This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/fairfax-schools-chief-says-county-funding-falls-woefully-short-of-needs/2016/02/26/dccf3c28-dc99-11e5-925f-1d10062cc82d_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Fairfax schools chief says county funding falls woefully short of needs Fairfax schools chief says county funding falls woefully short of needs
(about 2 hours later)
Fairfax County’s schools chief told the County Board of Supervisors on Friday that the $1.88 billion in local funding it plans to give the school system in the 2017 budget year falls dismally short of what it needs to keep up with rising costs.Fairfax County’s schools chief told the County Board of Supervisors on Friday that the $1.88 billion in local funding it plans to give the school system in the 2017 budget year falls dismally short of what it needs to keep up with rising costs.
Were the county to fully cover Superintendent Karen Garza’s desire for higher teacher salaries, improvements to school bus maintenance and reductions in class sizes, it would take an extra $305 million — or nearly six times more than the funding increase county supervisors are weighing. Were the county to fully cover Superintendent Karen Garza’s desire for higher teacher salaries, improvements to school bus maintenance and reductions in class sizes, it would take an extra $305 million — or nearly six times the funding increase county supervisors are weighing.
Garza has asked for a county transfer of $1.95 billion — which would cover a significant portion of the school system’s proposed $2.7 billion overall budget. During a joint meeting that kicked off the latest round of budget negotiations between Fairfax supervisors and school officials, Garza laid out a list of unfunded expenses as part of her pitch for that relatively modest increase over what supervisors are recommending.Garza has asked for a county transfer of $1.95 billion — which would cover a significant portion of the school system’s proposed $2.7 billion overall budget. During a joint meeting that kicked off the latest round of budget negotiations between Fairfax supervisors and school officials, Garza laid out a list of unfunded expenses as part of her pitch for that relatively modest increase over what supervisors are recommending.
She said the schools won’t be able to replace aging textbooks and out-of-date computers, tools that are important for students in the classroom, without the additional funds.She said the schools won’t be able to replace aging textbooks and out-of-date computers, tools that are important for students in the classroom, without the additional funds.
[Fairfax County executive proposes 4-cent tax-rate hike to meet rising costs][Fairfax County executive proposes 4-cent tax-rate hike to meet rising costs]
With $1.88 billion in funding, Fairfax supervisors are considering what would be a $54.8 million increase to schools as part of a county budget that already would mean increasing property taxes for Fairfax homeowners by an average of $304 next year.With $1.88 billion in funding, Fairfax supervisors are considering what would be a $54.8 million increase to schools as part of a county budget that already would mean increasing property taxes for Fairfax homeowners by an average of $304 next year.
Garza — in asking for a total increase of $125 million — argued that the supervisors’ proposed increase would barely cover half of what school officials estimate they need to boost employee salaries by an average of 3.3 percent next year. Garza has said that the school system — a source of pride for the county and a leading draw for its growth — is not offering pay that is on par with surrounding districts in the Washington region, leading dozens of teachers to leave the county for higher-paying jobs in recent years. Garza — in asking for a total increase of $125 million — argued that the supervisors’ proposed increase would barely cover half of what school officials estimate they need to boost employee salaries by an average of 3.3 percent next year. Garza has said the school system — a source of pride for the county and a leading draw for its growth — is not offering pay that is on par with surrounding districts in the Washington region, leading dozens of teachers to leave the county for higher-paying jobs in recent years.
There were 200 teaching vacancies countywide at the start of the school year, Garza said.There were 200 teaching vacancies countywide at the start of the school year, Garza said.
[Teachers can make $15,000 more by moving to the district next door][Teachers can make $15,000 more by moving to the district next door]
“That has never happened before in the history” of Fairfax County Public Schools, she said, warning Fairfax supervisors that the quality of the county’s school system of nearly 187,000 students is steadily wearing down after budget cuts in recent years. She said that cuts to the region’s largest school system have, among other things, led to elementary school classrooms with as many as 35 students.“That has never happened before in the history” of Fairfax County Public Schools, she said, warning Fairfax supervisors that the quality of the county’s school system of nearly 187,000 students is steadily wearing down after budget cuts in recent years. She said that cuts to the region’s largest school system have, among other things, led to elementary school classrooms with as many as 35 students.
Several school board members at the meeting urged county supervisors to raise the property-tax rate even higher. County Executive Edward L. Long Jr. recently recommended a 4-cent increase in the property-tax rate in a budget he presented to county supervisors.Several school board members at the meeting urged county supervisors to raise the property-tax rate even higher. County Executive Edward L. Long Jr. recently recommended a 4-cent increase in the property-tax rate in a budget he presented to county supervisors.
“We are underfunding education in this county, even if we fund what we requested this year,” argued School Board member Ryan McElveen (At Large.) “We are underfunding education in this county, even if we fund what we requested this year,” argued school board member Ryan McElveen (At Large.)
Several county supervisors said that an expected increase this year in state education funding to local jurisdictions could provide the county with as much as $13 million more than expected. Local officials expect about $405 million in state funding for education along with $42 million in federal funds. Several county supervisors said an expected increase this year in state education funding to local jurisdictions could provide the county with as much as $13 million more than expected. Local officials expect about $405 million in state funding for education along with $42 million in federal funds.
“It’s really important that the state step up and start funding K-12 at the levels that they should,” Long said.“It’s really important that the state step up and start funding K-12 at the levels that they should,” Long said.
As in other years, the meeting grew hostile, particularly when Garza and other officials highlighted about $500 million in cuts since 2008, including about 2,175 jobs that were slashed.As in other years, the meeting grew hostile, particularly when Garza and other officials highlighted about $500 million in cuts since 2008, including about 2,175 jobs that were slashed.
Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) criticized school officials for engaging in “political theater” by making it seem as if the school system’s budget has been steadily whittled down instead of growing by about $500 million in recent years.Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) criticized school officials for engaging in “political theater” by making it seem as if the school system’s budget has been steadily whittled down instead of growing by about $500 million in recent years.
“I get letters from constituents that are saying, ‘How is it that we can cut the schools budget every year for nine years?’ ” Herrity said, calling the school system’s depiction of its problems “deceptive.”“I get letters from constituents that are saying, ‘How is it that we can cut the schools budget every year for nine years?’ ” Herrity said, calling the school system’s depiction of its problems “deceptive.”
“How do you cut every year for nine years and go from a $2.1 billion budget to a $2.6 billon budget?” he said. “It’s just frustrating.”“How do you cut every year for nine years and go from a $2.1 billion budget to a $2.6 billon budget?” he said. “It’s just frustrating.”
Garza countered that the school budget’s growth has not kept pace with increasing costs.Garza countered that the school budget’s growth has not kept pace with increasing costs.
“It’s frustrating on our side, too,” she said.“It’s frustrating on our side, too,” she said.