Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
January 11 - 17, 2024 Fou n d e d 1991 • V ol. XXXIII No. 48
The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia
Letty Hardi Is 1st New F.C. Mayor In a Decade
STATE FINALISTS
Top Vote Getter Lays Out Agenda for City’s Progress by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Letty Hardi, voted to a third term on the Falls Church City Council by the largest total in the election last November, was chosen by her colleagues on the City Council to be the first new mayor in a decade in the City of Falls Church by a 5-0 vote Monday night. She replaces outgoing Mayor David Tarter who served from 2012 through 2023. By the same margin, Debora Schantz-Hiscott was elected vice mayor. Two Councilmen, Dave Snyder and Erin Flynn, failed to vote for either. The “yes” votes came from Hardi, Schantz-Hiscott, Carlone Lian, Marybeth Connelly, Justnie Underhill. Underhill and Flynn were attending their first meeting. In her remarks upon election (printed in full elsewhere in this edition), Hardi noted that as a “first generation immigrant” she was the “first to go to college in her family where English was not her first language” who “now gets to do this job and try to open doors for others.” She noted that “the Council is now composed of two people of color, three immigrants, some of us with business, private sector backgrounds, some of us with young kids, some even a grandchild now, and tenures spanning from eight days to nearly 30 years.” She added, “and yes, the obvious, we have a new groundbreaking historic Council with
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HONORED AT MONDAY’S Falls Church City Public School Board meeting were members of the Meridian High School girls field hockey team that made it to the state finals with an undefeated record last fall before losing in the title game. The team’s mantra was to “play well, have fun and work together.” Nine of the team’s players made the All-District team, seven made the All-Regional team and four made the All-State first team. (News-Press photo).
F.C. Schools’ Noonan Offers New Budget
by John Brett
In a significant move to address the educational needs of a growing student population, Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent Peter J. Noonan presented a comprehensive and forward-looking budget for the 2025 fiscal year to the Falls Church School Board Tuesday night. The presentation came after the board voted its new leadership, with Dr. Tate Gould as chair and Kathleen Tysse as vice chair both by unanimous 7-0 votes. The proposed budget for FY 2025 strategically addresses the student population growth experienced and projected in FCCPS. Acknowledging the increase of 100 students in FY 2024 and pre-
paring for the upcoming rise of 85 students in FY 2025, the budget emphasizes the need for additional staff to uphold the district’s educational excellence. Dr. Noonan emphasized the need for growth, stating, “With our student population projected to increase significantly, it’s imperative that we expand our staff to maintain the excellence FCCPS is known for. This budget is a commitment to our students’ future.” Key proposals include hiring five new elementary teachers, two new half-time paraprofessionals, and an additional secondary campus teacher. This plan sets the stage for managing further growth, anticipating an additional
125 students in FY 2026. Acknowledging the rising costs due to inflation, the budget makes necessary adjustments for fixed costs such as fuel, electricity, and gas. A critical focus of the budget is to ensure competitive compensation for FCCPS’s dedicated staff and faculty. Dr. Noonan proposes a Step increase for all eligible employees and a 3.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), amounting to an average pay increase of 6 percent. “Our faculty and staff are the backbone of FCCPS,” Dr. Noonan said. “The proposed salary increases reflect our dedication to ensuring our team is not only compensated fairly but also feels valued for their indispensable con-
tributions.” Despite challenges posed by potential cuts in public education spending in the governor’s budget, Dr. Noonan assured that FCCPS can meet its obligations, thanks partly to the strong local economy and a successful revenue-sharing agreement with the City Council, now in its fifth year. The proposed budget is a testament to FCCPS’s commitment to providing top-notch education and maintaining its status as a desirable destination for qualified educators. The School Board will finalize adjustments and adopt the “School Board’s Advertised Budget” on February 21, which will then be presented to the City Council on April 1.