Comments on Our Loudoun Schools: Will the Board Set Budget Priorities?

If monies are tight, focus on the basics of instru...

2009-12-17T10:25:45.978-05:00

If monies are tight, focus on the basics of instruction - language arts, math, science, and history. Cut the programs that are fluff - thought they are nice, they are not a necessity. Get rid of FLES and SAMS. That's what fairfax is doing. Let's give our kids the educational knowledge they need and leave the languages as an elective. I want my tax dollars used for the core subjects!

Here is an interesting article that shows the decl...

2009-12-17T10:23:43.351-05:00

Here is an interesting article that shows the decline of our school system. If you want the education for your kids that they deserve, you have to pay for it! Support our schools and our teachers. They shape our future!

http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2009/dec/16/loudoun-falls-rank-among-local-school-districts/

Didn't the fire men just get a beautiful new build...

2009-12-15T13:05:48.990-05:00

Didn't the fire men just get a beautiful new building with flat screen tv's in the bedrooms?

Not to minimize anyone's contribution, but how difficult is a police officers job in this county?? I'm originally from Ca. and it's a vastly different job to be a cop out there....just an observation. Of course, it's vastly different teaching in Ca. as well. However, the demands placed upone teachers everywhere (including Loudoun)are increasing but the salary is not.

As far as people living in Loudoun feeling the financial squeeze too....hmmm. If that's the case why do so many here live in 5000square foot mini mansions or $300,000 townhomes? Why are more mansions being built? I don't buy it. This is one of the wealthiest counties in the US with one of the lowest tax rates. I think the time has come to look at what we're all paying in taxes and see how much it would really hurt to increase by even the minimum.

If I recall, firemen, policemen, rescue workers, h...

2009-12-07T16:36:44.328-05:00

If I recall, firemen, policemen, rescue workers, health workers, county workers haven't received raises either. Why are teachers more important?

When people in this county are struggling to make ...

2009-12-07T16:34:09.122-05:00

When people in this county are struggling to make ends meet, how can we make people pay more money (in taxes) to give other people (LCPS employees) raises?

I am a special education teacher in LCPS. I am a ...

2009-12-07T15:27:49.571-05:00

I am a special education teacher in LCPS. I am a former nurse who was able to switch careers to become a teacher. It was the best career move I have ever made! I really love my job in teaching! It is a very rewarding and fulfilling career. I would be very saddened if I was forced to leave the teaching profession that I love so much.
I, as well as many others, am feeling the impact of our struggling economy. Loudoun County is a very expensive area to live in. I have had to supplement my teaching job with additional jobs just to make ends meet. With this being done, I am still barely making it. Unfortunately, I sometimes feel that my teaching is impacted by this. On most days I have to “fly” out of school to make it to my other jobs. I am often exhausted after a 10-12 hour day. I am not asking for sympathy from you. People have to do what they have to do. I am just asking for some consideration when discussing next year’s budget.
It is unbelievable that LCPS salaries fall next to last among surrounding jurisdictions. Aren’t we one of the biggest and fastest growing counties in the state of Virginia? It is being predicted student enrollment will increase by 5.4%. This would bring our student totals to approximately 63,500.
There are many important people with important jobs in LCP S. Who are the most crucial? Well, of course, it is the teachers and supporting staff. Without teachers and supporting staff, you don’t have a school. Without teachers, the students will not obtain an education. Students rely on teachers to learn and grow. Teachers are a very important part to our children’s futures. I look at it as an investment of sorts. Students need to be provided the best opportunity, including top notch teachers, so that they can be successful in the future, our future. LCPS employees, including teachers did not receive any increases in their salary this year. LCPS has fallen next to last place in salary when compared to other jurisdictions. How is this going to attract or keep “top notch” teachers?
So, what I am asking is that the school board and BOS support an increase in staff salaries. I understand that it is a difficult time financially for all, but am asking for some kind of increase, even a COLA. Please show that your teachers and supporting staff are important and appreciated!

TRTs need to stay they provide an important servic...

