The FCPS budget must allocate resources to competing needs in a way that maximizes the return on investment (ROI) in education for all FCPS stakeholders--students, parents, employees, taxpayers, and others. The FCPS budget must also provide a proper balance among the different types of schools and programs—mainstream, advanced, alternative, special, and adult education.
My first budget priority will be to ensure that every school and program has sufficient resources to meet all of the statutory and regulatory accreditation, quality, and learning standards. As more resources become available because of improved efficiencies or enhanced revenues, the FCPS should increase school and program performance expectations accordingly. The increased resources attributable to improved efficiencies should remain in the school or program that generated them as a reward for achieving the cost savings.
My second budget priority will be to ensure that every school and program can hire and retain sufficient highly qualified and motivated staff—including teachers, assistants, counselors, psychologists, technologists, administrators, janitors, cooks, bus drivers, and others. All staff should earn a living wage adequate to support themselves in the communities that they serve—without a need for public welfare or private charity. Staff wages should be competitive in the local economy and indexed to inflation. Staff wages should also be raised periodically to recognize higher levels of experience and performance.
My third budget priority will be to substitute technology for labor whenever the business case supports it. According to the FCPS Proposed Budget—FY 2008, the FCPS educational enterprise is labor-intensive with nearly 86% of the FCPS $2.2 billion operating budget spent on employee compensation, but less than 1%, about $15 million, spent on technology. The FCPS should evaluate the potential for realizing cost savings by investing more in technology that enables employees to work smarter, not harder and students to learn more rapidly, with better retention.
My fourth budget priority will be to ensure that all students have the opportunity to become well-informed, well-rounded citizens who are motivated to participate in lifelong learning and contribute to our society. As a member of Phi Beta Kappa, I value and support the liberal arts and sciences. I believe that all students should gain an understanding and appreciation of the fine arts, as well as English, mathematics, science, history, social sciences, computers, technology, foreign language, health, physical education, sports, and driver education. The FCPS should periodically evaluate curriculum offerings and extracurricular activities to ensure that all students have the opportunity to explore new interests, grow as individuals, and prepare to enjoy their adult lives in Fairfax County and beyond.
Unfortunately, the problems of gangs and security seem to be increasing in Fairfax County. These and other societal problems—such as poverty, homelessness, dysfunctional families, lack of affordable housing, and inadequate public transportation—affect negatively the ability of the FCPS to accomplish its educational mission. My fifth budget priority will be to support programs that mitigate these problems, so that all students can realize their full potential in a safe and healthy learning environment. The FCPS should collaborate with both governmental and non-governmental organizations to plan, fund, and deliver innovative, effective, and efficient programs to mitigate these societal problems.