BobTheCow
04-22-2004, 07:08 PM
Just got this E-mail from the superintendent of the Fairfax County school system... it should basically explain itself:
Dear Parents and Community Friends:
Most of you are aware that the Virginia General Assembly has still not passed a budget for the commonwealth. What you may not be aware of, however, is the impact this budget impasse has on our school system.
The impasse means that the $337.1 million in state funding that was assumed in the School Board’s approved budget for FY 2005 is not guaranteed. By law, the School Board must pass a balanced budget. To do that, we must consider measures that will allow us to survive in the absence of state revenue.
Today, April 22, after consultation with the School Board, our employee associations, and community members, I am recommending a number of fiscal actions that we may be forced take over the coming months if there is no state budget. These are actions that neither I nor the School Board want to take. We made these decisions with two things in mind. The first was to protect, as much as possible, the core academic program for our students. The second was to protect, as much as possible, the quality workforce that we have worked so hard to build.
Because the General Assembly, at any time, may reach consensus and provide state funding, we have chosen to take action in stages. Here are the big-ticket items:
1. Summer school registration, originally scheduled to begin May 10, will be delayed until June 1. If there is no state budget by June 1, summer school for elementary and middle school students will be canceled, except classes mandated by IEP or SOL remedial classes (including 11th and 12th grade students). Because we are pushing this decision as late as possible, summer school, once canceled, can NOT be restored, even if a state budget is subsequently passed.
2. If there is no state budget by July 1, all 2004-05 extracurricular programs will be suspended. Community use of school buildings and grounds will also be suspended. These items will be reinstated, where possible, if a state budget is subsequently passed. Eligible employees will receive their regular step, but all other employee initiatives, including COLA, and restored step, will be delayed until the state passes its budget.
3. If there is no state budget by August 1, plans will be made for a one-week delay of school opening and/or a substantial increase in class size. That will mean employees will be furloughed during school closure. These items will be readjusted if a state budget is subsequently passed, depending on timing.
We recognize that these actions may severely affect our students, their families, and other members of our community. The School Board has already sent two open letters about this budget impasse to our state delegation. We are doing everything we can to urge legislators to set aside their differences for the good of our children and our families. We appreciate the work of the members of the Northern Virginia delegation who have fought valiantly on our behalf.
We need a state budget now that is good for the state, empowers local communities to act on behalf of their citizens, and is good for education. In the meantime, we will do whatever is necessary to preserve our outstanding school system. Thank you for working with us through this difficult time.
--Brad Draeger, Interim Superintendent
STUPID FREAKING VIRGINIA AND THEIR INABILITY TO SETTLE ON A BUDGET!!!!!!!!!! :mad: Hopefully they can drag their heads out of their rectums and get this damn thing settled...
Dear Parents and Community Friends:
Most of you are aware that the Virginia General Assembly has still not passed a budget for the commonwealth. What you may not be aware of, however, is the impact this budget impasse has on our school system.
The impasse means that the $337.1 million in state funding that was assumed in the School Board’s approved budget for FY 2005 is not guaranteed. By law, the School Board must pass a balanced budget. To do that, we must consider measures that will allow us to survive in the absence of state revenue.
Today, April 22, after consultation with the School Board, our employee associations, and community members, I am recommending a number of fiscal actions that we may be forced take over the coming months if there is no state budget. These are actions that neither I nor the School Board want to take. We made these decisions with two things in mind. The first was to protect, as much as possible, the core academic program for our students. The second was to protect, as much as possible, the quality workforce that we have worked so hard to build.
Because the General Assembly, at any time, may reach consensus and provide state funding, we have chosen to take action in stages. Here are the big-ticket items:
1. Summer school registration, originally scheduled to begin May 10, will be delayed until June 1. If there is no state budget by June 1, summer school for elementary and middle school students will be canceled, except classes mandated by IEP or SOL remedial classes (including 11th and 12th grade students). Because we are pushing this decision as late as possible, summer school, once canceled, can NOT be restored, even if a state budget is subsequently passed.
2. If there is no state budget by July 1, all 2004-05 extracurricular programs will be suspended. Community use of school buildings and grounds will also be suspended. These items will be reinstated, where possible, if a state budget is subsequently passed. Eligible employees will receive their regular step, but all other employee initiatives, including COLA, and restored step, will be delayed until the state passes its budget.
3. If there is no state budget by August 1, plans will be made for a one-week delay of school opening and/or a substantial increase in class size. That will mean employees will be furloughed during school closure. These items will be readjusted if a state budget is subsequently passed, depending on timing.
We recognize that these actions may severely affect our students, their families, and other members of our community. The School Board has already sent two open letters about this budget impasse to our state delegation. We are doing everything we can to urge legislators to set aside their differences for the good of our children and our families. We appreciate the work of the members of the Northern Virginia delegation who have fought valiantly on our behalf.
We need a state budget now that is good for the state, empowers local communities to act on behalf of their citizens, and is good for education. In the meantime, we will do whatever is necessary to preserve our outstanding school system. Thank you for working with us through this difficult time.
--Brad Draeger, Interim Superintendent
STUPID FREAKING VIRGINIA AND THEIR INABILITY TO SETTLE ON A BUDGET!!!!!!!!!! :mad: Hopefully they can drag their heads out of their rectums and get this damn thing settled...