##VIDEO ID:ykZ_jyOA-SU## ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> February  >> 4th, 2025 public hearing on  the fiscal year 2026 proposed  budget is now called to order.  Good evening and welcome to  the boat. The public hearing  on the fy 2026 proposed budget  on behalf of the entire school  board. I would like to thank  you for sharing your comments  with us. Here is being  broadcast on channel 99 live  streamed on YouTube and our  website FCPS Edu forward Slash  live stream. We have 18  registered speakers who  addressed board at this public  hearing. Speakers are a lot of  2 minutes and we ask that you  stay within that time limit.  The time start. begin to speak  in the title sound after 2  minutes. Please ensure that  your remarks are limited to  the budget and that your  market hear the school board's  expectations for community  participation. If you have not  registered to speak, but would  like to address the board,  please see the clerk or the  deputy clerk to sign up for  one of the 5 extra reserves.  Speaker slots. Madam Clerk,  please call our first speaker.  >> When POW. David, while  we're at.  >> Good evening. Budget  Chairman Daniel superintendent  read members of the board. My  name is David Lauren 9, the  president of the Fairfax  County Federation of Teachers.  Thank you for giving me a few  minutes to speak to that.  We've been waiting 50 years  for collective bargaining to  be a reality. It's been the  effort of many people over the  past 50 years, too. Get us to  the point where we are. I'm  proud of the work that was  done to get us where we are.  We got a resolution past. We  have. We now have all  bargaining units are  certified. And 2 of the units.  Operational and the 35  instructional units have  collective bargaining  agreements that's take an  quite a bit of not only on my  part, the part of other  leaders of the union, but also  on the part of the district.  And folks, you know, sitting  at this table. This is going  to be the opportunity to show.  Fairfax County actually does  support collective bargaining  because it's one thing to say,  oh, yes, we'll do We will  ratify Yes. Will ratify  contract. And then if another  2 actually put for the money  for. I very much appreciate  the budget that Doctor Reid  has put forward. And I very  much look forward to seeing  the budget passed as Doctor  Reid put it for it. If we end  up in a situation where we  need to, we look at the  budget. If we end up in the  situation, we need to look at  where there are parts of the  budget that may not be funded.  I'm going to ask each and  every one of make our CBA. The  very last thing that gets  looked at, look at everything  else. First. our contract.  Thank you.  >> Norman Hall. Arthur Purvis.  >> Standby. See Mister Hall is  races hand on the zoom. We can  return to Mister Hall. Thank  you.  >> Mister Hall, you're muted.  Let's try again. Can you hear  me now? Yes, please proceed.  Okay. Thank you very Chairman.  Fresh on Mister McDaniel. The  rest of this school board and  Doctor Reed, I appear tonight  on behalf of the Fairfax  County Employees. Advisory  Council, a C I serve as chair  of 10 member bodies  representing all 16,000. Some  employees working under the  merit system of Fairfax County  government. Finding a path to  collective bargaining has been  an issue for 3 of our units.  As I know it has been for 3  years while the employees we  represent have many views  about how to get to the  bargaining table and negotiate  on behalf of employees. There  is general consensus that  collective bargaining is  essential for long-term  employee retention and  satisfaction for this reason.  I want to add our voices to  those in support of this  budget proposal, specifically  as it lifts up contracts that  were fairly negotiated. Most  of, you know, my history of  advocating on behalf of county  and school employees who work  in your schools and your  health clinics and in  childcare spaces. And you and  I both know that resources  that help our staff do their  jobs. Well in the lower and  our investments that support  the lives of children, their  families and the school  community is of Fairfax  County. Now, one minor issue,  please do not advance  arguments that are based on  the historical share of the  county's operating budget to  finance future budgets. Such  arguments put fcps employees  against County employees.  Instead, agreed to focus  budgeting based on community  needs no need to feed  arguments about robbing Peter  to pay Paul. Not when the pay  plans of Fairfax County  employees were for many years.  