2009-12-04T16:26:14.666-05:00

TRTs need to stay they provide an important service to the teachers and the school, the EMRTs need to go, along with FLES and SAMS, Inservices are important to all teachers to keep up with licensure. But having "consulting" teachers go around from school to school is not the answer. Is there anyway to take a look at the nursing staff-- do we realy need that many school RNs that travel from school to school and supervise the assistants and other RNs that actually work in the school building? Obviously we need school clinics and they need to be staffed with qualified people but do we need all the supervisiors?

If your child is doing well in school, thank a tea...

2009-12-04T10:22:58.435-05:00

If your child is doing well in school, thank a teacher. If your child is doing poorly, suport them more at home, because LCPS teachers go out of their way to give extra time to those students to help them achieve.

With no raises, you will see the teachers working with your students not being of strong enough skill set to be able to differentiate. It is a skill that takes a long time to master.

IF YOU ARE A PARENT, SUPPORT PAY RAISES SO YOUR CHILD DOES NOT END UP BEING TAUGHT BY TEACHERS THAT CANNOT GET JOBS ANYWHERE ELSE.

WRITE THE BOS OR GO TO A MEETING. PARENTS NEED TEACHERS AND TEACHERS NEED PARENTS!

Removing TRTs from schools that are technologicall...

2009-12-04T10:17:32.445-05:00

Removing TRTs from schools that are technologically advanced is like removing an engine from a car.

TO THE PERSON WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T TEACH THE TEACHER...

2009-12-04T10:15:33.961-05:00

TO THE PERSON WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T TEACH THE TEACHER, maybe you don't realize we are constantly in training to keep our licenses current. This means a total of 180hours of professional training, possibly advanced degree classes, to keep our licenses. Teachers are always learning.

To suggest that TRTs should be eliminated because ...

2009-12-04T09:52:30.207-05:00

To suggest that TRTs should be eliminated because teachers are already "educated" shows complete detachment from what goes on in schools. TRTs are responsible for among other things: making sure each school’s grades are submitted error free, making sure online SOL testing works, making sure content is on each schools website, coordinating with network specialists to solve myriad network hardware and software problems, configuring and approving teacher requests for professional development in the school system’s my learning plan software, overseeing computer labs, working directly with teachers on new software that comes out virtually every school year (like the latest version of MS Office) so teachers can take advantage of that software. Working directly with students on technology issues students have trouble understanding.

This is just a fraction of what they’re involved in at each school. The school system wisely spent funds the last couple years on the rollout of interactive white boards – who do you think trained and worked with teachers in every school to show them how to effectively use those interactive white boards?

haha, those "teach the teacher" positions are a jo...

2009-12-04T06:23:43.034-05:00

haha, those "teach the teacher" positions are a joke, believe me there is no teaching the teacher....

Some of the comments here coming from LCPS teacher...

2009-12-03T23:32:14.826-05:00

Some of the comments here coming from LCPS teachers and employees are kind of humorous if not truly sad.

The last post about cutting out a variety of specialists who teach the teachers, and getting rid of language education shows some fairly narrow thinking. If we were among the top performers on international testing in math and science I think you might be able to make the case that change is not needed. But that is not the case. To eliminate change agent specialties in our school system is just backwards thinking. Could you imagine a world where Intel closed their R&D department once they made the fist PC with two floppy drives?

For a teacher (or staff member) to think that there is no room for growth once they have achieved a passing SOL score in their classroom is also truly sad. Where is the desire: to achieve more; to stimulate our children’s minds; to get themselves and their students to a higher level of thinking, reasoning, and understanding?

Teachers need to be actively looking to embrace best practices and new ways of engaging students in critical thinking at earlier ages. Our students are growing up in an age of international competition like we could never have imagined. If our students are to be problem solvers and leaders in innovation, then why do we want them to be drones of drill and kill methods of instruction? Teachers don’t need to get stuck in the mud of stagnation. They do need to change and improve over time, not just until they get tenure.

