KEY DATA: Why does the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) system have 17 assistant superintendents who each earn a six-figure salary?
TAKE HOME: In trying economic times requiring spending cuts from fire, police, and nearly every other government service, FCPS is asking for a $25 million spending increase.
Our world-class schools are the number-one reason businesses and families are attracted to Fairfax County. That quality carries a price. The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) system accounts for more than half (54 percent) of all county spending.
Fairfax County is facing a funding shortfall of $650 million this year. Still, even in this difficult economic climate we need to ensure the quality of our schools. However, this does not excuse the school budget from the healthy scrutiny these tough times dictate. It is past time to change the equation on how we discuss the school budget.
The old equation repeated year after year is to exact pressure on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to give more money to schools by putting unpopular cuts and damaging reductions to children on the table.
Every budget cycle, we go through the same formula: the school board and FCPS warns that if they don’t get the money they requested, teacher salaries will be cut, our competitiveness will be lost, class sizes will be increased, and a sport (pick one, it changes every year) will be eliminated.
It’s time for a new equation, one that relies on fiscal transparency, accountability, and efficiency. We must direct resources to our students and their classrooms. We must be vigilant and evaluate administrative overhead and school operations to maximize money for teachers and classrooms.
In trying economic times that are resulting in cuts to fire, police, and nearly every service supported by the county, the FCPS is asking for an additional $25 million. Clearly, there is need for an open dialogue on how to fund our priorities without asking for more from taxpayers.
I believe this starts with having the school board and staff make some tough choices in areas that have not been openly discussed in the past. These include the following:
- Perhaps the biggest variable in the school budget is the $40 million for a projected 4,400 increase in school population. The school board cites its belief that more students will arrive from Prince William and that there will be a shift from private schools.
The increase in students moving into Fairfax County in response to policies implemented by Prince William County did create a one-time spike of 2,500 students in the school population last year.
The school board has turned that blip into a trend. In fact, evidence shows that the migration has stopped. More disturbing, FCPS has not analyzed where the 600 new students joining this year came from.
- Why do we have 17 assistant superintendents who each earn a six-figure salary?
- Why is our assistant principal-to-student ratio so much higher than surrounding counties?
- We need to find efficiencies in our budget by combining resources between our county government and schools, like libraries, human resources departments, legal counsel, and financial systems, as I proposed last October.
- Why haven’t we automated our school transportation system? Transportation is a major cost of the school system, yet we still plan our bus routes with paper, scissors, and envelopes.
- Why are we projecting fuel costs at $5.00 – $5.20 per gallon?
- Why did we grow from four areas to eight clusters – doubling our administration?
- Are the 470 lesson plan developers in the Division of Instructional Services helping or hurting our teachers?
Each of these represents the potential for millions in savings without impacting classrooms. Increased class sizes and having our teachers fall further behind other area schools in salaries is not acceptable. We need to begin an open and honest discussion about the school budget.
It is the aim of every public official in Fairfax County to ensure that our schools remain the best in the nation. Unfortunately, we too often overlook common sense solutions to our problems. I hope we use the current economic and budget challenges to start a discussion on changing the equation of the school budget and usher in an era of fiscal transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
It is high time to renew our focus on teachers and improving class sizes. Please ask your school board member to change the equation. Ask for the money we need to ensure the continued success of our schools.
But also put the tough questions to the School Board and administrators to make sure your tax dollars are being used wisely—for our students, our teachers, and our classrooms.
Pat Herrity represents the Springfield district on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
