Daniel A. Domenech

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Q & A With the Fairfax County Schools Chief
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001; 1 p.m. EST

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech was named the head of the Washington area's largest school system in 1997.

Since his last live online appearance, Fairfax schools have passed a $1.5 billion budget and parents sought restrictions on a controversial book in school libraries. For more information, visit the Fairfax Schools News Page.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

washingtonpost.com: Thanks for joining us today, Dr. Domenech. Last week, the hot topic was the book "Druids" that a parent wanted removed from school libraries. (Read the story.) What's your opinion about this controversy?

Daniel A. Domenech: The controversy about keeping this particular book in our school libraries raises the issue of how we decide if a book should be removed from the shelves. We have a process for parents to challenge books in any library or those used for instructional purposes. In a system as large as ours, there will be differences of opinion as to the instructional materials we use. The process in place allows for differences to emerge and for the democratic process to prevail, as represented by the school board vote.

Langley Park: Hello Mr. Domenech,

If Va. Sen. Barry's Pledge of Allegiance amendment passes, will Fairfax Co. choose to apply its provisions?

Daniel A. Domenech: Our school system currently requires that the pledge of allegiance be said every day in all of our schools. The bill would have little impact on us.

Dunn Loring, VA: My son tells me that many, but not all, teachers at George C. Marshall High School insist that their students stand for the moment of silence in the morning. When challenged, they explain that this is to show some respect for those who are using this time for a higher purpose (like praying). I wonder at that concept. I thought this time was supposed to be open-ended, and if a kid wants to sleep at his desk, so long as he's quiet, why can't he?

Daniel A. Domenech: Our procedure simply requires our students to observe the moment of silence without disruption. They may be asked to stand because the moment of silence is usually observed at the same time that we say the Pledge of Allegiance. If you have an issue with a particular school, please contact the school principal.

Fairfax: Do you sense that Richmond is beginning to recognize the true financial needs of the schools? Are your counterparts in the other cities and counties having the same issues?

Daniel A. Domenech: I regret to say that Richmond has a long way to go before they truly recognize our financial needs. We have been fighting hard this session to earn the right to approach our citizens with the notion of a sales tax for transportation and our school facilities needs. It's questionable if we will succeed. My colleagues around the state have joined us in advocating for changes in the Standards of Quality, the system used in Virginia for state funding of public education.

Fairfax, VA: My husband is a Fairfax county teacher and we are attempting to purchase a home in the county as well. As you can imagine, with the housing prices as high as they are, it has become nearly impossible. Has there ever been any thought in offering any mortgage assistance programs to employees?

Daniel A. Domenech: A mortgage assistance program is not in the works. We do recognize that our employees are underpaid and we are attempting to obtain the state and local funding that would allow us to pay competitive salaries.

Fairfax, Va.: Half-Day Mondays -- Are there any plans to eliminate this practice? What purpose do they really serve?

Daniel A. Domenech: We have eliminated early Mondays in 18 of our Excel schools. This was done to provide additional instructional time. We would love to do this in all of our elementary schools, but the cost, at this time, would be prohibitive. We pay the Excel teachers an additional 7% for the full day Monday.

Alexandria: Are Fairfax teachers required to live in Fairfax County?

Daniel A. Domenech: No. Many of our employees live outside Fairfax County.

McLean VA: Mr. Domenech,
Thanks for going online today.
I have two questions:
1- How do you feel about school uniforms, given the outrageous outfits our kids are often seen in?
2- Why don't FF schools do more to work with/promote local youth organizations, especially to new or low income parents?
Come to think of it, a lot of these parents could use counseling as well as their kids, since they often have no clue about how to raise kids. I think FF schools should start it since they are the ones who would first benefit from better parents. You can't have a good school without a critical mass of good parents.
Thank you.

Daniel A. Domenech: Fairfax Schools have a permissive uniform policy. A number of our schools have opted to use uniforms, although they are not required.
Our schools do work cooperatively with many county youth agencies as well as church groups and other non-profit organizations. We agree with you that parent support and involvement are critical to a student's success in school.

Reston, Va.: I have noticed a trend within Fairfax county toward the implementation of year-round school at the elementary level. I am distressed that this may one day evolve to a year-round schedule for high schools as well. This would be a terrible idea, as it would eliminate the opportunity for high school students to hold full-time jobs during the summer. Many students depend on these summer jobs to save money for college, or to bulk up their resume when college applications are written. Many opportunities for educational internships would also be lost.

I believe that a full summer vacation is as important for a high school student's education as anything that he might learn while in school. It is extremely important that these students have there summers blocked for extra- or co-curricular activities, such as working or volunteering. Furthermore, if you place high-school students on a year-round schedule, many of them will be forced into working during the school year, taking time away from their studies, in order to maintain the income that they would have obtained from full-time summer jobs. Please consider this before making any changes of this nature.

