Comments on Our Loudoun Schools: Budget Update

To Sew Creative Mom who said to grow the commercia...

2010-03-28T13:44:47.199-04:00

To Sew Creative Mom who said to grow the commercial sector so the County's budget wouldn't be financed on the backs of homeowners... I agree with you that we need more non-residential development. However, I would like to point out that although residents contributed the most to the County revenue, they also consume the vast majority of the total expenditures. Spending $12,000+ per

You really need to read the Loudoun Times-Mirror&#...

2010-02-26T22:48:20.311-05:00

You really need to read the Loudoun Times-Mirror's excellent editorial on this issue in this weeks paper - at www.loudountimes.com; click on 'opinion'. Great and timely overview of the LCPS budget...good for you, LTM!

I think we need to now refer to him as Edgar "...

2010-02-24T22:10:03.914-05:00

I think we need to now refer to him as Edgar "TBD" Hatrick!

John, you wanted to be Chairman to supposedly shake things up a bit. Here's a perfect opportunity to set yourself apart.

I like the way you think Anonymous

2010-02-24T20:16:27.622-05:00

I like the way you think Anonymous

If Hatricks salary is TBD, can't we make it $5...

2010-02-24T18:56:05.341-05:00

If Hatricks salary is TBD, can't we make it $50,000? Maybe THAT would get rid of him.

In doing some quick math, according to the Budget ...

2010-02-24T16:45:04.643-05:00

In doing some quick math, according to the Budget p.322, there are 329.5 Administrators in LCPS. These do include Principals, but not Dr. Hatrick's salary. 329.5 employees make just under $35 million for this year. With 191.7 of those Administrators making over $100K/year. 123.7 of the administrators are on the highest "step" in their pay level.

And just in case you

We- as in all of us who pay for this budget- need ...

2010-02-24T16:12:31.910-05:00

We- as in all of us who pay for this budget- need to get more educated about what is in the budget. Then, since the school board simply rubber stamps whatever Hatrick asks for, we need to demand some accounting for the effectiveness of all the programs and the elimination of programs and positions that are not measurably improving education. One place to start is the $24 million dollars needed

I believe that the busses go to other parking lots...

2010-02-24T15:47:40.461-05:00

I believe that the busses go to other parking lots to wait for their next run (middle school/high school), since the school parking lots are full (and have lots of pedestrians!) during the morning hours. They are supposed to turn their engines off, however.

I agree anon, which is why I wish I could incite a...

2010-02-24T15:13:04.468-05:00

I agree anon, which is why I wish I could incite a teacher revolt - I don't know if we'll see any substantive reform unless it comes from within, and we're certainly not going to get it from the Htarick regime. It has to be a bottom up movement.

Insider, It's not just that we're stuck w...

2010-02-24T14:08:28.998-05:00

Insider,

It's not just that we're stuck with Hatrick burning through our money, we also have the Board of Supervisors that continue to fund, fund, fund, at whatever costs. I have a theory that, if the BoS gave the schools less, IN THEORY, the school board would actually have to make some tough choices. Unfortunately, were that to happen, I envision that the school board would

profe, myself and other fiscal conservatives do wa...

2010-02-24T12:28:08.015-05:00

profe, myself and other fiscal conservatives do want to compensate you fairly. But let's face it, everyone is taking a hit financially these days. My wife and I are certainly making less than we did a couple years ago. You all know where the real waste is - publicize it and let's cut that crap out, then we can talk about teacher salaries. We all know there is waste and excess in this

Cami, The past couple years without a cost of livi...

2010-02-23T21:29:01.078-05:00

Cami, The past couple years without a cost of living increase and/or a step increase I have been cutting back on my time at school in small ways. I only meet with/call parents during school hours. If kids need extra help they have to come during the FLEX period as I don't make time before or after school for them. Sometimes I feel bad about it, but you're right- we're asked to do more

I am thinking that the teachers should just work t...

