Last night I presented the School Board's 2011 proposed operating budgets to the Board of Supervisors.
I'll link to it here when it is posted on the LCPS website. You can download the presentation and speaking notes from the LCPS website. In the presentation I reviewed the history of the school budget over the term of the current Board. Here are some highlights:
- Loudoun is still next-to-last in per-pupil spending among Metro DC school districts
- Loudoun is last in starting salaries among Metro DC school districts
- In 2007, a Forbes study titled "Best and Worst School Districts for the Buck," LCPS was ranked 11th in the nation among large districts when rated for a combination of efficiency & outcomes
- The Center for American Progress rated districts of all sizes nationally using data from the 2007-2008 school year, and rated LCPS among the top-performing school districts for efficiency & results. I'll have more details in a future post.
Since that time, and in the term of the current School Board and Board of Supervisors:
- LCPS has become more efficient, reducing the ratio of non-school-based positions from 10.0 per 1,000 students to 9.2 per 1,000 students. Our proposed FY12 budget, has a higher share of school-based employees than any other NoVA district.
- The share of LCPS funding coming from local taxes has dropped from 72% to 67%.
- LCPS cost per pupil has dropped over 15%.
- Starting salaries have fallen. All salaries are frozen.
- Insurance premiums and co-payments have increased for employees.
- Capacity has grown through both new buildings and increased class sizes, but has not kept pace with our growth. Our capacity usage has grown from 91.5% to 96.7% county wide.
- School lunch subsidies have dropped from $900,000 to $0. Lunch prices have climbed from $2.40 to $3.00
- Average class sizes have increased
- Funding for ongoing building renovations has dropped from $4.1M just before this board took office to $0 last year.
- The average Loudoun tax bill has dropped from $5,307 to $5,244 at the proposed tax rate of $1.32
Update: I have corrected the school lunch price figure for the beginning of this term. It originally said $2.10, which was the price in the 2008-2009 school year.
So, if we spend more money like DC, Loudoun's kids will perform 10-20% better? Hold it, isn't Loudoun one of the top schools in the DC area. Well, so much for providing more propaganda to the BOS. If I was on the board of Supervisors, I'd handle it like the School Board does and blow it off. The board is concerned with keeping taxes down, since they have other services in Loudoun to deal with. They need to know that Dr Hatrick and the school Board did everything in their power to cut the fat, which they haven't done or proved. So, once again, they'll yell wolf to their teachers and PTO/PTA to get out because LCPS will become a school system like DC. All teachers will leave to find better paying teacher positions(not sure where since it's been stated that 45,000+ teaching positions will be lost without TARP). And when will the tax rate stop going up? Last time I checked, Loudoun has the highest rate in the DC area.
ReplyDeletewhere do you find these voodoo numbers?
ReplyDeleteThe average Loudoun tax bill has dropped from $5,307 to $5,244 at the proposed tax rate of $1.32
And Ms Burk's email states "the advertised $1.32 – homeowners’ bills would go up an average of $204 because of increased housing values and the two-cent increase"
Who's right? My assessed Land went up $60K, so I'd be paying about $800 more, plus all the extra fees for my HS student(another $800), only $1600 extra bill.
That particular number was provided by the County Administrator, Tim Hemstreet, during his budget presentation to the Board of Supervisors. The citation is found in the notes on page six, and read as follows:
ReplyDeleteDuring that time, the Board has also been cautious with public funds.
In that regard, it should be noted that the average tax bill resulting from the proposed FY 2012 budget will be less than the average tax bill was in 2008.
The 2008 average was $5,307 while the average tax bill for the proposed FY 2012 budget will be $5,244.
Facts on the tax bill and tax rate:
ReplyDeleteThe average tax bill was $4,843 in 2007 - the year before this BOS took office. They raised it to an outrageous $5,307 in their first budget in 2008.
The proposed $5,244 tax bill will be an increase over last and during their term.
At $1.32, they will have raised the tax rate a whopping 36 cents during their term!
John, enough with the outrageous and farcical argument that Loudoun homeowners should feel good about paying less taxes this year v prior years. Property taxes have INCREASED every year since 2001! Never mind the fact that home values have been declining by 5% a year since 2006 while we are taxed an extra 8% a year on average in that same period. 40% increase in taxes, 25% decline in home value.
ReplyDeleteHow about you take a pay cut of 25%that way you can say you are okay with it because you are paying less taxes. Sound dumb doesn't it?
I will never cease to be amazed at the spin machine of LCPS!
John,
ReplyDeletePlease explain why the last two years LCPS has had a $20million surplus that was not spent? Funny thing is, two years ago was when LCPS raised the parking fees and player fees for HS sports along with other fees to HS students/their parents.
I wouldn't have a problem paying the extra fees, as long as I knew the fees went directly to what we were paying them for AND there wasn't a $20million surplus at the end of the year.
Sure seems that the extra fees were not needed as there was a surplus at the end of the year.
