I am a resident of the Opequon district, and I would like the county to provide all the funds requested by FCPS Superintendent David Sovine in his operating budget. If such funds are not currently available in the county budget, I would support tax increases to make those funds available.
My name is Orion Guerra, and I am a resident of the Shawnee District. I am a senior at Millbrook High School, and have been largely involved with the music programs offered at Millbrook over the last 4 years. I have been lucky enough to have been provided with resources of exceptional quality to pursue a music career in college next year. However, if this budget cut goes through, current and future students, not only at Millbrook, but within all of Frederick County, will not have that same opportunity to pursue their passions within the educational institution in which they're enrolled in. The majority of students enrolled in some form of the arts programs at Millbrook are motivated to attend school every single day because of the phenomenal music and art staff that are at this school. Budget cuts as drastic as this are the kind we learn about in AP US GOV to analyze as an assignment, but for it to be put into reality and have it directly affect every student and staff in the educational system would be laughable. Not only would this budget cut increase unemployment within Frederick County, but it would directly affect the quality of education that students are receiving. Penalizing the school board means normalizing the pre-existing circumstances at FCPS that have been impacted by the pandemic, and with this budget cut we are accepting that we are okay with these conditions worsening. I hope that the Board is able to consider my comment. Thank you.
I am a resident of the Shawnee district, an FCPS teacher and parent.
As you consider budget priorities, I urge you to invest in our county’s largest asset - its children.
The past few years have been hard on all of us - but our youngest (though resilient) have suffered in many regards without the words or psychological development to express it. The stability for so many of them during much of their lives is school - the structure, the safety, the love and dedication of adults to the students in their care.
Cutting anything from the proposed budget from the school board (not to mention the large amounts that have been mentioned recently) will impact students. Overcrowded classrooms effect students. Overwhelmed teachers effect students. Underfunded programs effect students. Cut programs effect students.
Education is a “people-business.” And when there are monetary cuts in a people business, that means we lose good people. Either by positions being cut or wages becoming less and less competitive. And this effects students.
Lastly, I would like to emphasize that I appreciate and support the itemized reports the finance department provides regularly to demonstrate fiscal transparency.
As professionals and leaders, we should recognize that humility is key when working together toward a common goal. Our common goal (BOS & FCPS) is to create a community that flourishes, a place our children dream of coming back to. Humility in this collaborative effort toward that common goal means knowing you don’t know everything - no one is an expert in everything. FCPS staff are the experts in educating our students, FCPS finance is the expert on what our district needs to support students. You are the experts in the financial situation of our county (one with a “rainy day” account, something many counties are without).
As an educator, an expert in what students at OES need, I ask you to please fund our schools with the proposed SB budget. Our kids deserve adequate funding.
Good afternoon. My name is Kristy Sikora, and I am resident of the Stonewall district. I am a parent of a JWMS 8th grader and OVES 3rd grader. I have been in education as a third grade teacher and now as an elementary librarian in FCPS for 22 years. My husband is an educator for LCPS He makes significantly more than me, but I have tried to be loyal to my hometown community, although it is getting financially more difficult as my children become older. We are losing great teachers.My 8th grade daughter has only one elementary teacher remaining in FCPS because all the others have left.
She had many qualified teachers, but we can’t keep them when pay is much better in other districts.
My oldest loves art and has found this as a way to cope with her ADHD. By cutting funding drastically, I fear art programs would be cut.
Both of my girls are avid readers, and as a librarian, I fear budget cuts could not only cost me my job, but would be detrimental to our future leaders of FC. Here are just a few reasons- I’m sure you’re aware that mental health is not good for many of our youth since the pandemic. Many students have turned to books for help to cope or to “escape.” Our youngest students are lagging. Many didn’t attend preschool because of the pandemic and are now struggling readers. They need exposure to literature in as many ways as possible. Our older students need to learn how to grow up and be informed and educated citizens of our community. I do this by teaching them research skills, reliable resources that they can use and cite, gathering data, and so much more.
Dear BOS, It’s more crucial than ever that we support these children in as many ways as possible, and cutting funding is not going to produce the well-educated and well-rounded students I want to be my future leaders of my hometown of FC. I respectfully ask that you look at this budget as a long term investment for staff and students of FC.
