Testimony by FCFT President Steve Greenburg: Full-Time Staff Support for School Board Members

January 13, 2012 by Steve Greenburg

[The following testimony was delivered by FCFT President Steve Greenburg during the January 12, 2012 Regular School Board meeting. Greg Brandon, Web Editor]

Dr. Dale, Chairman Strauss and Esteemed School Board Members,

My name is Steve Greenburg, and I come before you this evening representing the members of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, in regards to agenda item 4.02 School Board Standing Committee and Liaison Assignments.

Before I address 4.02, I want to take this opportunity (as it is your first school board meeting) to welcome you all to the Board and let you to know how delighted we are to have you here. We appreciate your willingness to serve, and are looking forward to helping you achieve your goals. I am confident that you will serve as one of the best School Boards ever. Tonight I am here to support and encourage you.

As a point of history, remember that both FEA and FCFT approached the previous School Board with the recommendation of creating an advisory committee, or providing School Board Liaisons to meet with us on issues of importance. We brought this to you in response to the overwhelming feedback from our instructional staff on the issue of workload, last year.

We will appreciate if this board will take steps to establish a committee, or Board Liaisons to address School Board policy 4510.1. Based upon their advocacy and communications with us on this topic last year, we would recommend that you consider Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Evans to be your board leaders on this. I am confident that they truly understand the situation, and how to resolve it to our satisfaction.

I noted the following when researching your current Board Liaison and Board Committee policies:

Board Liaisons and Committees

The Board may designate one or more of its members to serve as a liaison or on a Board Committee…. Each such liaison or Board Committee member shall function individually and may perform his or her designated responsibilities independently…an individual liaison or Board committee member may prepare alternatives, implications, or recommendations for consideration by the full Board.

Wow… that sounds like a lot of work; tasks which would require much time and support to accomplish, thoroughly. Especially considering you have at least fourteen Board Committees and Liaisons you are responsible for, currently (listed below)…

Standing Board Liaisons:

Standing Board Committees:

 "A Board Liaison or Board Committee will not be appointed to direct or oversee school system staff, which is the function of the Superintendent."

So, the School Board is not to oversee or direct the Superintendent’s staff, in this regard… so where is the staff they would need to accomplish all of this work and outreach?

This is an incredible amount of responsibility for each of you to deal with, considering you currently have no help. Considering how many of you are new to the job, or maintain full time jobs while trying to attend to that of being a school board member, it is just unfair.

In addition, the recent FCPS Trust and Confidence survey reflects an inability for FCPS to effectively inform non-parent members on issues relating to student achievement and budget. So, it becomes even more important that you, as the elected official representing your constituency, be afforded the time and resources to communicate to and educate the public effectively.

The bottom line???

You need help. You need support. You need staff. I am here tonight to offer that support; from your community who cares about you, your success, and FCPS.

On behalf of FCFT, FEA and FEC, I am requesting you to consider securing a full-time staff member for each of you, as soon as possible. This needs to be someone you hire and direct to compliment your needs and skill set. In order for us to get the best from you, we realize that you need some help. It would be in the best interest of the students, teachers, and parents of this county for you to do so.

Let’s keep the main people the main people.

Right now you (as a School Board) are the main people, as your success as leaders over the next four years will translate into that of our students, teachers, parents, and community’s ability to be well informed and engaged.

Every student, parent, teacher... and School Board member matters.

Every day.

Thank you for investing the next four years of your lives in our school system and children, and for your time this evening.

Gratefully,

Steven L. Greenburg

President, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers

AFT/AFL-CIO #2401

703-451-6840

"FCFT members educate, protect, and love our children. They are the BEST, and DESERVE the BEST”