To our community; The faculty of MHS takes great pride in our work and we know that our ejj'orts contribute to a tradition of excellence that serves the community and its children. The past5 years in FCP5 have been marked by financial, political, and systemic circumstances that have taxed our ability to do- our jobs in a manner befitting our high historical standards. The ever--increasing workload coupled with the actual decrease in compensation {brought on by budget constraints) has led us to a great deal of frank introspection. We are forced to reassess what is ""above and beyond" the call of duty and what is merely required within state standards. We have gladly and willingly gone well beyond "the minimum" and the result has been seen in iViH$'s reputation as a truly special and extraordinary place; however maintaining the "'gold standard" is not easy even when it is a labor oflove. The difiiculty is compounded now as we cope with an unprecedentedbudgetary shortfall on the heels ofhalfidecade of cutbacks that forced schools to do more and more, ll/llith less and less. We are now at the tipping point where the stresses are too onerous. We can no longer do all that has come to be expected. The staff has taken the unpalatable step of auditing our efiorts to see where we can recoup (ifnot money) time. Time is the only remaining resource that we have in our control. This time is necessary for the creative enterprises required by teaching. it is also an indispensable comm odity for our own standard of living. Seventy percent of the faculty at MH5 must augment their incomes during the school year. This is due to consecutive years of pay freezes that have resulted in a drop from 1" to in FCPS's standing in regional teacher pay rates. Even if pay raises are included in this year's budget, most teachers will be 34 years behind (and some veteran teacher will be up to 8 years behind due to thepay freezes in the 905). There is a similarly dire budget forecast in 2015, so our heads won't be above waterfor long. A Reversing this trend lies in the hands of the Board of Supervisors. Failing to meet the funding requests of the school system will certainly lead to cuts at the individual schools that will lay ofistafi', increase class size, and remove electives. This will compound the time demands on theremaining stajj' members. Consequently, the extras will become a luxury that we as a community can no longer afford (in terms of both money AND time). The school's new focus will be simply to maintain the rninirnum standards required. To maintain instruction and advance the curriculum, we feel th at the following extras must be (begrudgingly) relinquished until better times arrive. We simply cannot sustain the status quo. if you want to preserve the level of investment and added~--vaiue you have come to expect from ll/lctean High, please voice your concerns to your elected ofiicials. it is in their yours. Increased uncompensated time demands will result in the following: I Teachers will not stay after contract hours on late--bu5 days. 0 Tirne--c0n5urning college recommendations will be curtailed if not eliminated in full. Teachers will no longer entertain multiple requests for college recommendations. Transcripts alone will be forward to college admissions offices. 0 Teachers wili not judge student competitions in Technology Ed, Fine Arts, and Science programs. Parents volunteers may assume these responsibilities. - Teachers will not organize and staff locai Science Fair competition for public display. Projects will be graded for c|ass--related purposes only. 0 Art projects will be assessed for grades but Art Fairs to display student work will not be organized. - Teachers may only attend graduation ceremonies as audience members. 0 Coliaboration, beyond requisite level, with independent homebound teachers wiil be minimized. - Teachers will oniy offer after~school assistance and remediation until the end of the contract day [approx 30 min after finai bell). - Test retakes [requiring ionger that 30 min) will not be administered beyond contract time. - Many teachers offer opportunity to communicate with students after school hours. This will end. - Special Education conferences will be strictiy limited to teacher contract hours. . 0 Faculty will no longer take on special training regimens that qualify them for Advance Placement courses. 0 Despite ease of email communication, teachers cannot spare time for evening correspondences. 0 Teacher regularly incur out of pocket expense, including paying for their own substitutes during filed trips. Such outlay is unsustainable. It Teachers cornitnoniy review fine~arts students' portfolios for the purpose of vetting award applicants and coilege admission. This may end. I 0 Foreign travel>> and out~of--town field trips require unsustainable amounts of teacher planning and supervision. 0 Extra credit opportunities after normai school hours should be suspended. 0 Recommendations for Internships, academic academies, gifted~talented enrichment programs will be curtaiied (as with coliege admissions recommendations). 