administrator
02-23-2008, 10:29 AM
By Jennifer Zajac
The two highest priorities for Fluvanna County’s schools are salaries and positions, according to Superintendent Dr. Thomas W.D. Smith, who held an evening public discussion February 5 at Central Elementary School to address 2008-2009 school budget issues.
These priorities were determined by an advisory board for Smith that consists of teachers, parents and other county representatives who do not have any affiliation with the county schools.
Preliminary estimates call for a 22.6 percent increase in the school budget, or $8.2 million more than this year's academic budget of $36.3 million. The state provides approximately 56 percent of the funding for the school system; Fluvanna County provides roughly 43 percent and the federal government contributes about 1 percent.
“I think that the two greatest needs are maintaining a competitive salary scale and adding new staff positions. The cost of these two items make up the majority of the increases requested,” said Smith.
The superintendent noted other significant costs that are contributing to the budget increase estimates, including the repair of Central Elementary's auditorium. Repair estimates range from $150,000 to $400,000, depending on whether the auditorium seats and the HVAC is replaced when the other work is completed, according to Smith.
Staff and teacher salaries must remain competitive in order to maintain–or gain–a competitive edge over the surrounding counties, Smith said. Fluvanna ranks third in terms of beginning teacher salaries, with a starting salary of $39,903 for 2007-2008. Albemarle ranks first, with $40,265 and Charlottesville came in second, with $40,000. Although the difference in salaries is only a few hundred dollars, Smith noted that given escalating fuel prices and home values, those few hundred dollars do make a difference to potential candidates.
Teachers are scheduled to receive a 4 percent cost-of-living salary increase in the 2008-2009 academic year; classified workers will receive a 6 percent pay raise. Smith said.
Few, if any teachers with less than approximately 17 years of experience can afford to live on their salary alone in Fluvanna County, given current housing prices and the shortage of places to rent, according to Smith.
Smith noted that the schools seek out experienced teachers as well. “We’re better off with more experienced teachers,” he said, adding that there is a concern that schools will not be able to replace teachers who have more than two decades of experience. Both nationally and statewide, there is a shortage of qualified teachers.
“In addition, the requirements of No Child Left Behind have reduced the number of persons that could teach on a modified or conditional teaching license,” Smith said in a follow-up e-mail to The Fluvanna Review.
“While not always the case, a beginning teacher is typically in the process of learning their craft for the first three years. By the time that they reach the ten to 15-year mark in their career, they are considered a master teacher. Generally, we would rather have someone who is at this point in their career level. I use the term ‘generally’ because we are fortunate to [have] some excellent teachers in both categories.”
Several staffing positions have been identified that should be filled or created in order to meet academic standards, Smith said. Fluvanna schools require more teachers in order to establish smaller classes, provide more resources, and assist with teaching children so that they read on their appropriate grade levels.
“We need a unified approach and we need a staff to do so,” said Smith. For example, subject coordinators are needed to ensure that teachers throughout the school system are aware of what is being taught at each grade level.
Why does the school give back money when it needs money?
Smith has faced criticism since he took the superintendent position during the 2002-2003 academic year about returning funds to the county each year despite rising enrollment and expenses.
When asked to explain why this occurs, Smith said that schools are prohibited by Virginia laws “from going one penny over budget.” Most school systems build a cushion of 2 to 3 percent in the budget to avoid overspending; Smith has managed to cut down that cushion to a mere 1 percent.
While most school systems are permitted to roll over any leftover funds from an academic year into the next one, the practice of Fluvanna County for nearly two decades has been to return those funds to the county, where it is placed in a general fund. The county Board of Supervisors ultimately makes the decision how to allocate unspent county funds and he does not know the current Board’s position on the matter at this time.
When asked via e-mail whether the county Board of Supervisors (BOS) would consider allowing the county schools to roll over any leftover funds into the following academic year's budget, Charles Allbaugh, vice-chairman of the BOS and representative of the Rivanna District, said, “I am not opposed to considering this; however, I would want any carryovers to be used for capital projects and not operations. With the new high school and the increased debt service, we may want to look at some of those unused funds being allocated to a special fund for school construction debt service.”
Allbaugh added that it is “very unfair” to criticize the school system for returning funds.
“The school system, in my opinion, has taken a position of not wasting money in this manner and I commend them for that,” he said.
Smith said during his presentation that a two-year budget approach would help his ability to plan for future expenditures.
"I would love to be able to look past year-to-year budgets and work on two-year budget plans," said Smith. "That way I can begin to plan for new teacher salaries and not play catch-up."
Allbaugh said that given the political climate, it would be very difficult to implement a two-year budget plan for the schools.