More aspirational. actual. So  thank you for your support. On  behalf of the AC and Fairfax  County employees. Arthur  Purvis. And leave  >> good evening. Budget chair  McDaniel, Dr Reid and members  of the board. My name is Emily  Van der half a second grade  teacher at Fcps and now the  proud President Elect of my  Union FC Ft. I want to thank  Doctor Reed for including  funding to cover the financial  aspects of our recently  ratified a few collective  bargaining agreement and her  proposed budget. I expect that  you all keep these items in  your budget that you advertise  on February. 20th. You all  didn't partners throughout  this process. And so the  audience I really need to  direct my comments those  responsible for funding  primarily the Board  supervisors and to a small  degree. Our state legislators.  I see that the Senate and  House versions of the state  budget includes some steps  towards funding J like  recommendations such as  finally left in the support  cap and add-on for students  with disabilities. I urge any  legislators watching the push  for as much public school  funding is possible in the  final budget, especially in  light of the threats to public  education funding at the  national level. And then the  greatest responsibility for  seeing through the funding few  CBA fall. So the Board of  Supervisors, I know last year,  the CBS for Police and Fire  each including higher raises  in the 7% proposing ours.  We're treated as as required  expenses that must be funded.  And so I expect the county  executive will bring the same  mindset regarding the cost to  fund the F E C B a as he  develops his draft budget. I  also expect to the  supervisors, most of whom who  had warned their support of  labor and public education as  a badge of pride. We'll  prioritize funding the first  CBA for FCPS nearly 50 years.  It's taken years for us to  reach this point and many fcps  staff have deferred retirement  and resignation holding on to  hope that things will finally  improve once reached a turning  point of our first contract. I  fear the wave of people we  might lose if we do not set a  positive precedent. But this  first contract. Thank you  again to this board for your  willingness to support a  budget that funds what we need  to serve the students of  Fairfax County. Our union  members are ready to stand  with you to get the funding  that we need to see it  through. Thank you. Nancy  trainer.  >> My name is Nancy Trainer  and I'm speaking on behalf of  end as the co-chair of the  Education Committee of the  Fairfax County Federation of  Citizens Associations. We want  to be on the record that we  object to this year's budget  process on 2 grounds. First,  we object that the school  board doesn't seem to be  taking its public  responsibility seriously. You  should have a crucial role in  representing the public in the  creation of a budget that  reflects our community's  priorities and values. This  year, the county executive  will present the county's  advertised budget before the  school board has created its  own advertised budget. So the  full school board will have no  meaningful role in the  county's budget process. That  means we the public are not  being represented by you. This  impression gets reinforced  when the board unanimously  ratified the collective  bargaining agreement which  promises a 7% across the board  raise knowing full well that  the county faces a projected  shortfall close to 300 million  dollars this year. These are  not serious conversations.  Your simplistic negotiation  tactic of anchoring high is  backfiring. It makes you look  unsophisticated and  unreasonable. You continue to  do this year after year. You  failed to represent the  nuanced views of your  community, which, by the way,  you barely give us an  opportunity to provide. This  brings us to our second  objection, the process for  public input on the budget is  disrespectfully performative  rather than meaningful. We  cannot provide meaningful  input into a 4 billion dollar  budget when we're given less  than 2 weeks to digest it, we  cannot provide meaningful  input in general when we're  given less than 2 minutes to  speak on any given matter. In  2016, more than 90 individuals  organizations signed up with  Fcps to testify regarding the  advertised budget. How many  are here tonight? We're not  alone in rejecting this  process as irrelevant. It  would be great to see the  public rise up and demand  better funding from Richmond.  If that's what you want, then  we need to believe that where  your partners, we don't you  can. And you must do better.  Barajas POW. Stephanie  Lundquist, Aurora.  The  district's proposed budget is  not the product of responsible  leadership. Rather. It  resembles a child's wish list  to Santa Claus.  >> Despite a decreasing  student population with the  4 billion dollar price tag of  3 hill 100 million dollars  from last year in the wake of  a 300 billion Dollar County  deficit. The proposed budget  is remarkably tone deaf, even  with the 700 million dollar  increase from fiscal 2020  student performance on  standardized tests has  declined over time. Taxpayers  are exhausted. We are  screaming no to both meals,  taxes and even higher taxes on  our vehicles and property. and  houses your revenue base is  far from certain given the  current national political  climate, the future for  federal workers is unclear.  And as you well know, many of  them live in Fairfax County.  In addition, if you don't  comply with President Trump,  President Trump's executive  orders on dei engender, we're  likely to lose federal  funding. Do you expect the  county's taxpayers to also  pick up that tab? The  ballooning education budget in  Fairfax County further comes  at the opportunity cost of  public safety. The  International Association of  Firefighters, Local 2068 warns  that 7 ambulances, one medic  unit, 3 ladder trucks and one  engine are at risk of being  cut because of the county's  deficit. How many public  safety necessities will be cut  because of your flavors  spending and unreasonable  demands for next year.  Speaking of flagrant spending,  Dr Re. Remember how you took  about 3 dozen senior district  staff members on the taxpayer  funded trip to Houston, Texas,  which by the way, has a  failing school district for  professional development in  November 2023, this is just  the sort of ways we need to  cut from our budget. All  indicators clearly suggests  that it's past time for you to  rein in spending. The board of  supervisors should laugh at  your proposed 4 billion dollar  budget and execute and  external audit. Thank you.  Rosie Oakley.  >> Once upon a time, there was  a public school system that  was the gold standard for  academic excellence. It  attracted businesses and  families from across the  country because its students  were so successful.  Unfortunately, that wonderful  school system Fcps now has the  school board and  superintendent who have lost  their way when Fcps adopted  the one Fairfax policy in  2017, it abandoned its its  mission of academic  achievement in favor of  politics, specifically equity  over success. Since then fcps  students and parents have been  academic results have seen  academic results plummet  enrollment decline. Mental  health become a crisis and an  explosion in spending. If this  were merely fiction, it would  be a horror story. But instead  it's a real-life tragedy. The  authorize spending 5.8 million  dollars on an equity office  with 52 administrators instead  of hiring 100. And 25 new  teachers. The board has lost  about 10,000 students, roughly  5 high schools worth of  enrollment. The bird and  superintendent destroyed  Thomas Jefferson High School.  When High school's winning  formula with TJ dropping from  number one to number 14  nationally, teachers are no  longer allowed to give  students failing grades zeros  when work isn't turned in. How  does that prepare our children  for adulthood? Will they show  up for their jobs? Only 50% of  the time this board named  activist to the Family Life  and Curriculum Advisory  committee who want teachers to  start talking to first graders  about gender ideology. The  port needs to understand that  my money does not correlate to  better results. We focus on  academic excellence, merit and  parent input. Cut your budget  and Ocala gate. Jeffrey  Shapiro. Joe Miller. Lou  Williams.  >> Good evening. Members of  the school board. My name is  Lou Williams on the full-time  science Education Department  chair and proud Fairfax County  Federation Teachers, Executive  board member tonight. I stand  before you the board fully  fund the first clip. The  bottom contracting 4. He is  funding this agreement sends a  powerful message to dedicated  staff. We you. We see you. We  value. It's no secret  educators across the nation  are facing unprecedented  challenges teaches overwhelmed  and are equipped and stretched  thin as an advocate. ever  expanding moans of their roles  with over a decade of  experience teaching on  multiple continents. I've  witnessed firsthand the ever,  but we need students today  school age children of to  struggle with shorter  attention spans and poor  social emotional regulation.  The reality which makes  teaching animal complex.  Compounding these challenges  is also troubling trend. The  teacher preparation in the  United States, American  Association of Colleges  Teacher Education, has  reported that teacher training  programs course United States  closing down, downsizing or  eliminating the undergraduate  programs do stick. Letting  Romans between 2010 2018  enrollment in these programs  dropped by 33% and completion  rates fell by 22%. At the same  time, Virginia is grappling  with foreign teacher,  retention rates and rising  vacancies. As an educator and  deeply invest in these issues.  