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For three nights last week, the Fairfax County School Board heard from parents, teachers and students who were advocating saving almost every school program proposed for elimination in this dire budget year. As a leader in the PTA, I support their efforts and their passion, as well as their desire to provide the best, most well-rounded education possible. I am a strong advocate for public support of schools' needs.

The school board will spend the next week reviewing Superintendent Jack Dale's budget proposals. In these terrible economic times, there will be no easy, quick or best resolution that will satisfy everyone's wants. There is, however, the "right" solution to address students' needs, and I am prepared to collaborate with school leaders to find it.

The results of a Stakeholder Engagement Research project demonstrates strong support -- from teachers, parents and community members surveyed -- for our schools, including increased taxes or fees to pay for FCPS's superior programs. The results also show, however, some doubt about FCPS leaders' ability to adequately allocate resources. Perhaps that lack of confidence results from reviewing FCPS recommendations and actions like these:

-The 2009-2013 Capital Improvement Program projected one high school, Thomas Jefferson, with a 200-seat deficit during the five years covered by the plan. Last fall's school bond referendum, however, moved TJ down on the list of capital needs in favor of construction of a new middle school in the South County area, even though classroom capacity exists at several neighboring middle schools.

-The 2010-2014 CIP book documents a funded addition to Pimmit Hills Alternative High School because students are "currently being underserved in alternative settings." The fiscal 2011 budget is now recommending Pimmit Hills be closed to save $1 million in annual operating costs and the students be moved to alternative locations.

-Based on the 2008 Working Conditions Survey, only 3 percent of respondents rated professional development as the most important aspect of their work environment in promoting student learning. Why, then, are expenses for this year's professional development needs projected to be nearly double that of last year: $3.7 million vs. $1.9 million?

-The current school year's estimated expenses for Supplies and Materials -- textbooks, lab materials, art and music books, PE equipment, globes, maps and so on -- is more than $86 million. That's $24.3 million above last year's actual expenditures and $22.7 million more than the proposed 2011 budget.

-The proposed budget estimates FCPS will spend more than $1.6 million this year and $1.94 million in fiscal 2011 on School Initiatives, described generally as contingency funds to accommodate unanticipated enrollment changes. A review of several years' budget documents show similar spending estimates and budget requests, as high as $2.36 million in the fiscal 2009 Approved Budget. Since fiscal 2005, however, actual expenditures have not exceeded $271,000.

These are a few examples, among numerous others, and even to someone familiar with school budgeting processes, the budget figures are questionable. To the average reviewer, such distortions are inexplicable except to make the fiscal 2011 budget "needs" look like reductions or budget cuts. Indeed, the budget narrative/summary makes such claims.

FCPS will excel at educating every student because of dedicated, professional educators who refuse to let a child falter or fail. I believe this will be possible only if the school board adopts a budget that protects the number of students in each classroom over anything else.

Our community strongly supports additional fees or charges to maintain extra-curricular activities or sports. I ask the school board to present to us and the Board of Supervisors a budget that makes more, if not all, of these programs self-supporting rather than eliminating them. Yes, it may require some out-of-the-box thinking, some new ways of doing things and perhaps some cuts that aren't pleasant for everyone. But FCPS can work one-on-one with interested parents and booster groups to identify cost reductions and efficiencies, gather recommendations on how to make these programs self-supporting and achieve consensus on how to maintain them in future years.

Where certain efforts must be curtailed, FCPS can use the situation as an opportunity to review programs, priorities and policy for wholesale revision. The need for early foreign-language instruction is critical in our global society. If Foreign Language in Elementary Schools is eliminated or Foreign Language Immersion reduced this year, can, should or how can FCPS start fresh? Can the best of immersion and FLES be married for maximum potential? Mandated language instruction in every school every day in an immersive setting? Are there models that haven't been considered yet, like one now being sponsored by a PTA here in Fairfax using proven, successful language instruction software?

I continue to ask the FCPS and the school board to remember the millions of dollars in transportation savings that can be realized by implementing recommendations from the Transportation Task Force, numerous advisory groups and paid consultants. We can't begin to quantify the potential health and instructional benefits of healthier bell schedules, but we know from substantial data that such benefits will follow the implementation of later high-school start times.

I ask that decisions about any program -- full-day kindergarten, summer school, AP/IB/Honors, College Partnership, EXCEL, modified calendars and so forth -- be based on the data available about the benefits to students and achievement of the program's intended outcome.

I don't envy the decisions our school leadership must make, but we have elected them to make these tough choices and establish the distinctions between needs and wants. I'd venture to say the entire community stands ready to collaborate with the board and staff on this challenge. Let us know when and where to bring our pencils, erasers and experience, and we'll roll up our sleeves to get it done. Our children deserve it. Our community demands it. Our future depends on it.

Michele Menapace serves as president of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs.