One Hard Question Fauquier County Public Schools

This week’s hard question actually came via email from two different sources. This week’s hard question comes from Agnes, who asks a question about the budget and the question is as follows:

“I'm writing in reference to the article below (http://www.fauquiernow.com/index.php/fauquier_news/article/fauquier-proposed-school-budget-includes-no-pay-hikes-2017) regarding the proposed budget for next year. I read the article, but I really don't understand how we can have $2.8 million in additional revenue and still can't afford to give teachers raises? Also, why can't we just ask the county for more money to give a raise to our teachers? This is disappointing, and I just want to understand how counties around us can continue to give raises to teachers and Fauquier not. Thank You, Agnes.”

This week’s hard question actually came via email from two different sources. It didn’t come through One Hard Question; it came just in an email correspondence with me and with the school board through the school board email. They both have to do with the inauguration.

This question actually came from Facebook. I have a – sort of a – firm no-school-business rule for Facebook, I just try to stick with Facebook Light, a way to stay connected to friends and family. But this question was so good, and I figure people are thinking the same question; I figured I’d go ahead and answer it. It’s a little bit of a tongue-in-cheek question, but I know people are wondering about this very topic, so I’m going to answer this question. It says:

“And Dave Jeck, I know you love teachers and staff of FCPS, but Jan. 5!? Really? I do think the world of you, but patience is wearing a little thin in our household these days.”

This week’s hard question comes from Barbara, who asks the following:

“It seems that all our students must be ‘technology experts’ based on the way society is advancing. So in this context, is technology competence the responsibility of one person at the school or the responsibility of all our teachers and staff?”

I’ve got to make this quick because you can only send a file of a certain length back to Fauquier County. But I wanted to answer the One Hard Question that was sent so I’m remaining consistent. The question is – this is from Kyle – it says:

Dr. Jeck, Why did our county schools close on Tuesday [during] the week of Veterans Day instead of Friday, the day set aside for families to be together and honor the sacrifices and services of our friends and family and loved ones who defend our freedoms?

And then there is an additional section, but again in the interest of time, I won’t be reading it, but thanks for the question.

This week I received actually several questions from an individual and for the most part they are very good. But I wanted to focus on two of them.

One has to do with alternative education and the question is: “Is Alternative Education just for bad kids

The second question was really interesting so please indulge me as I answer this question because it kind of caught me off guard. It says “What are the issues in our schools today that keep you up at night?” I just couldn’t resist answering this question.