Skip to content

Falls Church FACTS

Primary Navigation Menu

Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Did You Know?
  • On The Record
  • POV
  • Contact Us

school expenses

Say No and Save $ 50 million

Remember interim’s School Superintendent Schiller’s February 2017 advice to build a single-phase high school for $ 60 million? What if we followed his advice? Let’s say he was off and it would cost $ 70 million. And, let’s not build a school for 1,500 students like he suggested, but a smaller school for 1,350 students. Also, don’t build an expensive 5 story school. Build a cheaper-style 2 story school that we can expand upon. Q: What are the advantages of this approach? A1. We save $ 50 million dollars and borrow $ 50 million less. A2. We can afford to keep the 10 acres ofRead More →

By Mark Quave
On September 12, 2017
With 4 Comments

Citizen Concern on the Modification of FY18 CIP and referendum for GMHS

Below is the statement read by Mr. John Leimone to City Council during public comment on Monday, July 24, 2017.  Mr Lemoine has worked as an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank and the International Monetary Fund. I strongly support the VPIS recommendation in the well-argued letter to you (City Council) to postpone any decision on a GMHS referendum until citizens have been thoroughly and honestly briefed on all aspects of this project, which because of the costs involved, poses an existential threat to the City’s future financial stability. Underlying this position are at least 4 major concerns: The Council and City Manager have glossedRead More →

By John Leimone
On July 27, 2017
With 2 Comments

Math and the New High School

In November, we will probably be asked to approve a referendum for a $120 M (Million) bond issuance to finance construction of a new high school. The debt service will be approximately $7.08 M every year for 30 yearsi. Some people have warned that paying for increasing School system operating costs will be more challenging than the bond debt payment. The counter thinking is that new development and a modest real estate tax increase will pay for the need of our Schools. During the past few weeks, the City has held some meetings and issued some reports that provide enough data to allow anyone toRead More →

By Mark Quave
On July 6, 2017
With 13 Comments

City Council Approves the Initial Step for GMHS Bonding

Last night, the City Council approved the initial step to place a GMHS campus bond referendum on the ballot for November 7, 2017.  The referendum would ask the voters whether the City should issue debt in the amount of up to $120 Million for the construction of a new high school, and a part of a middle school: QUESTION: Shall the City of Falls Church, Virginia, contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed one hundred twenty million dollars ($120,000,000.00) for the purpose of paying the costs incident to constructing, expanding,  reconstructing, renovating, equipping and/or reequipping,Read More →

By FCFadmin
On June 27, 2017
With 1 Comment

How One School District Saved Money : Community Focus Groups

A school district in Texas had a budget shortfall and used community input to find cost-saving strategies.  Falls Church City may want to take a similar approach to cut expenses.  Some interesting cost cutting measures found by the Frisco focus group: The focus group studying central administration identified savings by creating efficiencies, seeking partnerships and exploring cost-sharing opportunities. Pay to Play – increase fees for certain programs Library service sharing between the city and school Assess cost by course level (e.g. remedial, regular, gifted, AP, IB) and use results for possible reduction of low participation areas Use PTA volunteers for library aides and other laborRead More →

By FCFadmin
On February 14, 2017
With 2 Comments

Recent Comments

  • FCCPS Concerned Parent on The Death of Democracy in Falls Church City – Totalitarianism is Alive and Well
  • Rick on The Death of Democracy in Falls Church City – Totalitarianism is Alive and Well
  • Jen on The Death of Democracy in Falls Church City – Totalitarianism is Alive and Well
  • A Happy Former Resident on The Death of Democracy in Falls Church City – Totalitarianism is Alive and Well
  • Sarah on The Death of Democracy in Falls Church City – Totalitarianism is Alive and Well

Tags

2017 GMHS $120 MM Bond budget city council City Council Candidates City finances cost of education cost of government cost of schools development education Falls Church City Council Falls Church City School Board fccps FCCPS Budget Founders Row George Mason site GMHS GMHS bond GMHS campus GMHS Campus Development GMHS referendum GMHS RFP gun control Gun Rights High school Stress IB program Mason Row mixed use development Mt. Daniel mud MUDs salary School Board school board candidate School Board Candidates school budget school expenses school population Second Amendment smart growth SOL student demographics Support the Girls transparency Washington & Broad

Contact Us

Email Form

One City, One People