most was a father of 2 young  girls is a grader and a  kindergartner who would just  begin the educational journey  in all schools. I worry about  the few stable in Herat. If we  fail to act, county public  schools already competes with  neighboring counties offering  higher pay to attract and  retain staff without greater  competitive compensation. We  risk losing more talk to  educate, says, particularly in  critical areas like special  educational needs to other  districts and states. As a  potential for a new of living  crisis grows more likely the  United States in the coming  years. It's time to put money  where our mouth is and take  meaningful action, support  public education by fully  funding our contract. Doing so  sends a clear message to  instructional staff that  Fairfax County, Public Schools  values, you work, respect,  dedication is committed to  sustaining excellence,  education, future generations.  Thank you.  >> Colleen Bush or  good  evening, Doctor Reed. Fcps  school board members. My name  is Colleen bickering on the  mother, 3 Fairfax County  Public School students, a  graduating senior at Thomas  Jefferson High School for  Science and Technology, a  freshman, a justice high  school and an 11 year-old  sixth-grader, Costco, middle  school. We have my 200  students also to Nebraska  Middle School for 6th through  8th grades within the school  system. So long our new gas  co-Principal East of Arrow was  our principal at Sleepy Hollow  Elementary. When my now  graduating senior was in  kindergarten. I've PJ  volunteer of after-school  programs, a volunteer with UK  Auctions president 2 years on  the TJ Ptsa Board not travel  down to Richmond for the  Virginia conference. I've got  Since this is a budget  meeting. I'm here to stay.  There is a pending emergency  developing and we need to get  ahead of it as su community,  the emergency as the after  being ignored from a budget  standpoint for years, Glasgow,  middle school finally got  title. And as a nation. Late  last year, the title in  federal Grant program is in  the Trump administration is  crosshairs and it has stated  its goal of dismantling one of  Department of Education, the  Fairfax County school board  approved the fiscal year 2025  budget. A meeting May 2024.  3.7 billion dollars, which a  6% increase from the previous  year. I'm a parent of a kid T  J and it could last Co and  I've seen firsthand the  unbelievable disparities in to  Fairfax County Schools. One  feels like a private school in  pocket. Someone feels that  city school that's gotten of  the budgetary process. Title.  One funds are making a  difference. what happens with  10 funding this year or the  next 47 months of the  administration, we need to  keep funds to keep we need  funds to keep kids safe. An  after-school program when you  funds for their arts, our  beloved kindergartner ask for  donations. Every show for  custom set snacks are a  teacher has to parents to send  our since 2010 out of 80  students had some tough and by  mid December and on and  ultimate point tonight, and  the reason I signed up to  speak is actually a budget  neutral item. That doesn't  cost anything at all. And it's  such an obvious choice to make  our students feel better.  Learn better. Tehran, a Saudi.  Good evening.  >> Please put an end to the  board's longstanding practice  of approving disingenuous  school budgets. Specifically,  I'm referring to the practice  of inflating current year  expenses. In this case,  speaker. 25 lowball available  funds for the budget year.  That's why 25 is Fcps really  going to spend 340 million  more than the approved budget  and 2 in 520 million more and  fiscal year. 24. Materials and  supplies alone, really going  to be 225 million,  100 Million. More than the  amount included in approved  budget and 140 million more  than what was spent in fiscal  year. 24. White is a revised  estimate, included increased  staffing reserve with the year  more than half over. I could  speak for another 10 minutes  providing these kind of  examples. Over the last 3  years. Real estate taxes have  increased 20%. The requested  268 million by itself would  equate to about a 7% increase.  The budget presentation  received stay. The have CPS  was serving the county but  understanding taxpayer  fatigue, fatigue. anger over  rising taxes and anxiety about  meeting growing day-to-day  expenses. The mountain real  estate burden is not  sustainable. Will make housing  for families increasingly  unaffordable. I urge you to  take a hard look at the fiscal  year. 25 estimate approve a  school budget that honestly  and accurately estimates the  amount available for the  fiscal fiscal year, 26,  beginning balance. In closing.  