I am a resident of the Opequon district, and I would like the county to provide all the funds requested by FCPS Superintendent David Sovine in his operating budget. If such funds are not currently available in the county budget, I would support tax increases to make those funds available.
My name is Orion Guerra, and I am a resident of the Shawnee District. I am a senior at Millbrook High School, and have been largely involved with the music programs offered at Millbrook over the last 4 years. I have been lucky enough to have been provided with resources of exceptional quality to pursue a music career in college next year. However, if this budget cut goes through, current and future students, not only at Millbrook, but within all of Frederick County, will not have that same opportunity to pursue their passions within the educational institution in which they're enrolled in. The majority of students enrolled in some form of the arts programs at Millbrook are motivated to attend school every single day because of the phenomenal music and art staff that are at this school. Budget cuts as drastic as this are the kind we learn about in AP US GOV to analyze as an assignment, but for it to be put into reality and have it directly affect every student and staff in the educational system would be laughable. Not only would this budget cut increase unemployment within Frederick County, but it would directly affect the quality of education that students are receiving. Penalizing the school board means normalizing the pre-existing circumstances at FCPS that have been impacted by the pandemic, and with this budget cut we are accepting that we are okay with these conditions worsening. I hope that the Board is able to consider my comment. Thank you.
I am a resident of the Shawnee district, an FCPS teacher and parent.
As you consider budget priorities, I urge you to invest in our county’s largest asset - its children.
The past few years have been hard on all of us - but our youngest (though resilient) have suffered in many regards without the words or psychological development to express it. The stability for so many of them during much of their lives is school - the structure, the safety, the love and dedication of adults to the students in their care.
Cutting anything from the proposed budget from the school board (not to mention the large amounts that have been mentioned recently) will impact students. Overcrowded classrooms effect students. Overwhelmed teachers effect students. Underfunded programs effect students. Cut programs effect students.
Education is a “people-business.” And when there are monetary cuts in a people business, that means we lose good people. Either by positions being cut or wages becoming less and less competitive. And this effects students.
Lastly, I would like to emphasize that I appreciate and support the itemized reports the finance department provides regularly to demonstrate fiscal transparency.
As professionals and leaders, we should recognize that humility is key when working together toward a common goal. Our common goal (BOS & FCPS) is to create a community that flourishes, a place our children dream of coming back to. Humility in this collaborative effort toward that common goal means knowing you don’t know everything - no one is an expert in everything. FCPS staff are the experts in educating our students, FCPS finance is the expert on what our district needs to support students. You are the experts in the financial situation of our county (one with a “rainy day” account, something many counties are without).
As an educator, an expert in what students at OES need, I ask you to please fund our schools with the proposed SB budget. Our kids deserve adequate funding.
Good afternoon. My name is Kristy Sikora, and I am resident of the Stonewall district. I am a parent of a JWMS 8th grader and OVES 3rd grader. I have been in education as a third grade teacher and now as an elementary librarian in FCPS for 22 years. My husband is an educator for LCPS He makes significantly more than me, but I have tried to be loyal to my hometown community, although it is getting financially more difficult as my children become older. We are losing great teachers.My 8th grade daughter has only one elementary teacher remaining in FCPS because all the others have left.
She had many qualified teachers, but we can’t keep them when pay is much better in other districts.
My oldest loves art and has found this as a way to cope with her ADHD. By cutting funding drastically, I fear art programs would be cut.
Both of my girls are avid readers, and as a librarian, I fear budget cuts could not only cost me my job, but would be detrimental to our future leaders of FC. Here are just a few reasons- I’m sure you’re aware that mental health is not good for many of our youth since the pandemic. Many students have turned to books for help to cope or to “escape.” Our youngest students are lagging. Many didn’t attend preschool because of the pandemic and are now struggling readers. They need exposure to literature in as many ways as possible. Our older students need to learn how to grow up and be informed and educated citizens of our community. I do this by teaching them research skills, reliable resources that they can use and cite, gathering data, and so much more.
Dear BOS, It’s more crucial than ever that we support these children in as many ways as possible, and cutting funding is not going to produce the well-educated and well-rounded students I want to be my future leaders of my hometown of FC. I respectfully ask that you look at this budget as a long term investment for staff and students of FC.