that the State had underfunded public education by billions of dollars. According to the JLARC study, the State should increase its funding to FCPS by $568.7 million, which would enable FCPS to realize its priorities while reducing or eliminating the need for further property tax increases. I am hopeful that the State will provide additional funding this year to begin to remedy the years of underfunding.

I encourage you to share your thoughts about the proposed budget for FCPS. FCPS will adopt its final budget on May 23. Supervisor Dan Storck and I will hold a joint town meeting on the advertised budget on March 13, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. (click here for the Zoom link). In addition, you can speak at public hearings or submit written comments.

Very respectfully,

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative

In the Community On February 7, I met with constituents and the leadership of the Fairfax County Council of PTA (FCCPTA).

On February 10, I spoke at the Annual Mount Vernon Town Meeting hosted by Supervisor Dan Storck. I spoke to Mount Vernon residents about the Superintendent’s proposed budget FCPS's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and what is at stake for our schools.

On February 10, I attended the “Reading Opens the World” event organized by the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, First Book, and Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services who gave away 40,000 FREE books to Fairfax County families and educators.

• On February 27, I attended an exciting game between the West Potomac High School’s Varsity Boys Basketball Team and Oscar Smith High School in the Quarterfinals of the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 6 State Tournament. Congratulations to the Wolverine Nation on a successful season. I look forward to cheering on the Hayfield Varsity Boys Basketball Team as they take on South Lakes High School in the VHSL State Semifinals on Friday, March 1.

On February 24, I attended the Gum Springs Black History Program. What a great opportunity to wrap up the month-long celebration of Black History Month. This was a chance to meet residents and hear from elected leaders and community advocates about local history as well as ongoing work in the area. I absolutely enjoyed watching 85-year old Betty Graves recite Maya Angelou's famous poem "Still I Rise" from memory! You can also watch Ms. Graves here.

On the Board

• On February 8, the School Board voted to approve the 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program(CIP), which governs the construction and renovation of public schools. I advocated for the Superintendent to evaluate whether FCPS is utilizing best practices for construction procurement and management. I have identified multiple avenues by which FCPS can reduce construction costs and timeframes. Because the CIP does not address infrastructure, I made a motion, which was passed unanimously by the School Board, to establish an inventory of infrastructure requirements. This enables FCPS to prioritize infrastructure investments and ensure dollars are allocated based on need.
• On February 22, I attended the Governance Committee meeting to provide input on potential changes to the FCPS School Boundaries Policy. The School Board is planning to adopt a revised policy in the next few months. Following adoption of the revised policy, there may be plans to implement the first county-wide adjustment of school boundaries in approximately 40 years.
• On February 22, Superintendent Reid presented on innovative STEM and STEAM initiatives taking place in our schools. I asked for more transparent information about the presence and effectiveness of STEM and STEAM initiatives in Mount Vernon district schools. 
• On February 22, consultant firm Prismatic Services presented on Middle School Start Times. Read more about the presentation and School Board Member comments on this topic. I shared my priorities and raised questions for FCPS staff and the consultants to consider as we begin the process to examine what is best for our students and families. I believe that any changes to start times must factor in the impact on after school activities and must align with after care programs and other services families rely on to support their children. 
• On February 24, I attended the Facilities Planning Advisory Committee's (FPAC) Retreat. The retreat provided a forum to leverage the expertise of citizen volunteers who are subject matter experts in the areas of Construction Contract Methods; Infrastructure Funding Methods; and Public/Private Partnership Opportunities. The featured guest speaker from a neighboring school system provided insight and lessons learned to consider as we continue to develop the long-range vision for FCPS school facilities and infrastructure needs. In addition to its annual report, FPAC made plans to provide the School Board with key memos and recommendations regarding asset management, renovation projects, as well as proposed revisions to the renovation queue. During the retreat, FPAC members also discussed ways to advise on the development and implementation of updated boundary policies.
• On February 29, I chaired the Comprehensive Planning Development Committee meeting. The committee was joined by Superintendent Reid and Janice Szymanski, Chief of Facilities Services and Capital Programs. We reviewed and discussed proposed updates to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan. We were also briefed on school safety and security, the renovation queue, and updated school infrastructure assessment and tracking plans. 

