001We don't have seven. I'm going Good evening. The May 12th, 2026 public hearing of the Fairfest County School FY2027 approved budget is called to order at 6:08 p.m. Once we have quorum, we will vote in these board members, Mr. Mr. Miss Lady, Mr. Fresh, and Mr. Mclavine who have asked to participate virtually. Until that point, those board members may be listening online but not able to participate in the public hearing at this time. Welcome to the public hearing of the 22nd approved budget. On behalf of this entire school board, I would like to thank you for sharing your comment with us. This hearing is being broadcast on channel 99 and livereamed on YouTube and our website at fcps.edu/livestream. At the May 7, 2026 regular meeting, Dr. Reid presented her FY2027 approved budget. Tonight's public hearing
002is an opportunity for the public to provide comments on the approved budget. We have 13 pre-registered and walk-in speakers who will address the board at this public hearing. Speakers allotted two minutes, and we ask you to stay within that time limit. The time will start when you begin to speak, and the timer will sound after 2 minutes. Please ensure that your remarks are limited to the FY2027 approved budget and your remarks adhere to the school board's expectation for community participation. Included in those expectations are not only one person is allowed at the podium when speaking. Neither adult or children may accompany a speaker to the podium. Copies of all expectations are available at the back of the auditorium. to assist with the flow of tonight's hearing. Please ensure you're following along with the speaker list
003and ready to go as your name is called. If you have a hard copy of your testimony, please give it to the clerk. If you are virtual, please turn your camera on when you are next in line to speak so that you just have to unmute when you are called to speak. If you have electronic copies of your testimony and would like to share it with the board, please email it to community participation fcps.edu. When your name is called, the clerk will call your name two times before moving to the next individual on the list. You may find copies of the speaking order in the back of the room or on board docks. Madame clerk, please call our first speaker, >> Mark Emmery. Good evening, school board members and Dr. Reid. It's been a long
004time since I've been on this side. Uh I'm Mark Emmy, administrator of the middle school after school program, advocating for continued funding of the program in the VIP summer camps. These programs are not mere extracurricular activities. For the past 20 years, these programs have enriched our students lives, enhanced our schools, supported our families, and strengthened our community. These programs provide critical academic support through tutoring and homework assistance, bridging the gap between school and home for students who may struggle academically or lack resources outside of school. They develop social skills by offering safe environments where students interact, collaborate, and build friendships essential for personal development and future success. The programs provide vital supervision and safety during work hours, giving working families peace of mind that their children are safe and engaged in productive activities. 53% of
005middle school parents report that their children would be home alone without the afterchool program. The programs encourage physical health and wellness through sports and recreational activities, recognizing that sports are an important activity for after school, but not an adequate substitute for the broad spectrum of project-based enrichment activities. The success of these initiatives is driven by 26 true professionals. The afterchool specialists who built these programs from scratch. It is their expertise, dedication, and passion that makes these programs a success and welcoming for all students. The afterchool program and VIP summer camps are investments to be protected, not expenses to be cut. I urge you to prioritize their funding in this upcoming budget and in future years budgets, ensuring these essential programs continue benefiting our youth, our schools, our families, and our communities. Thank you very much
006for your consideration. Natalie Duncan, Molly Cronin. >> I wanted to thank u Mr. Mark Embry uh for coming and speaking to us today and a former school board chair. Thank you. >> Good evening, school board members and Dr. Reid. I'm a special education teacher in FCPS speaking tonight as an individual. At your February budget hearing, I shared my hopes that the board of supervisors would fully fund the requested transfer to schools. Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly, that did not happen. FCPS will receive 51.2% of the general fund dispersements this year, down from 51.5% the past two years and below the 27-year average of 52.37%. While that percentage difference may sound small, it represents tens of millions of dollars for our schools each year. Please note the last time FCPS received a comparable percentage was in FY202 when
007I was a first grader in Miss Goldstein's class. I want to thank the superintendent and leadership team for proposing a budget last week that prioritizes students and staff by fully funding FEU bargaining units, centrally funding special education in ARTS and elementary schools, supporting family liaison, and partially restoring the staffing formula adjustment. Competitive salaries are essential to retaining educators and operational staff. Rising costs and years of inconsistent compensation have made it increasingly difficult for employees to remain in Fairfax County. In my first four years with FCPS, I received either a zero or 2% raise and step increases were not guaranteed. Next year will be my ninth year in FCPS, yet I only will be on step five. Upholding the collective bargaining agreement through a step increase and 3% market scale adjustment will make a meaningful difference
008in retaining staff. Strong schools depend on experienced educators and fully supported staff. I appreciate this board's continued commitment to our employees, students, and school communities. We must also continue holding our county and state leaders accountable for properly funding public education. I remain hopeful that future county budgets will fully support FCPS's needs-based budget and that the state may help close the remaining $29 million gap. Thank you. Eli Bolatin. >> Good evening. My name is Eli Bolatin and I am the parent of a joyfully, snuggly, determined little first grader who happens to get support from the special education program. Now, last time I spoke about how our principal did some magic with the budget to make sure special education department chairs state full-time positions. So, when my daughter's special education teacher left the job before the first
