Fairfax County superintendent plans to propose teacher raises for FY2012
Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Jack Dale indicated he will recommend increased compensation for employees in his proposed budget for fiscal year 2012, which will be released Jan. 6. Dale told a community/business advisory committee he plans to recommend a 2 percent cost of living raise plus step increases, for a total of $70 million.
Fairfax County teachers have not had a pay increase in three years. Fairfax Education Association President Michael Hairston told the School Board earlier this month, “The ever-increasing workload with no increase in compensation has a significant impact on morale and, ultimately, in the classroom.”
Dale also said he will ask the county for an additional $50 million for FY2012, although he acknowledged that the county is not likely to increase the amount of funds it will transfer to FCPS. The Fairfax County budget is expected to remain tight over the next year or so until the economic recovery takes hold, said Deputy County Executive Ed Long. A little over 53 percent of the county budget goes to the schools, and 75 percent of school funding comes from the county, Long said.
According to Dale, there will be some savings in transportation, due to the implementation of more efficient bus routing. Fuel costs have declined, also leading to some savings. But costs are rising in other areas, including a new state mandate for online testing at the elementary level.
Dale said he will not propose eliminating the fees that took effect this year for students participating in athletics and for taking Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests. He also said he plans to explore the use of technology to increase efficiency and will put together a group to explore online learning.
Here are the significant dates for the adoption of the FCPS budget for FY 2012:
- Jan. 6 – Superintendent Jack Dale releases his proposed budget for FY2012.
- Jan. 24 and 25 – Public hearings.
- Feb. 22 – The school board adopts the FY2012 advertised budget.
- March 8 – The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) releases the advertised tax rate.
- March 29-31 – The BOS holds public hearings on the budget.
- April 28 – The BOS approves the FY 2012 adopted county budget, tax rate, and transfer amount.
- May 12 – The FCPS school board reviews the FY2012 approved budget.
- May 12 and 18 – The school board holds public hearings on the budget.
- May 26 – The school board adopts a budget for FY2012.
- July 1 – FY2012 begins.