Let me say that I have 3  children who attended county  schools went on to graduate  from Public Virginia  universities. I appreciate the  education they receive and  support the necessary funding  to maintain school excellence  for the next generation. But  you should recognize the  condition of taxpayer support  for the school system. He's  honest and transparent budgets  that don't underestimate  extent. Expenses, but hundreds  of millions of dollars. Thank  you for your time and  consideration and thank you  for your services school board  members.  >> Vanessa Hull.  >> Hi, my name Vanessa Hull.  And I'm a parent of the CPS  students and the vice  president for public  education. We'd like to thank  you for your investments  education because they're  clearly paying off increases  and 5008th and 8th graders  taking advanced math growth,  unsuccessful supports for  students. Increased  enrollment. Those are all some  things you guys have done and  we agree with your priorities,  including increasing staff pay  because we can't lose any more  of our teachers to other  districts that pay better.  Also, we have the highest  ratio of school-based  employees and lowest ratio of  central management positions  versus other local school  districts. That being said,  it's obvious the 21st Century  education and expectations  require significant support  from Central Office staff for  school-based staff.  Nevertheless, it seems to be  in fashion to bash the central  office on the local and  national stage. In fact,  recent attacks on the fcps  equity office staffed by  far-right media outlets  involved doxing employees and  attacking their jobs without  knowing what they actually do  yet the equity office is  committed to fostering a  responsive, carrying an  inclusive culture. We're all  feel valued, supported and  inspired to thrive within  fcps. How can that be  controversial? So here's a  shout out to the equity  office. I've seen their work  firsthand with my own kids who  are as different as kids from  one family can be whether  students are diverse,  disabled, multilingual,  lower-income lgbtqia. Plus and  are advanced in math or STEM.  The equity office is here to  ensure that each student gets  the support and challenges  they need to succeed. And  honestly, I hope we can all  agree that seeking the best  for each and every one of our  students is essential to  preparing them for positive  life experiences in and out of  school. So thank you. one last  thing I see, there's 6 million  dollars for outside legal  costs. Is there any way to get  America first legal a hobby  other than suing your schools?  Goodness gracious. Thank you.  >> Durant Thompson.  >> More than 5 years ago, I  stood before this body talking  about being overworked and  underpaid. And I'm here today  doing the same thing. What has  changed collective bargaining  and I thank you for ratifying  a contract. However, the  problem remains the same today  as it did more than 5 years  ago being overworked,  underpaid, lack of funding and  the blame game. The school  board says the board of  Supervisors doesn't give them  enough money. The Board of  supervisors. Says the school  board needs to tighten our  budget and both the board of  supervisors and the school.  But accurately say the state  and funds fcps. these things  may be true. What I do know is  that not enough has been done.  What I do know is that this is  the time for change. And let  me suggest, but that change  can start by no longer  normalizing teachers lack of  pay by saying we appreciate  teachers and we know you don't  get paid enough. No one would  say that to the police. Our  fire was someone working in  it. We appreciate you and the  work you do. But we know you  don't get paid enough. What  I'm saying is that this is the  time for change. Let's work  together by lobbying the  state, educating the community  and working with the Board of  Supervisors to do something  different. They found a way to  give the police and 11% raise  and they found a way to get  themselves. A 43% raise. Let's  see if they can use that same  energy and fund our contract  out in like I did more than 5  years ago by sharing a story  by an amazing teacher. Rita  Pierson. She talked about how  student got 2 out of 20 want  to test. She put a plus to  smiley face on the paper and  gave it to the student. The  student said Pearson. Is that  an F? And she said yes. He  said, well, why did you put a  smiley face She say, and I  quote you on the road, you  didn't miss them all. You got  to write. She said negative 18  can s*** all of the life out  of you. And plus to say is  you're not all she said every  child is a champion. Is that  said more than 5 years ago, we  need you to be our champion as  we work toward funding this  contract. Thank you. Maurice  Carroll.  