Feb 10
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 1:20 pm
A MESSAGE FROM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER (PROVIDENCE DISTRICT),
Phillip A Niedzielski-Eichner REGARDING FCPS PROPOSED 2009 BUDGET
We will act at our Thursday, February 14th meeting on the Superintendent's proposed FY2009 budget. The FCPS advertised budget we approve next week will be based upon estimated revenue from the local, state, and federal governments. We will know by May how much our actual revenues will be.
Included in the "advertised" budget we approve will be our funding request to the Board of Supervisors (BOS). The "transfer" we receive from the County makes up 76% of our operating revenue. The BOS budget cycle begins at the end of this month with the presentation by the County Executive of his proposed budget. Public hearings will then be held by the BOS at the end of March. The Supervisors will then approve its budget on April 28th. Our Board will act on our approved budget on May 22nd, after a public hearing we will hold on May 14th and 15th. I will hold a Providence District Dialogue on March 3rd at 7:30 pm in the lecture hall at the Jackson Middle School. I will have with me a representative from our Budget Staff. Together we will review the School Board's advertised budget, answer any questions you may have about the budget; or simply listen to your concerns.
Additional Background on Deficit Situation
I provide some additional background information for those of you who would like to understand better why we are experiencing a budget deficit. As you can see in the attached budget update, we are extraordinarily reliant upon local resources for funding our schools..fully 76% of our operating revenue. From the perspective of the County, this translates into 53% of its revenue base going to support the school system. The remaining funding is received from the State [~21%] and the federal government [~2%]. The remainder is provided via our relationship with Fairfax City and miscellaneous other sources. We can have a separate discussion about unfunded mandates from the State and federal governments, but that impact substantially exceeds $200 million.
Based on preliminary information from the state and direct guidance from the (BOS) that we should expect a 0% increase in the transfer from the County, we have an expected budget shortfall of over $100 million. This shortfall includes a 3% increase in salary for our teachers and staff to offset the growth in the cost of living in this area and to keep our salaries competitive in relation to our surrounding school systems that are eager to attract our teachers. Since 86% of our expenses are for personnel salaries and benefits, the cost alone of this increase is $52.4 million dollars. We also project that we will have 1,800 more students than we did last year and the cost of educating those students is $24 million. These two items alone equate to $76 million of the anticipated shortfall. In order to address this shortage, we need to receive additional funding from the County and the State, both of which are experiencing significant funding shortages, and/or reduce our costs. The Superintendent proposes doing both - i.e., asking for a 3.5% increase from the County in its transfer [as opposed to 0%] and cutting or streamlining programs.
Just a note about our local revenue situation. I am often asked why it is so grim. The answer - in part -- is that Fairfax County is nearly completely reliant upon the value of our homes as our source of local revenues for operating both the County government and the school system. When home value rise, revenues increase; when they decline revenues decrease. The County has adjusted the rate charged per house over the years to reflect market conditions. For example, the real estate assessment rate in 2002 was $1.23 per $100 of assessed value. With escalating housing values the BOS lowered the assessment progressively over the last six years. Today we are at $.89 cents; a 34 cent reduction. To put this in perspective, one penny on the assessment brings in $22.7 million.
So, as we move toward final action Thursday on our advertised budget, the SB members are asking ourselves questions such as the following:
- What is the appropriate amount, or range, to request of the BOS?
- Should we modify or not approve certain recommendations made by the Superintendent?
- Are there other options that we should pursue?
For more information, click HERE.
Feb 5
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 6:13 am
Parent Safety Awareness Night will be held Monday, February 11, 2008, at GC Marshall High School, beginning at 7 p.m.
Two sessions, one on Internet Safety, the other on Teen Driving Safety, will be presented.
For more details on these programs, click HERE.
To RSVP, send an email to gcmptsa@gmail.com
Jan 28
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 8:54 pm
International Night Booth Coordinators/Organizers Needed
We are still looking for parents and/or students who would like to create a country display for International Night on February 21. The display can be as simple as a three-ply poster with information on the country or it may contain representative items (flags, textiles, pottery, music on CD, etc.) that will fit on 1/2 a cafeteria size table.
We are also still looking for booth coordinators for the following regions. If you can help, please email Lucy Uncu at luncu@cox.net
-- Brazil and Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil)
-- Caribbean (Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, other islands in the Caribbean)
-- Middle East and North Africa (Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Libya)
-- North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)
If you would be willing to help, please contact the booth coordinator listed below for the region you are interested in.
