Stafford County teachers and other school employees will receive a step increase this year that will cover April 1 through June 30, the School Board decided yesterday.
And this time the vote is final.
Board members unanimously agreed to retroactively implement the average 2.5 percent raise, which they originally approved in December.
The 184 school employees at the top of their pay scales--who aren't eligible for a step increase--will receive $1,000 stipends for the fiscal year that ends June 30, based on the School Board's vote yesterday.
Supervisors provided about $1 million for the raises late last year after the county discovered a $6.2 million surplus. About $850,000 of the money will fund the step increase, which is based on years of experience, for a little more than 3,000 employees. The rest will be for the one-time stipends.
The School Board in March voted to hold off on the step raise until it had more information on the 2010-11 budget. It voted twice this month to continue to hold in abeyance the money for the increase--most recently last Wednesday.
School Superintendent David Sawyer recommended at a work session last Friday that the division retroactively implement the step increase and continue to fund it in 2010-11 at a cost of $3.4 million.
"Certainly, we're relieved that they finally made a decision," said Jannette Martin, president of the Stafford Education Association. "And I think it's the right decision."
She said she's pleased employees at the top of their pay scales also will receive additional compensation, even though the stipend doesn't count toward retirement.
School Board Chairwoman Dana Reinboldt said she didn't want to "go out on a limb" and speculate whether the step raise will continue for the fiscal year that begins July 1. "We will see," she said. She said she thinks the step raise will make Stafford more competitive with school systems to the south, including Spotsylvania County.
The School Board has not set a date to approve its final 2010-11 spending plan. The division is receiving almost $6 million less from county supervisors than it requested.
At a work session yesterday, the School Board discussed recommendations Sawyer had presented last Friday to balance the system's budget. Sawyer had proposed retaining 31 positions, which he originally suggested eliminating through attrition. Twenty-five are teachers; four are paraprofessionals; and 2 are school security guards.
Sawyer proposed paying for 10 of the positions with almost $700,000 that was made available after the state waived some contributions to the Virginia Retirement System. The School Board didn't seem to have a problem with that plan.
But a majority rejected Sawyer's proposal to move five principal interns to teaching positions and pay for the remaining jobs with savings from vacancies, resignations, etc.--referred to as a salary lapse.
Members asked Sawyer to consider other ways to keep the jobs, which are budgeted at a little more than $1 million. Reinboldt suggested reassigning three technology resource teachers. The division has one of those employees at each school, which she said is three more than the state requires.
Sawyer, who retires June 30, appeared upset after some School Board members suggested putting 17 instructional coordinators back in the classroom. Those employees monitor the curriculum, among other tasks, and without them, "you don't have a school division," Sawyer said in an exasperated tone. "It's like saying you have a school without a library," he continued.
Still, member Stephanie Johnson asked Sawyer to look at ways to put those employees back in the classroom--if only on a part-time basis.
The School Board was also uncomfortable with Saw-yer's proposal to spend $600,000 less on utilities than what the division had originally budgeted and asked him to come back with a different plan.
"What happens if we have some sort of catastrophic event that needs to be taken care of?" Reinboldt said.
Instead, members discussed cutting the two positions in the division's office of resource development, as well as an accountability specialist. Member Patricia Healy called the resource development office a "luxury." Member Doreen Phillips called it "invaluable," especially with today's economy.
The department partners with businesses to create grants, scholarships and other opportunities for the division. Sawyer called administration an "easy target" and vehemently disagreed with proposed reductions. He said Stafford's central office is the most "sparsely populated" he has ever been a part of.
The division must notify employees of layoffs by Tuesday. The board has scheduled its next budget work session for Monday at 8:30 a.m. in the Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex.
Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com