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Bulova: Education to be major focus in 2014

By Kathy Stewart

FAIRFAX, Va. – Fairfax County Chair Sharon Bulova gave her annual State of the County address Tuesday and education will take front and center this year as the county faces tremendous student population growth and a building crunch.

“The board of supervisors considers education our highest priority. It is our greatest investment,” Bulova says.

During a press conference Wednesday morning following a preview of her video address, Bulova says the school system will get what it needs, but that it will not get everything its asking for.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Garza is asking for $2.5 billion in her 2015 proposed budget. That’s a 2.4 percent increase over last year. But the proposed budget also calls for deep cuts and the elimination of 731 positions.

The supervisors had agreed to give the schools a 2 percent increase in funding. But Garza says if the Board of Supervisors doesn’t approve a 5.7 percent increase that even deeper cuts will be needed.

“Yes we will meet the needs of the schools. Will it be easy? No, it won’t,” Bulova says.

Bulova says the school board will have to roll up their sleeves and find ways to reduce costs just as the Board of Supervisors will, calling it another tough budget year for the county.

She says the budget will be a major challenge considering the sluggish economic recovery and the impact of sequestration on residents and businesses. The county is facing a $25 million shortfall for the coming year.

But the schools are facing an even larger shortfall and have called for $866 million for school construction and renovations. Student enrollment has grown about 20,000 students each year since 2006.

The county is responsible for funding the public school system in addition to general county services.

In addition to the focus on school funding, Bulova also highlighted several key events that residents can look forward to this year:

  • Opening of the first phase of the new Metro Silver Line. Bulova says the line from Falls Church to Reston will open soon.
  • Construction of the I-95 Express Lanes from Springfield to Stafford County will continue. The project should be completed by late 2015.
  • Continued revitalization of Tysons Corner.
  • The World Police and Fire Games. Bulova says the major sporting event will put Fairfax on the map. It’s the second largest athletic competition in the world after the Summer Olympics.

Bulova says the Games are expected to bring in well over $100 million in revenue. She says 7,000 athletes and 30,000 visitors will be coming for the Games. And that hotels are already booking athletes for the event that will coincide with the Fourth of July in 2015.

“Most of the activities will take place over a two-week period,” she says.

The venues for the games will be spread across the county. Reston Town Center will serve as the village for the athletes and George Mason University will serve as a major venue for some of the events.

Watch the address below:

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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