Fairfax County Schools Struggle with Cuts Across the Board

Fairfax County schools cut over $45 million and 521 positions for the 2008 Fiscal year, leading to every school having to adapt and overcome the restrictions. One of the biggest counties in Virginia will now have to get "lean and mean" with the recent cuts for the 2008 year. Every school has been affected, especially the smaller high schools, which were already on a tight budget.

For a second straight year, there are no new programs county-wide. This means no additions to the after-school programs or expanding the lunch assistance program. New programs are vital for all schools to bring in new students and keep the current students excited about school and moving education forward.

Over 500 jobs were cut county-wide for 2008. That's 500+ people who have been forced to find other employment in the area. Many workers with educational backgrounds don't have a universal resume to just run out and get a job outside of a school. The educational field is very specific and transitioning to another career field is difficult. Less workers in the schools also means a larger work load for everyone else. Another bus driver has to pick up an extra stop, a cafeteria worker has to serve an extra few lunches and a teacher will have an extra class during the semester. The loss of that many people affects everyone in the Fairfax County school district.

The music programs have taken the biggest hit with all the cutbacks in 2008. Its been common in the past 10 years for schools to make cuts with the arts first. A music program costs a great deal of money from equipment, instruments, extra faculty and space in the school. There's no standardized test that has a music section - so it gets cut before a lot of other things. Small schools have trouble sustaining a music program as it is, now it's virtually impossible to keep it going without putting money back into it. It's been proven that music students are more well-rounded and do better on tests than other students and gives them a skill they can take with them for the rest of their lives. Why would something like that ever be under-funded? Good question.