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The school board is responsible
At the April 25 Board of Supervisors public hearing on the proposed 08-09-school budget, one thing was quite evident. Most of the speakers obviously spoke with the idea that they were addressing the right board. But, many of the statements should have been directed to the school board not the Board of Supervisors.Dozens of speakers who spoke in support of the budget complained of low teacher salaries. They missed the boat. The school board sets salary levels, not the Board of Supervisors.
Many speakers complained about photocopiers at the schools, teachers spending hundreds of dollars of their own money for classroom supplies, and the disrepair of buses. Overall, the school board received more funding than they initially requested in the last 12 years. The school board and the superintendent are the sole administrators of the schools and are responsible for all management in the school system. These are problems to be directed to the superintendent and the school board, not the Board of Supervisors.
What’s amazing is that some school board members complained of some of these same things. But, who’s responsible? They are.
It's very hard to understand the school budget document. It is not designed to be understood easily. But the budgetary process is a different matter. It should be open to all for free discussion and the exchange of ideas. The public should be able to come away with some, if not all, of their questions answered.
Every year, the Board of Supervisors hears the battle cry, "Our teachers are at the bottom of all the surrounding counties starting teacher salaries."
Every year the school board proposes an increase in pay of 2 ½ – 3 ½ percent every year. As long as every county around us gives out similar raises, then next year, the school board has a built in battle cry "lowest starting teacher salary" and it has been this way for years.
The 35-step scale is developed and administered by the school board and it is the school board's responsibility. Theirs alone. Yet, each and every year, the public is led to believe that somehow it is the Board of Supervisor's fault that the starting salary is lower than the surrounding counties. For some reason, the school board believes this too.
The school board has the ability to change the 35-step scale to one that is shorter. This would adjust the starting salary and the salaries of the current teachers to a rate comparable with the surrounding counties.
I hope by sharing this information with the public, there will be a better understanding of the school budget process, the administration of the school system and who holds responsibility for these matters – the school board, not the Board of Supervisors.
Ron Frazier
Amissville
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