Working for You

• At the request of a constituent, I worked with FCPS officials to ensure school buses did not block recycling bins at a local shopping center.
• I met with representatives from the County to review a plan to redesign Laurel Crest Drive between SIlverbrook Drive and Douglas Fir Drive to increase bicycle and pedestrian safety near Laurel Hill Elementary School.
• I am grateful to the Mount Vernon District Police as well as family and school leaders from Hollin Meadows Elementary School for allowing me to join their efforts to address ongoing safety concerns that impact students in our schools and the surrounding community. Student safety is one of my top priorities. I look forward to updating you on this partnership in the weeks ahead. 
• I continued to support and advocate for families who want their students to remain in the school communities where they have established relationships with their peers and educators. When dealing with student registration and transfers, my first priority is to minimize any academic or social disruption to students to the greatest extent possible. 
• At the request of a constituent, I asked FCPS staff to brief me on the options and implications of establishing a bi-weekly pay structure for staff. It is my understanding that neighboring districts offer this for their employees. As consumer costs, inflation, and interest rates rise, receiving a paycheck every two weeks may help minimize financial stress for our staff during these challenging times.

Celebrations and News from Our Students and Local Schools

Mount Vernon District Students West Potomac High School Wrestling has three wrestlers who qualified for States. Congratulations to the following wrestlers: Jeremiah SeGraves, 2nd place, 150lb; Lawson Richkowski, 3rd place, 113lb; and Gabriel Titus, 4th place, 138lb.

Congratulations to West Potomac High School Girls Basketball players for earning All District Honors. Congratulations to Olivia Jones, 1st Team; Cassady Dunn, 2nd Team/All Defense; and Jayla Alford, Honorable Mention.

Mount Vernon High School Winter Guard placed 1st out of 11 guards in their division at their first competition of the season at Forest Park High School. We also celebrate four band students who participated in the 2024 VBODA All-District 10 Band. Congratulations to Mary Hammond, Hannah Hamilton, James Gilliam, Michaela Dresch!

Congratulations to Mount Vernon Choral Students Savonne Clark, Olivia Durden, and Godwin Mensah for their amazing performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the School Board meeting on February 8.

Congratulations to Silverbrook Elementary School Spelling Bee Winners. I understand it was a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S competition! Congratulations to Primary Grades Runner Up Yasmine and Primary Grades Winner Rowan, who will represent Silverbrook at the school level. I also congratulate Upper Grades Runner Up Charlotte and Upper Grades Winner Adeline, who will represent  Silverbrook at the district level.

Celebrating South County Alum Oren Burks. From the halls of South County High School to football's biggest stage, congratulations to South County Alum Oren Burks, linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. Mr. Burks faced the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII on February 4. In addition to excellence on the field, Mr. Burks also promotes excellence in the community. He is a representative of the Players Social Justice Council, a group of 49ers athletes who unite to find ways to elevate marginalized groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Read more about how this South County alum is making a difference in his local community.

Mount Vernon Staff and Schools

• Congratulations to Mount Vernon District's newest National Board-certified teachers:
  • Kathryn De Ville, Woodley Hills ES Generalist/Early Childhood
  • Alicia St Jean, Mount Vernon HS Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  • Rosaleen Sypher, Laurel Hill ES Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It’s the highest certification a teacher may obtain in addition to being the most respected one.

The National Board Certification program in FCPS began over 20 years ago, and more than 500 FCPS teachers have achieved this prestigious certification. FCPS is ranked in the top five for both new National Board-certified teachers and current National Board certification candidates in the state of Virginia. FCPS ranks in the top 30 school districts nationwide for the number of National Board-certified teachers, with over 300 active National Board-certified teachers currently supporting students and schools.

Alerts and Reminders

Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States. If you own a gun:

(1) Use a gun lock.

(2) Keep the gun unloaded and locked up in a storage case.

(2) Lock the bullets in a place separate from the gun.

Children in Crisis: If you or your child are in crisis:

(1) Text NEEDHELP to 85511;

(2) Call 1-800-273-TALK;

(3) Call 911; or

(4) Visit 988 Lifeline online

Mental Health Support: FCPS provides high school students with access to teletherapy at no cost to families. Learn more online. Please contact your school counselor or social worker to access these services.

Upcoming Events and Activities

✅ Look for the FCPS Family Engagement Survey

On Sunday, March 3, parents/caregivers will receive the FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey from independent research firm K12 Insight. Please participate. Your feedback will help inform and improve practices to best support our students. The survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete and will be available in 10 languages. Please visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage for more information. Your voice matters!

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
• Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.

Conversations will also take place in other schools around the County:

• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
• Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Mateo Dunne  |  Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049