0 Governor's School recommendations will be suspended. in Policies on late-work will be re-evaluated so that teachers can be"more efficient within the boundaries of contract hours. Less late work wiil be accepted. - Optionai AP Test review sessions will be halted due to uncompensated time expenditures. Increased class sizes resuits in the following: - Increased classroom sizes will continue to diminish quaiity of teacher~student interaction and result in physical crowding within many undersized ciassrooms. Preferential seating accommodations may be at risk. More students per class results in less individuaiized assessment of understanding. Expect more electronic- grading and less in--depth assessment. Lay--offs of class room teachers will not only resuit in shortages of new innovation and talent, they will also likely result in reassignment of displaced veteran staff who left schools for county positions Proposed programs cuts: - Sponsorship of freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes will be suspended. College Board registration information workshops will be ended. Such registrations must now be done solely at home. 0 Parent --Teacher iviini--conferences may be replaced with non--face--to-face meetings in effort to preserve class time. Parent--teacher appointments will necessarily be during contract hours oniy. - Teachers and teachensponsored programs will not be showcased at the new Highlander Kickoff for incoming freshman. I Library/Media Center data bases and resources will be limited due to budget constraints. - Funds spent for practice PSAT Tests will be curtailed. Dedicated school time for this undertaking will be hahed. .. Exchange programs (such as those in World Language programs) will not be offered due to extensive teacher coordination. - Character education programs, such a Senior Ethics Day, are both expensive and time--consuming. Surplus funds for transportation and staffing will no longer be available. Consequences of proposed program cuts: a Transporting MHS band to ceremonies (including off--site graduation) will be suspended to save money. 0 Honor Society memberships will be denoted only "on paper" on convocation literature). Public induction ceremonies_will be suspended. 9 Community-service and educational enrichment programs commonly sought for student r?sum?ls will be curtailed - Coordination of special recognition diplomas will be eliminated. or Unfunded emergency SOL remediation for failing seniors will be curtailed. 0 Academically specific honor societies (Spanish Honor Soc, History Honor Soc, Science Honor Soc) will exist nominally and no longer convene for induction ceremonies, etc. a Stage productions in the fine and performing arts will be limited run. 9 AP information night will be ended. Families will be responsible to self--direct their children through this process. a Parent feedback forums, such as Mini--conferences will be removed. a Student publication preparations historically involve extensive after-hours supervision by teachers. -- This time expenditure will be minimized. 0 Student Govt programs will be promulgated and administered without faculty oversight. Student leaders must assume all responsibilities. 0 Academic clubs and competition opportunities (Math league, Science Olympiad, it's Academic, etc) will be suspended or relinquished to parent sponsorship. - Off--campus learning experiences although rewarding are labor intensive and increasingly untenable due to costs of school buses and substitute teachers. I McLean HS (built in the 1950's) is aging and has not had renovations for nearly 20 years. Mere maintenance will supersede improvements of the physical plant. I Aging climate control systems may require usage changes in order to save money on energy heating/air~ conditioning expenses. Proposed staff reductions and consequences thereof: - Although an administrative decision, not faculty, elective courses often are eliminated in favor of core SOL courses. Electives are at risk, thus diminishing the diversity of curriculum in the school. I Teachers will advocate for the ending of AP Test subsidies AND will discourage the addition of new AP courses. I Teacher will advocate for removal of grade enhancements associated with AP and Honors course. Loss of Extracurricular Activities: 0 Teacher sponsors will not be available for production and oversight of non--curricular stage performances such as Senior Talent Show. - Club sponsorship and oversight of extracurricular activities will be curtailed (ending after-school club meetings). - Several dozen clubs will no longer have faculty supervisors and extracurricular activities, in general, will be curtailed. 0 Teachers will not accept coaching positions for non-varsity sports. 0 Teachers will not chaperone dances, proms, etc. Such activities will be relinquished to parents (as is the case with All Night Grad Party). - Special senior class celebrations/outings-will no longer be organized and staffed by faculty. -- 0 Weekend activities such as fundraising, carwashes, etc. that require facuity supervision will be halted - Coaching positions, even those with nominal stipends, risk going Frosh and JV sports where time outlay is not commensurate with stipend. 0 Faculty volunteers for operations at sporting events will be halted. Parents/boosters will assume responsibilities. - 0 Academic clubs (Math League, Science Olympiad, etc.) may be suspended. - Student club meetings require faculty presence after school. These time constraints are increasingly unsustainable. As an informed community, you are most likely aware of the ofing-oin machinations surrounding proposed budget cuts through local newspapers, television reports, and word on the streets. Here is a link* to the latest list of cuts being proposed by the leadership of FCPS. We encourage you to study them closely and consider the ramifications for your sons and daughters. The burdens imposed will afiect all. boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Boa The fine reputation of the school and the cornmunity it serves is at stake. We are on youfside.