009quarter even ended, the department chair stepped in to fill that gap. So, I am grateful that the proposed budget fully restores the funding for special education department chairs and ARTS. I'm cautiously optimistic that the current budget shortfall will shrink or even be closed. But until state and local governments work on budgets more collaboratively, I am compelled to highlight items that are important to my family just in case hard choices do have to be made. So, let's talk ratios. Last year, my daughter's kindergarten class had 23 students. That class had a dedicated instructional assistant and my daughter received support from a special education teacher and additional IAS which meant that the ratio of students to adults in the room was never worse than 12:1 but often was closer to 8:1. But this year my daughter started
010the year at 26 to1. There was no special education teacher, no IIA, just a single teacher with a room full of first graders. This year's second grade classrooms are even worse with 28 students in each classroom. So, I am deeply grateful that the proposed budget addresses class sizes. Next, uh the National Association of School Psychologists recommends an ideal ratio of 500 students for every psychologist, but due to being halftime, our ratio isn't 500 to1, it's 1300 to1. Our psychologist did have time for the legally mandated IEP evaluation, but we are missing out on the full range of mental health, behavioral, and academic supports he could be providing. So in closing, thank you so much for the support for special education and class sizes and robotics and dance. And in the future, let's strive for more
011school psychologist and dedicated steam teachers as well. Thank you, Juliet Adams. An uncertainty of 28 million in one of the nation's premier school system underscores the significant importance of sound procedure from political and business leaders. Now, procedure. Every vibrant educational system should have a contingency framework and diversified funding mechanism for uncertainty. I, Juliet Adams, union member and Glasgow educator, advocate for a one Fairfax blended commission, a creative, innovative funding vehicle to create a formal structure for innovative partnership by leveraging the extraordinary human capital inclusive of leaders from Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft. Call it an Adam Smith framework. This transforming proliferated stagnation of politics that we have within our school system needs to be converted into an economic and educational engine of innovation, creativity to ensure every student has an equitable opportunity for excellence. I
012also offer my own experience as an example of why procedure matters. Although I was certified by V DOE on May the 26, 2023, retroactive to July 2022, compensation issues of approximately 5,000 were never resolved despite repeated advocacy efforts. As you all know, Fairfax County possesses the intellectual, professional, and civic capital to become a national trailblazer, challenging leadership from Richmond to Gate House. The vehicle is parked, ready to go. A one Fairfax blended commission built on innovation partnership, contingency planning, and share responsibility to create and sustain a contingency fund. Ready to run, run with it, a strategic, innovative, and creative commission. I offer my service as an architect in the construction. Thank you. >> Cole Doubling. Cole Doubling, Valicia Jackson, Valicia Jackson, Emily Vanderhoff. Good evening, budget chair Dixit, Dr. Reid, and members of the board.
013My name is Emily Vanderhoff, and I'm speaking as the president of FCFT and the co-president of FEU. I want to celebrate that Dr. Reed and Miss Burton's team have managed to present a balanced budget that protects positions and leaves the FEU contracts intact despite challenges presented by our funding partners. Tonight is a stark difference from this time last year. The short list of speakers should be seen as an acknowledgement and a celebration that you have heard our consistent advocacy over the past year that we cannot have another year of last minute position cuts and unfilled contract promises. This updated budget proposal provides a sigh of relief to the elementary special education department chairs and advanced academics resource teachers who have been wondering all year if their position is safe. It quells the fears among staff
014that we won't see the same rash of lastminute daffs that we saw last year. It means we can start to walk back growing class sizes and it instills confidence in all FE represented employees that our negotiated compensation will actually materialize. At the same time, this budget still represents cuts that will be felt across the district in deferred instructional materials, delayed technology replacement, and an ever growing maintenance list. Dr. Reed and the budget team made the right choice to protect positions and employees livelihoods first. But it was a choice you should not have been forced to make. I'm hopeful that the general assembly finalizes the state budget soon and that it will provide enough funds to restore these material cuts and deferrals. And finally, I promise that FCFT will keep building power and educating community until
015we elect a board of supervisors that will make the bold investments in education that the children of Fairfax County deserve. Thank you. So we ara good evening. My name is Soar Aya and uh thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. I am a parent at Wayo Elementary School, a title one school in Fairfax. This is my first time speaking. Uh and I'm speaking for many of the Title One family who cannot be here tonight. Parents working second jobs, parents without child care, parents who don't know this decisions are being made about their children. Across our title one schools, nearly every child qualifies for free lunch. These students don't just need literacy and m support. They need mental health counseling, social work, enrichment programs like STEM and before and after school. When title
016one funds shrink, those are the programs cut. Can imagine in today's world where STEM is not taught in school or where trauma is affecting our students and there is no social work they throughout the day to support that child that's not good and those are the funds those are the programs that will be cut first when title one funds are shr there's different factors for this because some of the Virginia's at risk addon uh as well as the Virginia formula And this board may not be able to fix those state formula before May 21st. But there are three things you can still do before that vote. First, designate a portion of the board flexibility reserve specifically to back stop mental health enrichment positions at title one schools if federal reimbursement are delayed. Second, direct the
