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Stafford Schools consider pay raise for employees
UPDATE: The Stafford County School Board last night voted to give step
increases--effective April 2010--to employees who didn't receive them this
year.
The vote does not include additional pay for employees hired this year and those at the top of their respective pay scales.
BY JEFF BRANSCOME
The Stafford County School Board last night discussed providing midyear raises to all employees instead of bonuses to some. The School Board had not voted as of The Free Lance-Star's deadline. Member Robert Belman, who leaves the School Board in January, proposed the raises, and Doreen Phillips seconded his motion. "I think this would go miles in helping the morale of all of our employees," Belman said. The Board of Supervisors narrowly voted last week to use a little more than $1 million from a $6.2 million surplus for bonuses for teachers, paraprofessionals and school nurses. However, School Superintendent David Sawyer said the supervisors' resolution is not legally binding. Sawyer said the School Board could use the money to give returning employees a step increase effective April 2010. Those at the top of the scale would receive stipends, based on that proposal. Sawyer called it a "bold step, in light of the fiscal circumstances." Returning instructors this year did not receive cost-of-living raises or step increases, which reward them for years of experience. However, new instructors with teaching experience hired for the fiscal year that began July 1 received a higher salary under the step increase schedule. Their salaries would not change, based on Sawyer's proposal. Sawyer said he personally supports providing all employees with midyear pay increases. The money to be used for Belman's proposed raises comes from a $6.2 million surplus discovered this year. It was caused by an accounting error involving a transfer between the school system and county government in 2007. Wayne Carruthers, assistant superintendent for finance, last night provided documentation that he says proves the division tried to address the problem in 2007. In related business, the School Board voted to rehire its auditor for the next two years and send a letter to the treasurer requesting the division's own bank account. School officials currently share an account with county government, and they believe having a separate account will prevent future miscommunication. Also at the meeting, eight people spoke during a public hearing for input on the 2010-2011 budget, which Sawyer is scheduled to present in February. Five teachers, including Stafford Education Association President Jannette Martin, explained the need for better pay. And before the meeting, at least 60 teachers and school employees from the Stafford Education Association held a rally outside the Bandy Complex to protest what they consider a lack of funding for education. At one point, Martin repeatedly said over a megaphone, "I say 'education,' you say?" Participants responded, "Compensation!" Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Perhaps Mr Fetteroff' is spewing is the nonsense, not my keen analysis of the American Education system, the worst of any in the world except some in the 3rd world where the Shaman teaches.
You are usually more perceptive and display more integrity than to use an insider's comments to bolster your position. Tsk Tsk.
Once again I wish you a merry Christmas and please get a new bowtie.
when you say "we are handicapping our kids by focusing on teachers not the kids?" And do you recognize actual facts such as the ones Dean Fetterolf cites which refute the nonsense you spew?
That these increase will include custodians, bus drivers ect who are also on steps-much more equitable than singling out specific groups to reward.
Stafford has the 11th highest median household income in the United States: Overall, Stafford ranks 104th of 132 districts (near the bottom) for school funding in the Commonwealth.and the FY08 Stafford local government contribution of $3,861 per pupil was 28% below the state average of $5,508 per pupil.
of any country in the world and have the highest drop out rate, the most illiterate HS grads, most of whom don't know how to divide 10 by 3 (not even 9 by 3), the highest crime rate, the highest per capita drug use etc etc. I wouldn't live anywhere else, but we are handicapping our kids by focusing on teachers not the kids.
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