So as the county wrestles with its budget maybe our teachers could embrace the changes they need to make to help our children get ready for increasing global competition. Soap boxing on specialists and programs for innovation in change is narrow minded and backward focused.

As an employee of LCPS, here are some ideas for cu...

2009-12-03T18:00:41.092-05:00

As an employee of LCPS, here are some ideas for cutting the budget:

Eliminate the FLES and SAM programs. They can take a foreign language program of their choosing in 7th grade.

Elimate or make itinerate all those positions that are there to "teach the teacher". EMRTs, and TRTs come to mind. Didn't the teachers already get educated?

Reduce the ELL budget. The non English speakers should learn English, but why does the county have to pay for it? Perhaps if the parents had to pay for that service just like kids have to pay to play sports, park a car or take a test, they would work harder to teach their children or would relocate to another location that can afford the expense.

Stop feeding parents to get them to come to meetings. Stop feeding employees to attend meetings.

And yes, the ever popular, close the small schools. Cost per child too high.

Loudoun County has four schools with each school h...

2009-12-03T17:50:16.688-05:00

Loudoun County has four schools with each school having an enrollment of about 125. So, LCPS pays for upkeep, utilities, transportation, and salaries to provide a private school education at the expense of my child's education? So before the BOS or SB reduces the budget in areas that would greatly effect many, many students, I think that closing those 4 schools would be money well saved. I understand what an emotional issue this is, but as the BOS has approved so much of the growth that this county has experienced causing the need for so many more services, they need to stand up to the western parents who want the "poor" residents of Eastern Loudoun to pay the price for their private education.

Salaries are not a priority? These people choose t...

2009-12-03T17:00:52.470-05:00

Salaries are not a priority? These people choose to be TEACHERS, not POOR. That is ridiculous and a sad, sorry excuse.

I think everyone should go to the LCPS budget and ...

2009-12-03T10:41:11.396-05:00

I think everyone should go to the LCPS budget and check out how much money is spent on salaries at the admin level. These people are very highly paid, do not directly deal with the students or parents, and probably have no idea what a teacher goes through on a daily basis. I work in a school, and can tell you that while teachers chose to teach, no formal education prepared them for what they do.

Regarding teachers having it "good," we are only p...

2009-12-03T10:05:21.920-05:00

Regarding teachers having it "good," we are only paid for 7.5 hours per day. In reality we HAVE to attend meetings we are not paid for (Once a week at my school for up to 3 hours.), festivals, school functions, etc.

In addition, I know of not a single teacher that can get all the required work done in 7.5 hours per day, so anything over that is a "freebie."

It's hard to do paperwork when you are actively engaging the students in meaningful learning experiences.

I see some people proud to have more chosen a more...

2009-12-03T10:01:19.325-05:00

I see some people proud to have more chosen a more lucrative profession than teaching. Good for them! Please bring your checkbook to the school board meeting when demanding service for Jr and Missy.

It is quite discouraging to see the bloggers here criticize teachers for wanting better compensation because they made a noble choice of public service.

These same parents so proud of their financial achievements seem quite content to reproduce, and create a public expense for everyone else to pay. They are also quite content to say it is all about the children, and we want the best public education possible.

They trumpet the call to excellence and at the same time they:

- Want to dumb down the grading scale so Jr or Missy can get into Harvard,
- Eliminate supervisors, their assistants, and specialists who act as catalyst for change and improvement of our teachers. Yes teachers do need to change and evolve like everyone in society as we all better ourselves, and need to look for best practices.
- Want to keep open the four charming small clubhouse schools that consume excessive resources, and double the per pupil cost.
- Don't want user fees, bus fees, activity, or any other fees for resources consumed by Jr or Missy.
- But most of all they want the county to keep taxes low.

The easiest ways to accomplish these narrow and self-serving objectives is to squeeze the teachers and administrators, cut their benefits, raise their insurance fees and copays, increase class size and workload, and demand extra services from teachers and administrators after hours for free. And ‘Oh, by the way, please make sure that you treasure Jr and Missy as much as we do.”