017superintendent to treat the programs as a protected floor in in any midyear cut. That last to go, not first. Third, pass a formal resolution urging the general assembly to fix the poverty data uh data formula and ESOL staffing standard in the next uh budget. And then I thank you. Uh I really appreciate it. Like I said, this is my first time and I'm looking forward to hopefully working with you guys. Deborah Roadie. Brian Thorson. Uh, thank you for this opportunity. Um, as a member of the ACE advisory committee, I'm here to ask that the SOF transfer to the ACE program be fully funded. Uh, from last year's recommendations, the ACE staff has completed the strategic business plan, has ramped up the marketing and communications efforts in part actually through uh schoolboard member newsletters. So, we
018thank you for that support. transfers needed to keep the ACE program uh staffed this upcoming year to be able to execute the business plan. One goal of which is to move to a more sustainable self- sustainable financial uh operating model. Our preliminary FY26 results show a $233,000 increase in revenue. Uh but unfortunately the program is expecting a $271,000 increase in staff and uh staff salary and benefits in FY27. So there's still much work to be done, but a path forward we think is established. Um as a parent and as part of the FCPS theater community, I'm here to ask that middle school theater arts education be strengthened. Um I've seen the benefits with my own children and as I've come to learn, Computer arts education is an amazingly powerful approach to building foundational life skills
019in children. Um, I've provided you details concerning this advocacy via email, including a fun little AI generated video that I hope you get a chance to watch. Um, I want to thank Dr. Reid for her amazingly quick reply to that email. Did not expect that at all. Um, so the request is to uh please resend the destaffing notices for one year for middle school theater arts teachers whose departure would eliminate the department uh from that school. And two is to provide direction to FCPS staff and other supporting parties to take the necessary Michelle Durst. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. I would like you to evaluate the effectiveness of spending on student devices, digital curriculum, technology staff, and digital tools and resources. According to your website, elementary schools have access to 388 dig
020digital tools and resources. Middle schools have and high schools 571. This seems excessive, an excessive number of platforms and subscriptions. How much money could FCPS save by reducing subscriptions to the hundreds of digital resources, removing onetoone devices in kindergarten through 2 grade, using shared computer carts and upper grades, and providing more teacher support instead of tech support. Right now, the budget reflects an over reliance on technology. Research shows too much screen time can harm children's focus, sleep, mental health, motor skills, vision, and academic performance. At the same time, FCPS's most recent so scores show that the achievement gaps have widened compared to precoid levels, increasing inequities instead of reducing them. Providing children with highly stimulating devices throughout the school day does not prepare them for the workforce if students are losing critical thinking skills, attention
021span, and the ability to focus deeply. Technology can be a valuable tool when used intentionally and in moderation. The FCPS should re-evaluate whether current spending levels and device usage are improving outcomes as intended. I urge the board to pursue a more balanced and evidence-based approach to reducing investment in unproven technology and prioritizing direct support for students and teachers. Thanks so much, Monace Long. Thanks first of all for saying my name correctly. Um, good evening. I'm Dr. Long and I'm here to speak about the fiscal year 2027 approved budget. The $4.1 billion budget before you labels ubiquitous internet and modernization of IT systems as baseline essentials. It also formalizes our shift toward implementing strategic AR partnerships. I'm here to argue that by making digital tools the default, we are fostering a high consumption complacency that's both
022cognitively and environmentally damaging. We cannot ignore the invisible footprint of our digital mandates. Largecale AI and data centers require staggering amounts of of electricity and millions of gallons of water for cooling. By indoctrinating our students into the casual, indiscriminate use of these tools, we are raising a generation that's not only tech dependent, but also insensitive to the heavy environmental costs of their consumption. This leads me to my primary concern, the erosion of analog competencies. Our portrait of a graduate aims for creative and critical thinkers who can problem solve difficult tasks. However, true critical thinking requires the ability to solve complex problems independently of an algorithm. In the prior cycle, FCPS administered over 825,000 digital assessments. We are overdigitizing at the exact moment that this world could really use humans who can function without a screen.
023Therefore, I have a specific budgetary recommendation that the fiscal year 2027 budget include an increase increase for IT and digital infrastructure should be reallocated with those additional funds away from further device refreshes or AI software and instead dedicated towards establishing analog competencies investing this money in an unplugged curriculum development tactile problem solving labs and face-to-face socratic instruction. So, Miss Dixit, that was our last speaker. Thank you for sharing your comments today. The board will have an evening work session on May 14, 2026 to discuss the FY2027 approved budget and is scheduled to take action on the FY2027 approved budget at our regular meeting on Thursday, May 21st, 2026. If you wish to provide any feedback to the board before the vote or to submit written copies of your testimony provided today, please do so by
024sending your comments to community participation at fcps.edu. edu. Thank you for your participation and have a nice day. The public hearing of the Fairfax County School Board is adjourned as of 6:31 p.m.