Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Council

Every month I have to go to a meeting where the Fairfax County Public School superintendent (Jack Dale) tells us important things to report back to our individual school. Below is my December report.

—————————————————————-

STAC meeting
December 2nd 2009
2:49 Pm
Fairfax High School Choral Room


« File: possible2010cuts.pdf »

First of all, I must say how excited I was to be chosen nay elevated to the position of STAC representative. The meetings of 200 schools made me feel like an ancient ambassador sitting in an amphitheater with a toga draped around my shoulder. Jack Dale was wearing a somber green tie; which is a sobering change from his power yellow worn the month before. It is hard times for FCPS and Jack Dale’s choice of fashion reflects this change. The tension in the room was thick and despite the supply of free cookies everyone seemed on edge. A few SBTS/TSPEC supporters wore pro technology t shirts and made themselves well known throughout the room. At the beginning of the meeting, we received a list of 30 proposed deductions, fees and eliminations (see above). Some of the more hot issues furiously discussed were the reduction of assistant principals, instructional supplies, instructional assistants, technology support, custodians, guidance and equipment replacement. Mr. Jack Dale went onto explain these were just proposals to meet that 176 million dollar budget. Two major issues were concerning the elimination of Band & Strings as well as the Elementary FLES program. Dale made it very clear that he did not want to cut anything and was going to first propose more money (50 – 60 million) for FCPS. Whether or not that will work or if the board supervisors carry that amount of money to budget meetings is another topic for another email. After this brief discussion regarding the budget, the next 50 minutes was a literal free for all filled with nervous tension, bitter anger and baseless accusations regarding, well, the budget. Someone brought up rumors regarding a new phone system which was denied. The next 10 minutes of the meeting degenerated into splitting hairs over number of days worked vs. number of teachers being paid. There were a few teachers who thought they were John Nash and solved the budget crisis with the calculator in their phone. To continue these allusions of grandeur, many teachers brought up ideas to relieve the budget crisis. These comments were raised with an almost incredulous tone as if Jack Dale, the board of supervisors or a bright 4th  grade student hadn’t already considered the option. It is in my opinion a lot of teachers think FCPS has their own particle accelerator and that must be the reason for frozen pay. Couldn’t we cut the dinosaur cloning program…would that save us money? One teacher with nice gelled hair brought up the idea of rallying the PTA to drum up more revenue for FCPS. This would be like a county wide bake sale to save some of these programs which were proposed for elimination. Another talked about soft advertisements around the schools from corporations to raise money. Anyone ever see Bladerunner? No? One person in the front of the room with a flip notebook raised his hand very prominently and asked Jack Dale if it were true his salary was being raised next year. What? Jack Dale taking money under the table? Cooking the books? Jack Dale looks like my dad and isn’t some silent film actor with a long mustache tying damsels to railroad tracks. Sit down sir otherwise ill be forced to defend Mr. Dales honor! Jack Dale raised his hand to calm me and quietly denied the accusation. The young detective fell silent and grumbled in his seat. Nice job Mickey Spillane, this is a STAC meeting not Flattops hideout. What did you expect? Jack Dale to cackle and disappear in a cloud of acrid smoke? The mood of the meeting went from bad to incredibly bleak. It was as if Cormack McCarthy was sitting next to me narrating the events.  Following the discussion on our salaries (still frozen), many teachers got visibly angry and started offering up programs like sacrifices from fearful villagers to an angry volcano. What about late buses? Get rid of full day kindergarten. Not my salary!!  Then one teacher brought up a question that was so wrapped in a personal story I do not think I heard the actual question.

“…and then when I was seven I toured the great pyramids and met many interesting natives, we were on expedition through the caverns of Shangri-La….”

Bah! Get on with it ask your question this isn’t a Steinbeck novel. Eh? Two American literature references in one email? Amazing. To be honest no one knows exactly what is going to be cut, if it does. Jack Dale did mention that the elimination of the summer school program and the increases community fees will happen regardless.  To close the meeting Jack Dale mentioned the board of supervisors, which make the decisions for everything you are worried about. It is interesting to note that out of six members only one has a child in Fairfax County Public Schools. Nice to sleep on. Well that will do it for me today. One more question do you remember the amount we were in deficit for? Oh you do. Ha, I guess that’s not funny.

As I passed the front of the room I saw some other people shaking the superintendent’s hands. I did as well. He smiled and so did I. I walked out the room glowing from the fact that both of us met on another occasion before. I was in an eagle costume shaking his hand in a gymnasium amongst screaming students. I doubt hell ever know it was me who now stands before him. Perhaps next meeting ill go dressed as Ernie and sit in the back intently taking notes. Perhaps that will lighten the mood. Until next time. Good Luck.