“It is hard enough to forecast revenue for a single year and to go out another year could be disastrous if we did not forecast correctly so I would not be in favor of that approach.”
Late Notices on Canceled School Day
Separately, Smith provided an explanation as to why families received a late notification about the cancelled school day on February 1.
Although administrators informed Honeywell Access Systems to send out the automated voicemail messages about the school closings at 6:15 a.m., the company had technical issues that caused Fluvanna County alerts–along with many other school districts–to go out after 7 a.m., when many children are already at bus stops. Smith said he only received one phone call complaining about the late notice but was aware of the inconvenience it may have caused families. He noted that the decision as to whether or not school will be delayed or closed must be made by 5:30 a.m., “and I admit, I’m on the cautious side. I have to think not only about the 3,800 children we’re transporting, but the 100 or so high school students that are in cars driving on those roads.”
New High School Update
The final designs for the new high school are expected to be in by late summer, Smith said. Once the final designs are in, the BOS will need to take action to put the construction work out for bid.
Allbaugh believes the current housing slowdown will be a blessing in disguise.
“We may be catching the market at a time where construction costs are leveling off and contractors are looking for work so it may be to our advantage to build at this time,” he said.
“It is going to be another three years before the first student will walk through the doors of the new high school. I believe that housing will pick up by then and we will look back and say we made a good decision.”
Bus Driver Shortage
Currently, there are approximately five bus driver vacancies. The job requires 1.5 hours of work in the morning, 1.5 hours in the afternoon and pays an annual salary of about $10,500 for 180 days of work.
If interested, please contact Maurice Carter, assistant superintendent for administration, at 589-8208.
Smith said that several teachers also drive a bus. “While our transportation supervisor fills in when a bus driver is out, the schedule generally does not allow an administrator to drive,” he added in a follow-up e-mail to The Fluvanna Review.
Low Turnout for Budget Presentation
Although flyers went home with every elementary student in the county, only four parents attended Smith’s presentation.
“I want people to be engaged in conversations,” said Smith. “We want parent participation.”
He noted that Charlottesville’s population is moving east and Short Pump’s population is spreading west, with Fluvanna County right in the middle.
“Fluvanna’s population is going to grow. That’s not going to change. Fluvanna County’s a great place to be, a great place to raise your children and the Fluvanna County school system is one of the largest employers in the county right now. We are the hub for the community.”
The two highest priorities for Fluvanna County’s schools are salaries and positions, according to Superintendent Dr. Thomas W.D. Smith, who held an evening public discussion February 5 at Central Elementary School to address 2008-2009 school budget issues.
These priorities were determined by an advisory board for Smith that consists of teachers, parents and other county representatives who do not have any affiliation with the county schools.
Preliminary estimates call for a 22.6 percent increase in the school budget, or $8.2 million more than this year's academic budget of $36.3 million. The state provides approximately 56 percent of the funding for the school system; Fluvanna County provides roughly 43 percent and the federal government contributes about 1 percent.
“I think that the two greatest needs are maintaining a competitive salary scale and adding new staff positions. The cost of these two items make up the majority of the increases requested,” said Smith.
The superintendent noted other significant costs that are contributing to the budget increase estimates, including the repair of Central Elementary's auditorium. Repair estimates range from $150,000 to $400,000, depending on whether the auditorium seats and the HVAC is replaced when the other work is completed, according to Smith.
Staff and teacher salaries must remain competitive in order to maintain–or gain–a competitive edge over the surrounding counties, Smith said. Fluvanna ranks third in terms of beginning teacher salaries, with a starting salary of $39,903 for 2007-2008. Albemarle ranks first, with $40,265 and Charlottesville came in second, with $40,000. Although the difference in salaries is only a few hundred dollars, Smith noted that given escalating fuel prices and home values, those few hundred dollars do make a difference to potential candidates.
Teachers are scheduled to receive a 4 percent cost-of-living salary increase in the 2008-2009 academic year; classified workers will receive a 6 percent pay raise. Smith said.
Few, if any teachers with less than approximately 17 years of experience can afford to live on their salary alone in Fluvanna County, given current housing prices and the shortage of places to rent, according to Smith.
Smith noted that the schools seek out experienced teachers as well. “We’re better off with more experienced teachers,” he said, adding that there is a concern that schools will not be able to replace teachers who have more than two decades of experience. Both nationally and statewide, there is a shortage of qualified teachers.
“In addition, the requirements of No Child Left Behind have reduced the number of persons that could teach on a modified or conditional teaching license,” Smith said in a follow-up e-mail to The Fluvanna Review.