I agree with Anon(3:27), the HS parents have been screwed by this School Board(and Dr Hatrick). In two years, I've paid over $1400 in fees. Perhaps I'll get reimbursed for 3 ADP tests from last year? My property tax has gone up the last 9 years. I see teachers complain about no raises(just like majority of private sector employees) but post all the extra time spent with so many students. Sounds more like they need addition teachers because a raise isn't going to change the number of hours they're working.
ReplyDeleteFunny how Dr Hatrick, the teachers and school board want to argue about LCPS being 2nd lowest cost per student in DC area, yet they fail to show any of the great success LCPS students achieve? It's getting quite old. Either LCPS does a better job with less money or Loudoun County kids are smarter?
ReplyDeleteMaybe that extra $40Million LCPS "saved" the last two years should have gone towards teacher's raises and additional teachers.
ReplyDeleteIt really ticks me off when I read and hear the School Board and Hatrick "crying" about needing more money when they have proven the last 2 years that they didn't need/use all the money they were given.
Stop the politics and do your jobs! Find what is really needed in the budget and cut the stuff that is not needed!
LCPS opened three new schools in 2010, including two new high
ReplyDeleteschools for only the second time in the school division’s history. This
brought the total number of schools to 79.
The LCPS projected enrollment is 63,353 as compared with 60,096
a year ago. Academic success has continued despite a shrinking
budget. The FY 2011 operating budget is $710,345,662. This is less
than the budget for FY 2010, which was $732,598,960.
Despite the budget cuts:
• The average overall SAT scores rose four points to 1597 for
LCPS students taking the test in the spring of 2010. Virginia’s
average SAT score was 1521 and the average national score
1509 for 2010.
• All 10 LCPS high schools exceeded the average state on-time
graduation rate in 2010. The LCPS rate was 94 percent (up from
93.7 percent in 2009). Statewide 183 of 324 high schools had
graduation rates above the state average.
• All LCPS high schools were ranked as among the best in the
nation by Newsweek’s Challenge Index.
• LCPS has seven middle schools that have been named a “School
to Watch” by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle School
Reform. Of the more than 16,000 middle schools in the nation,
201 have earned this recognition. Of the 313 middle schools in
Virginia, only 11 have earned this distinction and 7 of those are
in Loudoun County.
• Nine LCPS Schools received the Governor’s Award for
Educational Excellence in 2010. Only 153 schools received this
award statewide.
• A fifth grade teacher at Belmont Station Elementary was the
recipient of a $25,000 National Milken Family Foundation
Educator Award. The Milken Award has been dubbed the
“Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher magazine. (Revised 11/5/10)Source-WABE
LCPS opened three new schools in 2010, including two new high
ReplyDeleteschools for only the second time in the school division’s history. This
brought the total number of schools to 79.
The LCPS projected enrollment is 63,353 as compared with 60,096
a year ago. Academic success has continued despite a shrinking
budget. The FY 2011 operating budget is $710,345,662. This is less
than the budget for FY 2010, which was $732,598,960.
Despite the budget cuts:
• The average overall SAT scores rose four points to 1597 for
LCPS students taking the test in the spring of 2010. Virginia’s
average SAT score was 1521 and the average national score
1509 for 2010.
• All 10 LCPS high schools exceeded the average state on-time
graduation rate in 2010. The LCPS rate was 94 percent (up from
93.7 percent in 2009). Statewide 183 of 324 high schools had
graduation rates above the state average.
• All LCPS high schools were ranked as among the best in the
nation by Newsweek’s Challenge Index.
• LCPS has seven middle schools that have been named a “School
to Watch” by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle School
Reform. Of the more than 16,000 middle schools in the nation,
201 have earned this recognition. Of the 313 middle schools in
Virginia, only 11 have earned this distinction and 7 of those are
in Loudoun County.
• Nine LCPS Schools received the Governor’s Award for
Educational Excellence in 2010. Only 153 schools received this
award statewide.
• A fifth grade teacher at Belmont Station Elementary was the
recipient of a $25,000 National Milken Family Foundation
Educator Award. The Milken Award has been dubbed the
“Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher magazine. (Revised 11/5/10)Source:WABE
LCPS is a perfect example of a wasteful, inefficient and bloated bureaucracy. Raising taxes, AGAIN, is not an option. Instead LCPS needs to better manage their existing $800 MILLION annual budget.
ReplyDeleteI think "add-on" fees should be increased to offset a higher tax rate. I don't have children and therefore derive minimal benefit from the school system. I say make the folks who use things like AP tests, parking permits, sports and club participation, field trips, etc. pay for them. These luxury items should be either cut or paid for entirely by those that use them.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem paying the extra fees you speak of, as long as they go towards that function. Right now, the extra fees go into the general fund and are not seen by the teams. Those fees should go to pay for field work, uniforms, etc. Things the county is paying for, but is used by the relatively few athletes. And the fees should be figured out after the money is spent so we know the money is going to pay for exactly what they say it's for. Right now, we pay $100 per sport, per season and have no idea what that goes for.
ReplyDeleteThe repeat poster at 6:46pm brings up great points. LCPS and their students continued to do well despite the cut in budgets. So why do we need to increase the budget this year by $47million over last year?