Daniel A. Domenech: As a matter of fact, two high schools have now applied to move towards a modified calendar. You should know, however, that this calendar does not significantly reduce the number of days that students would be off during the "summer" months. The calendar does provide, however, for a third semester over the summer months that would allow many of our students to take necessary remedial courses or to advance in their studies if they so choose.

Fairfax, Va.: Please tell me why you have staff making changes to a system that is beneficial and has worked for 20-plus years. I am speaking of "taking away" the Bush Hill Principal Center. Your staffs answer to the question WHY was address inequities in the school system. There are already inequities in the school system between those on the different sides of I-95.

Daniel A. Domenech: As our school system moves towards the inclusion of special education students in regular schools, many of our special education centers are decreasing in size. As that happens, maintaining a full time principal in charge of those centers becomes fiscally inefficient. We have decided to maintain the Bush Hill situation as is for the coming school year to allow for a re-evaluation of the decision, should it warrant it.

Germantown, MD: On the first question in this online chat, when asked your opinion regarding the controversy over the book "Druids", why did you duck the question and talk instead about the process in place handling the dispute? With all respect, that has nothing to do with the question you were asked.

So, what is your opinion regarding the controversy over the book "Druid"? Which side do you support and why?

Thank you.

Daniel A. Domenech: I happen to support maintaining Druids in our high school libraries and I so recommended to our school board. I also opined that it was inappropriate at the middle school level. The majority of our board agreed.

reston, VA: Could you please explain the modified high-school calendar? Would this third semester be optional?

Daniel A. Domenech: The third semester would be optional, although our school system is moving towards a student accountability policy that might eventually require attendance at summer school for students at risk of failure.

Fairfax: In the month of January, the kids were out of school for 5 days (not including inclement weather) --- New Years Day, Martin Luther King Holiday, Inauguration Day and the 2 Teacher Work Days/Student Holidays. When planning the school year calendar, does anyone look at a month and notice that it is particularly heavy with days off? Is there some logic?

Daniel A. Domenech: Our school calendar schedules 183 school days every year between Labor Day and late June. The days you mentioned have been part of the calendar every year for quite a while.

Herndon Va: In light of the recent Post articles on the meager 2% raise proposed for teachers by your budget, and the 5% percent raise being given in Montgomery County. Do you think you will have difficulty keeping experienced teachers in Fairfax? And if this is the richest county in America, why aren't our teachers any better paid?

washingtonpost.com: The article about the Montgomery County raises can be found here.

Daniel A. Domenech: Unfortunately, our school system is financially dependent on our County and State governments. We have argued for better pay for our employees for a number of years, citing our need to remain competitive and to hold on to current employees. We did succeed this year in acquiring an average 7.6% percent increase for our employees. We would have loved to have done as well next year, but even at an average 4.6% increase for next year (cost of living and step) we face a $40 million deficit in our proposed budget.

Vienna, VA: Dr. Domenech: Where within the Fairfax school system can concerned parents turn when the principal of a school turns a deaf ear to their concerns?

The situation is, an apparently highly educated student aid is treating elementary school children as if they are at a much higher level. Parents have expressed concern to the principal about the actions of the aid. The principal's response is to tell the parents what a wonderful person the student aid is (she is very active in school and local sports activities). The student aid may indeed be an otherwise wonderful person, but is far from it when interacting with 7 to 12 year olds; i.e., berating them in the school hallways, telling 7-8 year olds to conduct science experiments at home involving electricity, etc... The principal's response shows that she may be hearing what the parents relate, but she certainly is not listening. The aid may be an asset to her; but not to the student population

Who in the system can get the principal's attention to address a real problem?

Daniel A. Domenech: We reorganized our school system this year and established eight clusters to better meet the needs of our parents and students. You will want to contact your cluster director. You can get the Director's name and number by accessing our web page at www.fcps.edu.

Arlington, VA: Does Fairfax County sponsor foreign science teachers for work visas? If so, who would one call for further information?

Daniel A. Domenech: Our school system does not sponsor teachers for work visas. Interested teachers must obtain work visas prior to being interviewed for a job in FCPS. Additional information may be obtained by calling 703-750-8580.

Fairfax: Good Afternoon. I was wondering what the class size limit is for Third Grade? My son is in a class that's now at 29 students. I don't feel that's fair to the teacher or the students.

Daniel A. Domenech: Your class is at the cap for third grade. We agree with you that we would love to have smaller class sizes; unfortunately, it costs our school system $14 million to reduce class size by just one student. With a $40 million deficit in our proposed budget, class size reduction is not likely.

washingtonpost.com: Unfortunately, we're out of time. Thanks to Dr. Domenech for joining us today, and we look forward to having you back in the future!

Daniel A. Domenech: Thank you for allowing me to answer questions on line.