“While not always the case, a beginning teacher is typically in the process of learning their craft for the first three years. By the time that they reach the ten to 15-year mark in their career, they are considered a master teacher. Generally, we would rather have someone who is at this point in their career level. I use the term ‘generally’ because we are fortunate to [have] some excellent teachers in both categories.”
Several staffing positions have been identified that should be filled or created in order to meet academic standards, Smith said. Fluvanna schools require more teachers in order to establish smaller classes, provide more resources, and assist with teaching children so that they read on their appropriate grade levels.
“We need a unified approach and we need a staff to do so,” said Smith. For example, subject coordinators are needed to ensure that teachers throughout the school system are aware of what is being taught at each grade level.
Why does the school give back money when it needs money?
Smith has faced criticism since he took the superintendent position during the 2002-2003 academic year about returning funds to the county each year despite rising enrollment and expenses.
When asked to explain why this occurs, Smith said that schools are prohibited by Virginia laws “from going one penny over budget.” Most school systems build a cushion of 2 to 3 percent in the budget to avoid overspending; Smith has managed to cut down that cushion to a mere 1 percent.
While most school systems are permitted to roll over any leftover funds from an academic year into the next one, the practice of Fluvanna County for nearly two decades has been to return those funds to the county, where it is placed in a general fund. The county Board of Supervisors ultimately makes the decision how to allocate unspent county funds and he does not know the current Board’s position on the matter at this time.
When asked via e-mail whether the county Board of Supervisors (BOS) would consider allowing the county schools to roll over any leftover funds into the following academic year's budget, Charles Allbaugh, vice-chairman of the BOS and representative of the Rivanna District, said, “I am not opposed to considering this; however, I would want any carryovers to be used for capital projects and not operations. With the new high school and the increased debt service, we may want to look at some of those unused funds being allocated to a special fund for school construction debt service.”
Allbaugh added that it is “very unfair” to criticize the school system for returning funds.
“The school system, in my opinion, has taken a position of not wasting money in this manner and I commend them for that,” he said.
Smith said during his presentation that a two-year budget approach would help his ability to plan for future expenditures.
"I would love to be able to look past year-to-year budgets and work on two-year budget plans," said Smith. "That way I can begin to plan for new teacher salaries and not play catch-up."
Allbaugh said that given the political climate, it would be very difficult to implement a two-year budget plan for the schools.
“It is hard enough to forecast revenue for a single year and to go out another year could be disastrous if we did not forecast correctly so I would not be in favor of that approach.”
Late Notices on Canceled School Day
Separately, Smith provided an explanation as to why families received a late notification about the cancelled school day on February 1.
Although administrators informed Honeywell Access Systems to send out the automated voicemail messages about the school closings at 6:15 a.m., the company had technical issues that caused Fluvanna County alerts–along with many other school districts–to go out after 7 a.m., when many children are already at bus stops. Smith said he only received one phone call complaining about the late notice but was aware of the inconvenience it may have caused families. He noted that the decision as to whether or not school will be delayed or closed must be made by 5:30 a.m., “and I admit, I’m on the cautious side. I have to think not only about the 3,800 children we’re transporting, but the 100 or so high school students that are in cars driving on those roads.”
New High School Update
The final designs for the new high school are expected to be in by late summer, Smith said. Once the final designs are in, the BOS will need to take action to put the construction work out for bid.
Allbaugh believes the current housing slowdown will be a blessing in disguise.
“We may be catching the market at a time where construction costs are leveling off and contractors are looking for work so it may be to our advantage to build at this time,” he said.
“It is going to be another three years before the first student will walk through the doors of the new high school. I believe that housing will pick up by then and we will look back and say we made a good decision.”
Bus Driver Shortage
Currently, there are approximately five bus driver vacancies. The job requires 1.5 hours of work in the morning, 1.5 hours in the afternoon and pays an annual salary of about $10,500 for 180 days of work.
If interested, please contact Maurice Carter, assistant superintendent for administration, at 589-8208.
Smith said that several teachers also drive a bus. “While our transportation supervisor fills in when a bus driver is out, the schedule generally does not allow an administrator to drive,” he added in a follow-up e-mail to The Fluvanna Review.
Low Turnout for Budget Presentation
Although flyers went home with every elementary student in the county, only four parents attended Smith’s presentation.
“I want people to be engaged in conversations,” said Smith. “We want parent participation.”
He noted that Charlottesville’s population is moving east and Short Pump’s population is spreading west, with Fluvanna County right in the middle.
“Fluvanna’s population is going to grow. That’s not going to change. Fluvanna County’s a great place to be, a great place to raise your children and the Fluvanna County school system is one of the largest employers in the county right now. We are the hub for the community.”