FCPS Superintendent urged to consider needs of Mason District schools
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| Garza addresses a parents and teachers during a Listening Tour session at JEB Stuart High School. |
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza, who’s only been
on the job since July, is in the midst of a “listening tour” at area schools to
hear from the community about their issues and concerns.
on the job since July, is in the midst of a “listening tour” at area schools to
hear from the community about their issues and concerns.
At the most recent session, at JEB Stuart High School Nov.
6, parents and teachers called upon Garza to take into account the demographics
and needs of schools in Mason District.
6, parents and teachers called upon Garza to take into account the demographics
and needs of schools in Mason District.
Inadequate facilities
One parent asked Garza to address the lack of capacity in
Mason schools, noting that Bailey’s Elementary School is way over capacity and
other schools in the area are overcrowded, too. Garza acknowledged the problem.
She said FCPS needs 134 classrooms a year but is only adding 74 annually.
Mason schools, noting that Bailey’s Elementary School is way over capacity and
other schools in the area are overcrowded, too. Garza acknowledged the problem.
She said FCPS needs 134 classrooms a year but is only adding 74 annually.
“We have a solution for Bailey’s that is within reach and
imminent,” Garza said. That solution is the conversion of an office building at
6245 Leesburg Pike into a five-story school, she explained later. The school
board had been considering acquiring that building through eminent domain, but
probably won’t have to do that route now because “the owners are cooperating with us.”
“Cluster 3 [which encompasses the Annandale, Stuart, and
Woodson pyramids] is not like the rest of Fairfax County. Our challenges are
very different,” said Kathy Ryan, president of the Annandale High School PTSA. AHS students come from more than 70 countries and speak more than 50 languages.
Woodson pyramids] is not like the rest of Fairfax County. Our challenges are
very different,” said Kathy Ryan, president of the Annandale High School PTSA. AHS students come from more than 70 countries and speak more than 50 languages.
FCPS policies need to be adjusted to meet the needs of
families in the Annandale/Mason area, and FCPS needs to have greater awareness
of the digital divide, she said. For example, many Annandale High School families don’t have
email accounts, so messages from teachers go unread.
families in the Annandale/Mason area, and FCPS needs to have greater awareness
of the digital divide, she said. For example, many Annandale High School families don’t have
email accounts, so messages from teachers go unread.
People who choose to stay in this area want to preserve the
sense of community we have, said Emily Slough, the former AHS PTSA president,
who feels the community’s needs were neglected in the past, such as during the
boundary change approved by the school board in 2011.
sense of community we have, said Emily Slough, the former AHS PTSA president,
who feels the community’s needs were neglected in the past, such as during the
boundary change approved by the school board in 2011.
Lyn
Petrazzuolo, a Falls Church High School parent, said schools inside the
beltway are neglected when it comes to facility improvements. Our schools have
been left to deteriorate for 50 years, while FCPS is building “taj mahals” in
more affluent areas, she said. “Our students deserve the same as everyone else.”
Petrazzuolo, a Falls Church High School parent, said schools inside the
beltway are neglected when it comes to facility improvements. Our schools have
been left to deteriorate for 50 years, while FCPS is building “taj mahals” in
more affluent areas, she said. “Our students deserve the same as everyone else.”
Falls Church PTSA President Joan Daly urged Garza to revise the
criteria for determining when schools get renovated to take “academic equity”
into account. She said the science labs at Falls Church are so obsolete and
inadequate that students can’t do the required lab work.
criteria for determining when schools get renovated to take “academic equity”
into account. She said the science labs at Falls Church are so obsolete and
inadequate that students can’t do the required lab work.
“I do appreciate the needs of diverse schools,” Garza said. “Equity
doesn’t mean equal; sometimes it means more.”
doesn’t mean equal; sometimes it means more.”
Budget deficit
“We are so fortunate to have the quality of schools we have
here,” said Garza, who came to Fairfax County after serving as an elementary
school teacher, principal, administrator and superintendent in Texas.
here,” said Garza, who came to Fairfax County after serving as an elementary
school teacher, principal, administrator and superintendent in Texas.
But, she said, the system is facing “daunting challenges” as
it figures out how deal with a $140.7 million budget shortfall.
it figures out how deal with a $140.7 million budget shortfall.
The deficit results from several uncontrollable factors, she
said: enrollment growth of 2,500 to 3,000 students a year, the need to bid on a
new health insurance contract which will cost an additional $27 million, a $21
million reduction in state funding due to adjustments in the local composite
index, and a state mandate requiring the school system to cover the full cost
of the Virginia Retirement System, which will increase the FCPS contribution
from $37 million to $80 million next year.
said: enrollment growth of 2,500 to 3,000 students a year, the need to bid on a
new health insurance contract which will cost an additional $27 million, a $21
million reduction in state funding due to adjustments in the local composite
index, and a state mandate requiring the school system to cover the full cost
of the Virginia Retirement System, which will increase the FCPS contribution
from $37 million to $80 million next year.
