York School Board Starts Hearing Feedback On Plan to Cut 55 Positions

By Amber Lester Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The bleak budget outlook for York County schools was foremost on the minds of board members and citizens at Monday’s school board meeting.

Based on a budget cut proposal from former Gov. Tim Kaine, York County could lose $4 million in state support while health and retirement fund costs rise by $1 million. To make up for the possible $5 million shortfall, York County Schools’ administration has suggested cutting 55 positions through attrition.

The 55 positions would include 31 teaching positions, eight paraeducators, eight School Board office employees and eight positions in operations and maintenance. The teaching positions would be cut from all three school levels. Read more about the proposal here.

During a public forum, two citizens expressed concern about the potential loss of teaching positions. Both acknowledged the board is facing tough budget constraints, but both implored the board to think before forcing class sizes to grow.

Deborah Buckley, a teacher in York schools and vice president of the York Education Association, said cutting 31 teachers is “quite drastic.” She said fewer teachers mean more children in each class, along with the blow of losing paraeducators who assist in the classroom. “I’m asking you to be cautious and careful,” she said.

Buckley told the board she currently has 25 students in her class, but previously has had up to 29 students at one time. “Four extra students means an extra pod,” she said. “It’s difficult to give students that one-on-one attention.”

She also told the board how difficult it is for teachers to live and work in York County with no raises or cost-of-living increases. “As a single parent who’s lived here for 10 years, I can tell you it’s difficult to live on a teacher’s salary in York County,” she said.

Buckley added that she recently ran into a male teacher who seemed to be growing a beard; when she asked him about it, he said he couldn’t afford to buy good razors.

In their board matters, the members recognized they heard Buckley’s pleas, but are facing unprecedented cuts. Vice Chair Dr. Robert George said, “I think one thing we can say is that all of us have one goal in mind and that’s quality education of our children.”

Chair Mark Medford said he’d received a letter from a paraeducator with suggestions about how to handle the cuts and hoped to receive more letters and e-mails. The entire budget outlook presentation, with links to Kaine’s budget proposal, can be found here.

Superintendent Eric Williams warned the proposed cuts could worsen depending on decisions made by new Gov. Bob McDonnell and the General Assembly. He also told the audience York County’s challenges are exacerbated by the fact the county already has the lowest per pupil spending on the Peninsula. “We’re already a very lean school district,” he said. “I’ll note we’re concerned because reductions in resources will affect teaching … we don’t want good schools; we want the excellent schools to which we’re accustomed.”

Board members will meet with local legislators in Richmond on Feb. 5.

Williams will present his proposed budget in mid-February.