BY PAMELA GOULD
The Spotsylvania County School Board stared out at a sea of red last night as two-thirds of the roughly 300 people packing its meeting were teachers and staff who dressed in solidarity over concerns about a furlough policy.
Though the board does not currently plan any staff-wide furlough days, teachers expressed concern about how any days would be implemented and whether a future board might apply the policy differently.
"People are scared," Spotsylvania Education Association President Renee Beverly told the board.
After a motion from board member Linda Wieland and a second by Jim Gillespie, the board unanimously approved the furlough policy, which gives the board authority to implement up to 10 furlough days in a school year.
However, on a motion by board member Donald Holmes and a second by Amanda Blalock, the wording for staff contracts was amended so that the policy could not be implemented beyond the 2011-12 school year without new action by the School Board.
That move followed a request by teachers to limit how long a furlough policy could be used.
All board members and Superintendent Jerry Hill said last night that they hope to avoid implementing a staff-wide furlough.
"It is my hope that we don't do a furlough for anyone besides those of us who are already furloughed in the budget," Hill said.
The board approved a fiscal 2011 budget that is $15 million less than this year's budget. It includes furloughs only for top administrators.
Last night, Hill encouraged staff and parents to contact legislators to encourage them to pass the state budget proposed by the Senate. He said he fears the school division faces additional cuts once the state budget is approved.
"I believe we will be cut some more. I just don't know how much," he said.
For at least the third time this budget cycle, Hill expressed his displeasure that the Virginia General Assembly hasn't considered increasing the cigarette tax, which he said is the 49th lowest of the 50 states.
During public comment time last night, Beverly received a standing ovation from the teachers after she asked the board to limit the furlough policy to two years, and to limit the maximum number of days allowed to vary for different employees. She suggested administrators and principals have a maximum of 10 days, teachers a maximum of five days and support staff a maximum of three days.
She also noted the financial impact of a maximum furlough on teachers. She said a beginning teacher earning $38,000 per year, would lose $1,900 over 10 days, and that a teacher at step 5 earning $42,001 would lose $2,100.
Beverly also said teachers are concerned that, over time, furloughs could impact the retirement that school division staff members earn.
Teacher and parent Charlene Dougherty also asked that the furlough days be limited to five, and that they be spaced out so there would be no more than one per month so that the financial impact would be spread out. She noted that some households are two-teacher households and that a multi-day furlough month would be devastating to their ability to cover their expenses.
In separate action last night, the School Board switched one of the make-up days from April 2 to March 26 and approved April 2 to be used as a make-up day if students miss any more school because of bad weather. Students will now be making up three lost days on March 12, March 26 and April 1.
April 2 will be a teacher workday if it is not needed as a make-up day.
Pamela Gould: 540/735-1972
Email: pgould@freelancestar.com