-- Africa (All countries except North Africa) Booth Coordinator: Beauty Dhlodhlo (bdhlodhlo@worldbank.org)
-- East Asia and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Burma, Viet Nam, Cambodia , Indonesia, Malaysia) Booth Coordinators: Malou Rennert (malouren@msn.com) and Sonnie Campos ( sonnie.camp@verizon.net)
-- South Asia (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan)
Booth Coordinator: TBD
-- Nordic, Baltic, UK and Benlux (Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, England, Scotland Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands
Booth Coordinator: Tatiana van der Noorda ( vandernoordaa@verizon.net)
-- Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Russia, Ukraine, Georgia , Moldova, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
Booth Coordinator: Victoria Bloom (Bloom.Victoria@gmail.com)
-- Southern and South Central Europe (Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria)
Booth Coordinator: Rada Carmichael (Jagodina_5@hotmail.com)
-- North Central and Western Europe (Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Malta)
Booth Coordinator: Suzi Clement-Sigur (clementsigur@hotmail.com)
Western Hemisphere
-- Andean Region (Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru)
Booth Coordinator: Mary Arana (mcaej204@aol.com)
-- Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama)
Booth Coordinator: Adriana Yurko (Adriana.Yurko@yahoo.com)
Jan 26
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 1:34 pm
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT/
SILENT AUCTION
February 21, 2008, 6-9 p.m.
Donations are still needed for the silent auction to support the All Night Graduation Celebration 2008
Items must be $50 or more in value.
To donate to the 2008 International Night Silent Auction, e-mail Ronnie Taylor at vtaylor115@gmail.com or Sonia Guzman at guzmans@cox.net and indicate what you wish to donate. State the exact name and retail value of each of your donations. This information will be used both for the Silent Auction and for advance promotion. Your item will be picked up by a volunteer, and you or your business will be credited as a supporter.
Remember that your donations are tax deductible.
Jan 26
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 9:43 am
logo by Valeria Ortiz
Marshall High School International Family NIght
Thursday, February 21, 2008
6-9 p.m.
in George C. Marshall High School Cafeteria and Auditorim
Join in an evening of fun and friendship!
Sample foods from around the world, enjoy cultural displays, and then see an entertaining cultural show!
For more information, and to RSVP, see the flyer HERE.
Jan 12
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 9:17 pm
Practice SAT and ACT
Marshall High School PTSA and Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions have come together to give Marshall students an opportunity to take a practice SAT or ACT before the actual exam. These scores will not go on record.
The Practice SAT and ACT will be given on Saturday, February 9, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The test will be held at Marshall in the second floor classrooms, and the price is $10 for pre-registered students. The registration deadline is Friday, February 8. 100% of the proceeds will go to benefit George C. Marshall High School PTSA.
You can register by completing the form HERE. If you would like to attend, please send cash, check, or money order made payable to GCM HS PTSA and return the form to the school's Front Office or mail to:
Brooke Mock
7731 Ogden Ct.
Falls Church, VA 22043
On Wednesday, March 5 at 7 p.m., in the Marshall Cafeteria, Kaplan will return test results with individual feedback. There will also be a seminar that discusses how the SAT and ACT is used in college admissions and important test-taking tips and strategies.
Email Malou Rennert at gcmptsa@gmail.com for more information.
Dec 21
2007
Posted by: DMK
at 2:04 pm
George C. Marshall High School will host an evening dedicated to learning about funding your child's college education on January 9, 2008, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
There will be sessions on the basics of obtaining financial aid, as well as discussions on federal and private student loan programs and much more. Read more about the evening's programs and speakers HERE.
To RSVP, send an email to: ABCsCollegeFunding@gmail.com
Dec 14
2007
Posted by: DMK
at 5:14 am
Marshall High School's International Baccalaureate (IB) co-coordinators Carlota Shewchuk and Asheesh Misra will be visiting pre-IB World History (9th grade) and Pre-IB English (10th grade) classes during the first and second weeks of January.
The purpose of these visits will be to help those 9th and 10th graders who intend to pursue the IB Diploma develop IB Diploma Plans.
In addition, there will be two parent sessions, for parents to work directly with the coordinators in reviewing their student's diploma plan. Sessions will be held on the following two days:
Thursday, January 10 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the IB Center
and
Thursday, January 17 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the IB Center
If you are unable to attend either of those meetings and feel that you need to discuss your child's individual diploma plan, contact Ms. Shewchuk (class of 2010) or Mr. Misra (class of 2011).
Ms. Shewchuk
tel. (703) 714-5580
email: carlota.shewchuk@fcps.edu
Mr. Misra
tel. (703) 714-5580
email: Asheesh.misra@fcps.edu
Nov 28
2007
Posted by: DMK
at 11:01 am
Mary Ellen McCormick, who teaches entrepreneurship at Marshall Academy, is one of 11 educators nationwide selected to receive a $3,000 grant from the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
McCormick is the only Virginia educator to be selected for the competitive grant.
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is a national association of 100 member organizations that advocate entrepreneurship education as a lifelong learning process and provide programs for youth and adults.
Source: FCPS Media Tips
Nov 28
2007
Posted by: DMK
at 10:58 am
RANK AND FILE RECEIVES AWARD
The Columbia Scholastic Press Association recognized the 2006-2007 newspaper, headed by editor-in-chief Kelly Ream, with a gold medal, capped by All-Columbian honors for business practices and coverage. Congratulations to the staff members below who are still at Marshall:
Elizabeth Aivazis
Claire Burgess
Lance Cheng
Sebastien Christie
Emi Grinvalds
Shefali Lamba
Jessica Levine
Bill Lyle
Carol Paulson
Christine Steiner
Elizabeth Stonehill
Kirsten van der Noordaa
Elaine Wilcox-Cook
