The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Four pallbearers carried a black "casket" decked with flowers and bearing the words "Norfolk Public Schools" as more than 60 teachers and other school division employees marched behind in the bitter cold Wednesday evening.
The Norfolk Federation of Teachers members - most clad in black and one hobbling with a crutch- were mourning a school division facing the potential loss of 230 positions and the prospect of frozen pay next school year because of funding cuts.
"It's time to hear what we say!" the group chanted, holding signs demanding promised salary increases for veteran teachers and no cuts to school funding as they stood in front of Lake Taylor Middle School right before a public hearing on the schools budget was to start.
As the march wound down, Superintendent Stephen C. Jones, the man behind the proposal to eliminate positions, approached.
Jones told them he understood their concerns. He said he did not want one single person to lose his or her job but that the issue was the funding the schools may receive from the city and state. Things could change for the better when it becomes clear how much money the division will receive from the federal stimulus plan, but it's still an unknown, he said.
At $314.6 million, Jones' preliminary budget is $16 million less than the current year's plan.
That's because officials have been anticipating losing about $22.6 million in city and state funding, but about $6.5 million saved from a soft hiring freeze this school year would help offset the losses.
Under Jones' plan, 95 teaching jobs would be cut and 14 percent of administrative posts would be eliminated.
All told, about two-thirds of the 230 jobs on the chopping block would be lost through attrition, officials have said.
During the hearing, more than 100 people showed, and 15 voiced their concerns to the School Board. Some said they understood the economy is in turmoil but that the division could have planned better.
Monte Lloyd Mercer, president of the Education Association of Norfolk, said, "I am aware that times are hard everywhere, and they will be even harder in the homes of employees who must live with rising costs without rising salaries."
Board Chairman Barry Bishop said there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. After the meeting, he said the school division has heard it may be receiving as much as $12 million in federal stimulus money. If that holds, "I believe we are going to be in a position to restore many of the proposed personnel cuts," he said.
Board member Billy Cook said the extra money will prompt some board members to ask how they can cut fewer positions and give some pay increases.
Cheryl Ross, (757) 446-2443, cheryl.ross@pilotonline.com
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I may have been a little harsh on teachers
I will admit that I may have been a little harsh on teachers in my earlier comment. I am sure that most teachers out there are very dedicated to their profession and take pride in their students. I also realize that they have a pretty high level of education for their pay. I have also heard that they are restricted in many ways by the government from teaching the way that they would like to. I apoligize to those I have offended unfairly. However, I wonder how many of you would have the courage to support a voucher program that would enable people of lesser means to have a real choice of what school they can send their children to and see what they choose.
Please don't show this on Friday
I would like to go on with the weekend and since my husband has been on his job for 28 yrs, has had to cut back his hours, just like everyone else's pain, we can deal with it by doing some yard work, walk the dog and enjoy the beautiful warm weather. Everyone is in the same scenario but feeling that one career is more tragic, I don't agree. Please don't show me crying at the gas pump, grocery store trying to add up my purchase, pay my insurance and mortgage like everyone else.
"RIP Norfolk Public Schools"
That says it all. And I'm not knocking the good, loyal, hard-working, and under-paid teachers. STIMULUS SCHMIMULUS! While the teachers certainly deserve higher pay, money isn't going to fix THIS school system. The administration hierarchy needs to lose their tunnel vision on drop-out numbers for a few years and have the courage to give the schools a good fumigating. Yes, the (so-called) graduation rates are the name of the game with respect to state standards and accreditation, but we are now in a vicious cycle of clinging onto every warm body for as long as we can hoping we can count him/her as a "graduate." And in this process, we are poisoning the schools, discouraging the serious students, and frustrating good teachers. IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT. Clean house. Throw the bums out. Take some statistical hits for few years. Start all over with a student population rid of the vermin. Watch graduation rates (legitimately) climb and teacher morale soar. It's time to stop talking and start acting.
education cuts
the first thing we all need to ask is where is the money we collect from the lottery the lottery always have signs everywhere talking about all the millions they donate where is it shouln't that bring money to offset some of these cuts when someone wins 212 million they only get 160 million there should be some money somewhere for our children if the sole purpose when lobbied for was for education where is the money we need our teachers and our children need more of them more security and more exercise calling on all to ask where is the money do we need an audit
The bottom line is that we
The bottom line is that we (by which I mean me) are counting on those kids in the public schools to grow up and become responsible and productive members of society. Therefore, I support public schools. America can not afford to go into the 21st century with an uneducated population. That way lies the third world. Whining about the problems in our imperfect system or flinging mud at the teaching profession is about as useful as burying your head in the sand. The loss of those teachers equals a loss of capability in the school system. None of us should be for that. Perhaps we should be mourning. It may seem a little over the top for those teachers to protest in the manner they did, and their expectations likely will not be met. But the simple act of protesting does not make them villains.
ACF: I'm right there with you e.g. "buzz-work "education"" and "Problem is . . ."
Government Edukation is the problem
Perhaps Bob didn’t convey his views absolutely correctly. However, he is spot on. Perhaps it’s not the NPS teachers that are sub-standard compared to private school teachers. I have no doubt that there are some very talented and dedicated educators that have a genuine concern for their pupils. However, if you want to chastise certain populace in the NPS system, look at the leaches that call themselves Administrators. Perhaps an educated expose on government mandates would reveal shocking results. How about looking at all the ridiculous programs and restrictions that public teachers have to endure that prevent the “quality” education they need to perform. Private school teachers don’t have to be subjected to government idiocy. The bottom line, you want you children to be educated at the level the government decides, then, by all means, put them in NPS. But if you want them to be better than average, you might want to seek out the private education sector.
to ricke69229: re: illiterate comments
1. Learn to write. Please. Obviously the teachers YOU have encountered didn't manage to teach you the difference between a possessive and a plural ("summer's off" -what??). I guess that's why you think teachers are ineffective?
2. Show me a teacher who has summers off instead of spending it taking more classes--because I've never met any of these teachers with their "free summers." (see that--SUMMERS is plural!)
excuse me??
"Good for those teachers. At least they're advocating for themselves because if they wait for the public to advocate for them"
I could have sworn these teachers are protected by their UNION. Something many, many, many of us don't have. Unlike police, fire and rescue, teachers are way over-paid. Ones that have been in the system for years cried and boohooed a few years ago wanting compensation because newer teachers were starting out at almost the same salary as they were currently making. Hello! That's called inflation. MANY of us in private sectors haven't seen a decent raise in years and a cost of living increase.....what's that? I know a few retired teachers and trust me -- they've got nice, cushy lives and bank accounts. Teachers underpaid? Gimmee a break. Many are overpaid and underperform. I've seen it firsthand in my kids schools.
What do these people expect?
It appears that this group is looking for a free handout or something. The quality of the education in the Norfolk Public School system is terrible. They need to clean house snd get rid of some of these underperforming teachers. Besides, the economy is in a state of emergency right now and everyone across the board is suffering.
Do you teachers want some whine with that cheese?
Consider this
The teachers are PART of the problem. Children are not being taught responsibility for their actions in the home, OR in the schools.
"Oh, dont fail little Johnny, it will hurt his feelings".
BAH.
If the teachers taught, and the students learned, then we wouldn't be asking for government handouts, and we wouldn't be in this mess.
Worse, I remember applying for an IT position in the school system, and I was turned down for being "Over qualified". Wouldn't over qualified be better than under qualified?