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.

This week’s hard question comes from – and there are two names on here; I’m not sure which one is correct – it’s Mara or Nara. But this individual asks a very good question; it’s actually a series of questions. I’ll just try to quantify. It says:

“I received an email asking me as a parent to fill out a satisfaction survey. I was curious what the student survey looked like... so I clicked on the link for the ‘School Quality Survey for Elementary Students.’ The questions all looked pretty generic... until #12. Students who misbehave receive consequences?”

And, of course, this survey is a Likert scale so it goes from Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree, Strongly Disagree. The question was “Students who misbehave receive consequences?”
“This seems like a question that elementary students shouldn't know the answer to because if the students with behavior issues are being dealt with on an individual basis and not a blanketed ‘shaming’ approach, their consequences shouldn't be evident or any of the other students' concern. (Unless, of course, there is an altercation on the playground or it directly affects another student.) Which leads to my question: Has FCPS come up with a more effective way to redirect the children in the class that are acting outside the set class rules other than time out or isolation or public shaming?”

And then another question:
“Are the children that are not excelling with the academics and misbehaving and the children that are excelling but bored and need more of a challenging approach being disciplined in the same way? If so, is being forced to chant the alphabet when you are ready to read not punishment enough?”

This is the question from Bob, and Bob asks the following: “Dr. Jeck, Thank you for doing a fine job as superintendent.” Thank you, thanks for the compliment. “I keep hearing that our enrollment projections appear to remain flat. That seems counter-intuitive given what appears to be hot spots of residential developments popping up around the county. I am curious as to the process used to arrive at these projections. Thanks.”

This week’s hard question deals with the new school division website. It’s a very short and straightforward question: “Why did you change the school division’s website? I can’t find what I need anymore.”

This week’s hard question comes from Karen, who asks the following “When will graduation dates be set? It is Sept. 27. Grandparents and other out-of-state family need to make plans. Thanks, Karen.”