Good evening. My name  is Maurice Carrillo from  Liberty, Middle School. Thank  you for supporting. Has to be  a stop both in the past and  here to that. I'd like to  share my story. One reflecting  the challenge is newer  teachers face.  >> My first year teaching was  2020 COVID hit in a row  changed overnight. But even in  the midst of that uncertainty,  I saw firsthand the profound  impact teachers can have on  their students. We all thought  we saw teachers became  lifelines for their  communities. We saw they use  their creativity to keep  learning alive for millions.  And we've continued to see it  as teachers combat the  lingering impacts of a once in  a lifetime pandemic. time came  for me to make my decision on  whether remain a teacher go to  law school. I cannot look away  from what I saw. It ignited a  passion with the need to  dedicate myself to craft and  continue to serve my students  to the great displeasure. My  mother even turned out of  position in Loudoun County. I  a $10 more than I am now I  took a that CPS. I want to get  back to the community that  gives so much to me. However,  I want to say for my future,  want to achieve my dream of  owning my own home. I realize  that how do I would have to  live at home the minimum 2  hours I spent traveling daily  began to chip away at me and  frankly, it made it more  difficult to be the leader. I  knew I could be for my  students. And that's just the  commute. Like many teachers,  my work extends far beyond the  school day. A CLT lead  department Chair SE a sponsor.  Interventionist coach, Abbott,  teacher, mentor, friend, and  even at times with their bus,  all vital roles, often with no  compensation or little  compensation. This isn't a  complaint. It's a plea.  Teachers are in the public  Ross. There's now more than  ever. And the reality is, if  you want to retain, teachers  are talented educators,  especially those just starting  out. We need to invest in  them. We need to acknowledge  the countless hours they  dedicate beyond the classroom.  Invest in our teachers isn't  just about keeping good  people. The classroom. It's  about the future of our  country. So the strength of  our economy, vitality of our  civic values and well-being of  our children. It's about  ensuring that every child  upper County has access to  dedicated, passionate  educators. They deserve. Let's  get this thing over the hump.  We're counting on you. Thank  you. George Pisara.  Can run  out from 120 seconds to hear  guns? First, one is a federal  funding. Freeze its natural.  So gonna come.  >> Next fiscal year. So it had  a plan. I have no doubt Dre  that you already have a plan.  You've already seen it. That's  right. Let's have an action  plan. Potential loss of jobs  and the classifications. Dr  Reid, you've had the last  several years you to a lot  York's. I think the same time  you can plan ahead the  massacre that we can do some  of these employees for the  positions other departments.  kind of 2 e. Different areas.  Ali talked about Glasgow that  put you at you. Pretty sure  you and the board know what  he's out there coming down the  pike. Today talking about the  food assistance. Well, it's  the same time this also has  employees that work culture,  that scare folks who are under  that department, the chief  equity Office department,  right? That does many great  things except for that title.  Take catches everyone's eyes  nowadays. The tell you here  that I've known every budget  for the last 6.17, years with  100 and some pages know,  senator, the same time, not  every board member. The last  17 years and known on the  entry to details. But I do  know that there's programs  there's people staff in there  that comes out down the path.  Let's make sure we don't lose  the path for Deferred 0, 2,  treat everyone equally. And  with respect. Let's keep that  budget that's in there that  most people won't see what's  in the the items that are in  there that we don't know and  move forward with that,  especially as a board is  committed to that. The last  view that the equity equity  policy, the trust policy.  That's item is this pairing  got my today. We talked about  middle school programs at the  same time, the TSA's and  office of student activities  and athletic programs.  Everyone thinks essays mean  student athletics. Look at the  CPS eastern active. You never  hear about that. think the  focus, more money and that  instead of transfers. more  bodies in that apartment and  also needs more money is for  all our kids. Thank you. Jayne  Lewis. Good evening. My name  is Jenny Lewis and I work at  Liberty, Middle School and a  member of Fairfax better. A  Fairfax County Federation of  Teachers.  >> First and foremost, I want  to thank you all for your  support and partnership with  Fcps staff. I've been  encouraged by your support  when you voted in favor of  collective bargaining 5 years  ago. And I appreciate your  ratification of the contract.  It is a demonstration of your  support, respect and faith.  And that's that's employees.  I'm here tonight to encourage  you to continue your advocacy  with the Board of Supervisors.  It was disheartening last year  when the Board of Supervisors  did not vote to fully fund the  budget, especially when news  broke in March that the Board  of Supervisors voted to  increase their own salaries of  part-time positions. My 36 to  45% with the chairman.  Upgrading from 100,000  annually to 100 and Fort. It  is a pattern that the Board of  Supervisors does not fund the  Fools Fcps budget request each  year. The school board has  frozen step increases and or  market scale adjustment  consistently. Since I joined  the division in 2016 because  of those disapproval sort  partially funded requests.  However, they received more in  one year than I have  cumulatively and 9. Since I  started in Fairfax County  presence and step increases in  market scale adjustment that  hampered our competitiveness  with neighboring districts. In  2016 fcps used to pay more  than lcps Loudoun County. But  the freezes have cost me 6  grand just in this county with  the frozen steps. It has cost  me 10 grand by not going  annually by not going to  Loudoun County and when I  came, I came from Montgomery  County Public Schools  currently I am making $17,000  less each year that I stay  here. Over 9 years. I have a  master's degree. I have 2  bachelor's degrees and I am  expert in the field. I have  talked. I love my job here.  Kendra broken.  >> High School board members.  My name is Kendrick Rogue and  I'm a 5th grade teacher at  Keene Mill Elementary School  and a proud union activists  with Fairfax County Federation  of Teachers. I didn't prepare  anything to come here today. I  just want to speak to you from  my heart and keep it short and  sweet.  >> I  >> also want to thank you, of  course, for your service. A  school board members. I  support the collective  bargaining agreement. I think  especially the 7% raise as  most important to me as a new  teacher. Sometimes I honestly  have to think can I afford to  go to the doctor and pay my co  pay for the nerve in my arm?  That hurts. Or can I pay my  grocery bills? So I just  wanted to say thank you for  ratifying our country. Our  collective bargaining  agreement. Thank you for  allowing to hear the community  speak on this and thank you  for your service.  >> Okay. Going back through  the names of individuals you  weren't here when POW. Arthur  purpose.  >> Superintendent read members  of the school board high Marks  Purvis president of the  Fairfax County Taxpayers  Alliance in 2021, the Fairfax  NAACP sent Fcps Love letter  commanding in the name of  racial justice. That's whole  word based balance literacy  elementary school reading  curriculum be replaced by  structured literacy curriculum  based on teaching systematic  and intensify. Next. Now,  nearly 4 years later, there is  no improvement in the 3rd  grade So well, minority  student achievement gap while  20% of Asian white students  were at the pass events level  only in my 8% of blacks and 4%  of Hispanics were. One Fairfax  program that ignores reading  mastery not only for 3rd  graders but for students in  upper grades and had balance  literacy produces division  exclusive MS and inequity.  There should be no spending  increase for fcps until gap is  closed. Here's strategic goal  to wait until 2030 for all 3rd  graders street at the 90%  level radiate indifference.  More money does not bring  higher achievement between Fy  2019 2024. The fcps operating  budget increased 30% from 2.9  billion to 3.8, 8 billion.  Well, sat scores fell 30  points and not recovered.  Finally, the reason for the  high real estate taxes. Is  that the schools in county  want 300 million dollars of  new revenue every year for 5%  raises. If we've got  additional 600 million from  the state, which we want. That  would cover only 2 years of  raises after which the  supervisors would return to  increasing real estate taxes 3  times faster than household  income.  >> Thank you.  >> Karen Barajas, POW. Jeffrey  Shapiro. Joe Miller. Jay Ron.  And that is Mr. McDaniel. That  was our last public speaker.  >> Thank you. Thank you for  sharing your comments this  evening. The board is  scheduled to consider moving  forward with approval of the  fy 2026 proposed budget. Our  regular meeting on Thursday,  February 20th of 2025, if you  wish to provide any feedback  to the border for this vote,  please do so by sending your  comments to community  participation. Fcps Edu, thank  you for participation. Have a  nice evening. This public  hearing is adjourned as of  06:41PM.