Additionally, last year, despite having the budget cut by $20million, LCPS also had a surplus of about $20million. That means, they really only needed $690million. And they had 3k plus additional students, just like this year.
Again, why do they need a budget of $757million? Teacher and staff raises are certainly worth paying, but I doubt they equal $67million (757-690million - this year's budget request minus what they actually used from last year).
Where is the $4.9 Million of the $9.4 Million in federal money that is left over from last year? LCPS spent $4.5 Million to pay for the two day furlough so where is the $4.9 Million?
ReplyDeleteIt should be set aside to guarantee summer school this year (because once the cutting begins....)
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, even if you don't have kids in the LCPS, you derive benefits from the LCPS. It's among the reasons we have a high quality of life and better property values than other places.
ReplyDeleteEducated kids are safe kids who don't cause a lot of trouble.
As for teacher raises, considering the commutes some of our teachers have to get to schools in neighborhoods those teachers don't earn enough to live in, I think a cost of living adjustment to account for higher gas prices alone is worthwhile.
Let's not forget that the main reason this BOS has not raised our tax bills even higher than they already have is because of about $100 million in largely one-time revenues and expense reductions, such as the Obama ARRA and Keep our Educators Working Act handouts, VRS payment holidays and deferrals, a lower local composite index, taxes on students for parking, AP tests and athletic participation, etc.
ReplyDeleteWithout that relief, they probably would have raised the average tax bill to over $6,000!
What happened to all those cuts they might have made last year(Dr Hatrick and School Board)? I can recall about 3 pages of cuts and then they decided to furlough the teachers, which of course was the Loudoun Taxpayers fault. A tax increase will cause more local businesses to shut their doors because we'll have to cut that extra tax out of our budget somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI posted how well LC kids do in our schools (didn't mean to do it twice) b/c these will be the numbers that we will see slide if we are not able to maintain the quality of education. As class sizes continue to rise and the quality of everything from technology to teachers who seek employment here decrease, we could take some real steps backward. Yes, many areas have involved, educated parents who encourage their children to be successful, but notice that ALL high schools exceeded the on-time graduation rate and ALL high school were ranked best in the nation. People want to live here because it's where it's still safe and where the schools are good.
ReplyDeleteFrom today's Washington Post:
ReplyDeleteSeniority should not make teachers immune to layoffs
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/03/AR2011030305414.html
Even the Washington Post agrees that the teacher seniority system needs to be scrapped! Any chance we can get that on the School Board agenda? Performance should be used in times of layoffs and any discussion of salary increases. Reward the best teachers, don't feed the mentality that the employees paid by taxdollars are a special class who are "entitled" to a pay raise every year just because they are another year older.
Anonymous at 6:49PM--
ReplyDeletePlease consider the research which shows that the effects of class size on learning are insignificant when compared to the quality of the teacher, and that those great SAT scores, graduation rates, and college acceptance rates are driven by the social-economic status of Loudoun families more than anything the schools are doing.
Anon-4:26-all those cuts did happen and included the employee furlough days. Class sizes increased, special ed was hit especially hard, technolgy upgrades were tabled, more fees were imposed on parents of athletes and students taking AP exams etc...The employees did get back the furlough pay, but the other stuff did happen.
ReplyDeleteErv-not ALL of Loudoun schools are located in the wealthy suburbs. Schools in lower income areas also do better than state/national averages. And those in higher income levels can be very demanding (not that that's a bad thing) in terms of their expectations and wanting their children to have the best teachers and cutting edge technology/resources. I've lived in other school districts. LC is is the best so far.
ReplyDeleteErv, from the elementary perspective, studies suggest class sizes below about 20 in the early elementary school grades result in in significant increases in student achievement that persist throughout school.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 10:25, I'm not saying that class size doesn't have an effect, just that it is dwarfed by the effects that other factors, such as SES and teacher quality, generate. I vote for spending money on improving teacher quality over using it to reduce class size.
ReplyDelete9000$ for each student - what about the 240 odd students that we spend for TJ each year . why cant we cut it down completely and let the parents foot the bill(it was their choice)- huge savings we can give a raise to the teachers - Other counties did it, why cant we.
ReplyDeleteParents gets their kids admitted in 8th grade when they are in fairfax which is easier and when their kid is in 9th grade move to loudoun and burden us with the 9000$ fee from our pockets - the vice versa is not possible.
How is it that Loudoun was ranked as the most affluent county by Forbes magazine, yet LCPS CPP is the next-to-lowest in the Washington metropolitan area?
ReplyDeleteIf you compare Loudoun to a similar sized county in our area, such as Arlington:
Arlington: 204,889 residents, avg. HH income of $96,390 ... $17,322 CPP
Loudoun: 277,433 residents, avg HH income of $110,643 ... $11,083 CPP
This is a huge WTF for me.
I'm also rather appalled at the costs for field trips in Elementary school. $55 per student to go to Jamestown. Unless they are going by limo, what could possibly contribute this much cost per student? It does not include any food, and chaperones also had to pay $60 each. I wonder if kids in Arlington are going on these kinds of adventures... and what are our kids REALLY getting out of such an expensive trip.