Where is all that personal pride in what you make and who you are when it comes to paying for the resources your children consume?

To anyone who says a step increase is rewarding me...

2009-12-03T10:00:32.631-05:00

To anyone who says a step increase is rewarding mediocrity get a grip. EVERY single year I teach I give my all. Every year I become a better teacher for the new experiences, so your answer is to enable our salaries to plunge in regards to the community we live in and basically do charity work and live poor?

Step increases give us credit for life experience. That is worth a heck of a lot more than the value of a step raise.

I'm so tired of hearing about the poor teachers of...

2009-12-03T09:56:30.391-05:00

I'm so tired of hearing about the poor teachers of Loudoun County, like they are the only ones that keep the schools open. What about all of the support people that clean the schools, keep the lights on, keep the electricity running, keep all of the "needed" technology up and working, keep the children fed, get the kids to and from schools. I never hear one teacher talk about the "poor" support staffs that keep the schools running. And guess what, they make less than the teachers and work 3 more months a year to boot!

Well said both comments above... Some of us are n...

2009-12-03T09:47:32.525-05:00

Well said both comments above...

Some of us are not wives at all but husbands, trying to provide for our families. My wife and I are both dedicated teachers to LCPS and have been for some time now. When you compare our household income to the average Loudoun household we fall below it. We have to give more of our time to help the children we work with, which we don't mind because we became teachers to teach. However, the red tape that teachers have to do these days basically leaves us no time to spend with each other or our child. We do not get paid for these hours; we will deal with the situations ahead of us. To be honest all we would like is a little bit of recognition from some of the community for what we actually do. We are counselors, psychiatrists, nurses, friends, care givers, parents, caterers, social workers, family planners and much more...oh yes and we teach too. Times are hard and we will all feel the pinch, there will be cuts but if the county goes with a bare budget plan then maybe, although it pains me to say it, we should work to a bare bones budget.
Loudoun has reduced the support to teachers while adding more and more expectancy. As teachers we have sucked it up and got on with it, this is why the county still has a good educational system.
Maybe it is time Loudoun saw what would really happen if we worked as little as some people think we do and just completed our contracted hours.

As for SMALL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE CLOSED, when the nu...

2009-12-03T09:42:59.872-05:00

As for SMALL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE CLOSED, when the numbers are crunched, keeping them open is cheaper than the transportation to schools further away. #300 K to keep Middleburg Elementary open. MORE than that to bus children up to 45 minutes away to the CLOSEST "big" school.

Educate yourself on the facts.

Teachers are having trouble paying their taxes, ke...

2009-12-03T09:34:09.063-05:00

Teachers are having trouble paying their taxes, keeping their houses and even feeding their families. Many of us carry 2 or more educational degrees plus master's degrees. Our salaries have NOT kept up with the economy so we are among the working poor. Contrary to popular belief, we are not wives of men with great jobs. Without raises, our lives are crumbling before our eyes. We cry about it we talk about it, we share our stories. We entered teaching to give, but also be able to live.

Here are two ideas that can save a lot of money in...

2009-12-03T09:26:24.021-05:00

Here are two ideas that can save a lot of money in the budget. They are consumption driven, for the extra resources that do not benefit all students in the county.

The basic idea is to create more self-sustaining components of the school budget.

The school cafeterias are self-sustaining, recouping costs from families who consume school provided food. Free and reduced meals are provided to the needy.

1) A sizable portion of the budget is used for the school bus system. It is time that Loudoun looks at charging a fee for students to ride the bus. At least some portion of the cost should be absorbed by the consumer of this non-classroom expense item. The same rules that apply to free and reduced lunch could apply to bus fees.

2) Keeping the four small schools open is a large expense for small return to the county. It directly benefits a small group of vocal peopel. It diverts resources away from all other schools and programs. The cost per pupil in these schools is excessive. They either need to close, or if the vocal parents from these schools want them schools to remain open perhaps they would be willing to become charter schools. Set them up to pay a tuition fee for the costs in excess of the average cost per pupil for the rest of the county.