Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Dale proposed a $2.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2012, which calls for a 2 percent raise for educators.

At a press conference Thursday morning at the FCPS Falls Church headquarters, Dale said he wants to be able to attract teachers to the county with competitive salaries. Currently, the starting salary for teachers in the school system is $44,000.

Dale presented his proposed budget to the Fairfax County School Board on Thursday night. Public hearings on the budget will be held by the board Jan. 24 and 25 at Luther Jackson Middle School at 3020 Gallows Rd.

Teacher advocacy groups have come out in support of the proposal. But the announcement came as two unions representing thousands of Fairfax County Public School teachers say their members are overloaded, overworked and burdened by administrative and technology demands in their classrooms. And they want the Fairfax County School Board to do something about it. They will present the result of a union-led survey at a school board meeting later this month.

NEWS

The shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords at a constituent event in Arizona on Saturday was not “unforeseeable,” said Virginia State Sen. Janet Howell. “As the decibel level of political discourse has risen, so does the risk to elected officials,” said Howell (D-32) of Reston. Local leaders reached out via e-mail and Twitter to offer condolences about the tragedy and what it means for our future. Giffords is in critical condition at an Arizona hospital. The shooting spree killed six and wounded 14, according to CNN.

Contractors  in Vienna could work on buildings seven days  a week under changes to the town's noise ordinance proposed Monday night during a public hearing. A new draft of the noise ordinance, which has been examined by the council since November, would give contractors the ability to work on buildings between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Sundays and federal holidays.

Before state legislators head to Richmond, they got an earful on several issues ranging from the Dulles Metrorail Project to Medicaid spending. The 2011 General Assembly begins Wednesday, and the Saturday public hearing gave a chance for dozens of Fairfax County residents to air their concerns.

Virginia's redistricting process will kick off soon, and once it does, things will go at "lightning speed," State Sen. Janet Howell (D-32nd district) said at a redistricting forum in Fairfax County on Friday.

Fairfax County is choosing to eliminate employees who work 11 months a year without health benefits. The positions have run afoul of new federal health requirements.Some of the employees will be able to apply for new full-time jobs with full benefits, but at least some will be out of their jobs entirely.

Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-67th District), the House representative for neighboring Oakton, Chantilly and Centreville, prefiled a bill Dec. 30 that would give veto power to the Boards of Supervisors of Fairfax and Loudoun counties on any toll increase on the Dulles Toll Road.

The 20-year-old found assaulted on the Nutley Street ramp to I-66 east died Jan.2, according to a report from wtop.com. The death of Jabrill Mara of Springfield, who suffered from a gunshot wound and died in the hospital Dec. 29, is being investigated as a homicide, the report states. Virginia State Police are asking anyone with information to call 703-803-2668 or e-mail at BCIGID7@vsp.virginia.gov.

Town Council will select a consultant to guide the town's Town Manager search during a special meeting Jan. 10. The meeting will take place at the start of the council's regular work session at 8 p.m.

COMMUNITY/ARTS

By this time next year, The Freeman House Store and Museum could have a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The Vienna Town Council approved a contract Monday night to enlist historic preservation consultants to help prepare the house's application for a national historic designation -- the legacy project for the Vienna's commemoration of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, 2011-2015.

Resolutions: Do you make them? Do you take time to re-evaluate as the New Year approaches? A Dose of Mothering tackles setting goals with your family.

In the first of two football-party-inspired posts, Andre Taylor's Tasty Tidbits shares the recipe for deep-fried jumbo prawns.

Made in Vienna takes a look at The Greek Grill,  a staple in the Vienna community for more than a decade.

In The Green Room, Vienna Patch interviewed The Independent, a Northern Virginia pop-clectic trio.

SCHOOLS/SPORTS

Fairfax County Public Schools will no longer use a fourth-grade history textbook that drew international criticism for major errors—among them, the assertion that thousands of black soldiers fought for Confederate troops during the Civil War. "Our Virginia: Past and Present" will not be used for the Virginia history portion of the curriculum this year, Superintendent Jack Dale told the Fairfax County Public School Board at its meeting Thursday night.

Businesses and individuals can now donate to specific Fairfax County Public School programs and initiatives to help students make ends meet, thanks to a new foundation born from a partnership between the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and the schools.

Four years ago this April, a gunman massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech, including 2003 James Madison High School graduate Maxine Turner. Now, the Centreville-based Virginia Tech Victims Family Outreach Foundation is asking the state to consider approving a commemorative license plate in memory of those murdered by Seung-Hui Cho on that day. 

While every mom wears numerous hats a day, many moms are adding another hat to their rack – that of an entrepreneur. These "mompreneurs," moms who create and run their own businesses, were the topic of a Jan. 5 event hosted by Marshall High School students.

Madison High School gymnastics scored 53.275 points Friday night in a meet at South Lakes High School, placing seventh overall.

The James Madison High School wrestling team honored its four graduating seniors at its meet last night, but they weren't able to come up with a win, falling to the South Lakes Seahawks 39-32.

Basketball

Our sports editor debuted the Northern Region report, a twice-weekly look at basketball in the region. Look at game previews from Tuesday, and stats as of Friday afternoon.

 For her performance in the holiday break's Bulldog Bash, Sarah Schrock earned athlete of the week honors for leading the Warhawks to the championship game, scoring eight points and keying a defense that held the host Westfield Bulldogs to just six third-quarter points in a 40-32 win in the semifinals.

Tuesday games:

What appeared to be developing into an even battle between two centers quickly turned into a one-sided affair, as Meredith Mesaris scored 11 of her 21 points in the third quarter Monday to spark Fairfax to a 47-41 win over Madison.

Back in October, Fairfax's Spencer MacLeod had one of his best games of the football season, throwing a pair of touchdown passes in a 21-14 win over Madison. On Monday night, MacLeod and a handful of the same Rebel football players turned the Warhawks' gym into their personal gridiron for the sequel, beating Madison 60-50.

Thursday games

On Thursday, Nate Favero hit one of two free-throws to give the Warhawks a 75-74 lead with 3.6 seconds to play in the third overtime, helping them clinch the game over Mclean.

In Thursday’s pivotal division matchup against the McLean Highlanders, it was a pair of diminutive sophomore guards, both named Megan, who led the Warhawks to a resounding victory. The Warhawks (7-4, 3-1) led from the opening whistle, and closed out the Highlanders (3-5, 1-2) 56-36.

Entering the district portion of their schedule with a 4-6 record, the Marshall High Statesmen improved to 5-6 on the year, defeating the Langley Saxons 50-39 at home.

Daniel Dixon scored 19 points for the second straight game and added a game-high seven rebounds as Langley beat Marshall boys basketball 69-41 Thursday.