2010-02-23T21:09:45.913-05:00

I am thinking that the teachers should just work the hours they are paid to work. Lets see what happens then- but sadly the dedicated teachers will still go that extra mile because that is just who they are...good teachers will do whatever it takes to make kids successful. Too bad the school board and the admin staff can't see that. They assume that the teachers can just take on more and more

I really think our budget problems start at the to...

2010-02-23T15:52:18.103-05:00

I really think our budget problems start at the top (Hatrick). How can we get rid of him?

What if we don't drive school buses to McDonal...

2010-02-23T14:43:17.491-05:00

What if we don't drive school buses to McDonald's, Burger King and Starbucks in the morning. That might save some gas.

How about we make LCPS employees actually drive th...

2010-02-23T14:42:09.688-05:00

How about we make LCPS employees actually drive their own cars to their jobs instead of picking up county vehicles at schools near their homes. How much money does that little perk cost me a year?????

That's great anon - good example of the tone d...

2010-02-23T09:18:11.388-05:00

That's great anon - good example of the tone deafness of the Hatrick administration. Believe me, me and other fiscal hawks have no desire to "dismantle" the education system, we just want it run efficiently, which we all know it isn't. I've heard so many stories like yours from other teachers, yet Hatrick plods along on his merry, well compensated way. But the geniuses on

before one goes and praises Prince William's b...

2010-02-22T21:08:14.682-05:00

before one goes and praises Prince William's budget, keep in mind that they have ELIMINATED kindergarten assistants- meaning that the k teacher will have 25 five year olds with NO help!!! And they have full day kindergarten. Also any first year teacher will most likely be destaffed due to increasing class size. Also, don't think that increasing the class size is a good idea, what that

Believe me, anon, I am seriously considering that....

2010-02-21T23:50:51.872-05:00

Believe me, anon, I am seriously considering that. Fauquier knows how to manage a budget. Hatrick is clueless.

Again, look at my figures. Fauquier is cutting 7.7 million dollars from their comparitvely miniscule school system. All while having a tax rate of 76.5 cents compared to our proposed $1.40. Something is rotten at LCPS. I am no education expert, but some very reasonable

If the BoS would bring more businesses to the coun...

2010-02-21T21:10:44.798-05:00

If the BoS would bring more businesses to the county and not give huge tax breaks to the few that do set up shop, then the budget wouldn't be financed on the backs of homeowners. Growing the tax base instead of expecting individual classroom teachers to do more with less is our only long term viable solution.

I do not want 29 students in an elementary classroom. I want fewer of my

The biggest problem facing our county is that none...

2010-02-21T12:16:57.408-05:00

The biggest problem facing our county is that none of our elected official (school board or board of supervisors) are strong enough to make cuts. They want to appease every little special interest group and, instead of actual program cuts, they do things like cut unfilled positions and freeze things. If they made actual cuts, they may be able to save the taxpayers some money. Basically , they

Cut... central office jobs (as I keep saying we do...

2010-02-20T22:58:16.976-05:00

Cut... central office jobs (as I keep saying we don't need any of the folks in that ridiculous building to teach well), FLES (many FLES teachers are foreign nationals only here for three years; moreover, the students who have been taking FLES aren't any better in Spanish class than those who did not have it), department chairs at the high school level in the SOL areas only teach three

I would suggest the school board look at the propo...

2010-02-20T14:46:38.142-05:00

I would suggest the school board look at the proposed Prince William County budget for a primer on how to run an efficient school system. They are proposing to spend less money than Loudoun to educate 15,000 more students. They also pay their teachers more according to the WABE report.

You see, it can be done. It's just that our superintendent and school board prefer to channel

Hybrid buses, middle school deans...

2010-02-20T07:45:06.624-05:00

Hybrid buses, middle school deans...

From what I have read in the budget, there are no ...

2010-02-20T07:14:45.582-05:00

From what I have read in the budget, there are no smart boards being purchased with county/state money. The boards that are going to be purchased this year are with a grant I think.

What else could be cut?