Garza will seek a larger share of the Fairfax County budget from the Board of
Supervisors, but the system will still need to make significant budget cuts. Meanwhile, she would like to see the county support a long-term
solution so FCPS won’t need to have annual discussions about budget cuts.
Supervisors, but the system will still need to make significant budget cuts. Meanwhile, she would like to see the county support a long-term
solution so FCPS won’t need to have annual discussions about budget cuts.
As part of that effort, Garza has assembled a committee of 70 citizens to design “a
portrait of a Fairfax County Public Schools graduate.” The group will identify
the skills students need to succeed and how schools can be designed to ensure
that students will have these skills. That proposal will be submitted to the
school board in January. The board will refine it as part of a strategic
planning exercise.
portrait of a Fairfax County Public Schools graduate.” The group will identify
the skills students need to succeed and how schools can be designed to ensure
that students will have these skills. That proposal will be submitted to the
school board in January. The board will refine it as part of a strategic
planning exercise.
The community’s priorities
When members of the public were given a chance to raise
their concerns at the Stuart meeting, both Garza and Mason School Board member Sandy Evans paid
attention, often promising to look into the issue. Here are some of the other
comments brought up by parents, teachers, community members, and in a couple of
cases, students:
their concerns at the Stuart meeting, both Garza and Mason School Board member Sandy Evans paid
attention, often promising to look into the issue. Here are some of the other
comments brought up by parents, teachers, community members, and in a couple of
cases, students:
- Start high school later in the day because youths who are
sleepy in class are less productive. Evans said the school board is
committed to addressing this issue. A consultant hired by the board to study how to implement later start times will submit recommendations in January.
- When addressing the budget cuts, don’t raise class sizes
for special education students. FCPS might have to look at class size, Garza
said, but should deal with it in a more nuanced way, rather than across the
board. There shouldn’t be any elementary school classes with more than 30
students, she said.
- Several people had concerns with the International
Baccalaurate (IB) program. IB students at Stuart have to take classes
after-school or in the summer to meet the requirements for an IB diploma, and
can’t take the electives they want.
- A teacher at Poe Middle School said teachers should be
treated with more respect and any budget cuts should not affect teacher raises.
“We are professionals,” he said, and “the public doesn’t understand what we do
and how hard we work.” Garza said the Board of Supervisors recognizes the need to raise teacher
salaries and the school board is committed to that. “My budget will have step increases.
You can count on that,” she said.
- The school calendar should include Muslim holidays.
- The school system should provide more options for online
learning.
- The school system should take action to close the achievement
gap.
- Parents weren’t informed about a new fence surrounding
Glen Forest Elementary School. The fence blocks pedestrian access and forced a
school bus stop to be moved to a dangerous intersection.
- There is too much emphasis on math and science and not
enough on the humanities and the arts.
- Don’t cut the language immersion program, because it helps
balance the population at schools like Bailey’s. The immersion
program is not being considered for cuts, Garza said. The Foreign Language for Elementary Schools (FLES) program could be cut but might resurface in another form, she said, adding, FCPS is committed to foreign language instruction.
- A teacher at Stuart urged Garza not to cut the AVID program because it
gives students the motivation to consider college and the skills to succeed in high
school.
- Students in the middle—who are not high achievers nor
eligible for special services—are neglected. All high school students should be
assigned a mentor to look out for their interests.
- To ensure equity, teachers
should be paid more if they work at a school with large numbers of
disadvantaged students.
- The temporary library in an office building on Leesburg
Pike—which is being used until the Wilson Library renovation is completed—is hard to
get to safely. Crossing Leesburg Pike is dangerous.
- Requiring students to use an online textbook is unfair. A
lot of families don’t have a computer in the house or have only one that
several people share.
- Consider the needs of special education students in the
portrait of a graduate.
- Students need to be taught responsibility, ethics, and
values, as well as academic subjects.
- Students who get straight As for four quarters should get
some sort of recognition, a middle school student suggested.
- Don’t cut Head Start or other preschool programs.
-
Put more of an emphasis on career and technical programs
in high schools and also dual enrollment programs, which allow high school
students to earn college credits.
Wonderful synopsis. Thank you!
Thanks for the synopsis. Mason district has many challenges. However, adding to the observance of a Muslim holiday is crazy. If we are talking about just recognizing it on the school calendar, it's one thing. I'm a minority myself and appreciate differences, but school is school and custom is the responsibilities of an individual home. Why not add Chinese New year, Tet, Diwali, and the many cultures that we have in our area. Do as Romans when in Rome. FFX county school is not a hallmark store. Fall, Winter, and Spring Break is enough. Let's not be ridiculous.
I agree. Well written.
Thanks for the detailed summary!
Thank for the summary!! Really appreciate it!