The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
The School Board agreed Tuesday to ask the City Council to increase the amount Norfolk spends on public schools, which currently is $101 million.
The board has struggled to find ways to offset a shortfall of about $41 million caused by higher fixed expenses and cuts in state funding. The board plans to vote on next year's budget at a meeting tonight; it begins at 6 at Granby High School.
The budget proposed by Superintendent Stephen Jones would eliminate more than 400 positions and cut programs, including the Coronado school for pregnant teens.
"We have to put our city leaders on notice - they know we need more money," board member Kirk Houston said Tuesday.
"It is our job to fight for the school system we think we are," Vice Chairwoman Ursula Rhodes said in agreement.
The board did not stipulate how much of an increase it would seek and agreed it will not skimp on major spending cuts.
"Nothing is off the table, except that we don't feel compelled to go to the city and ask only for level funding," Chairman Stephen Tonelson said.
Some c ouncil members favor giving the school division more support, but they have not given specifics.
One possible cutback discussed at the School Board's meeting was closing and merging certain schools. Member Jim Driggers said he is asked by constituents why the division hasn't closed any schools even as enrollment has declined.
Given the option of severely whittling personnel and programs or school closings, Driggers said, he is "much more for consolidation than decimation."
But member Linda McCluney said it is already too late in the year to engineer closings, and member Billy Cook called closings a last resort.
Steven G. Vegh, (757) 446-2417, steven.vegh@pilotonline.com
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Way off base...
I personally think the teachers deserve better pay. But the problem is the city of Norfolk has wasted tons of cash on the Light Rail project. WAY over budget and still not operational. The city just doesn't have anymore money to give to teachers while they are piling the cash into light rail. The issue is not that teachers are bad or over paid. It has NOTHING to do with the teachers at this point. Norfolk is stuck with 2 options, cut services or raise taxes. Neither is palatable, but something needs to be done before the city is bankrupt and then nothing gets done.
Just a thought...
but they have tenure
There is tenure for teachers in NPS...a guaranteed job for life no matter what your performance is. That is the root cause of problems in higher education at colleges and universities and now it has spread to local schools.
Mikewill you should at the
Mikewill you should at the very least know what you're talking about before you post comments. First of all there is no tenure for teachers in Norfolk and second, they are not guaranteed a job period.
tenure
Teachers in Norfolk do not have 'tenure'. They have a continuing contract, after three years, which says they cannot be fired without notice or due process. For the first three years, there is no job security. Teachers can have their jobs terminated without being given any reason.
I will not argue that all teachers are great; any profession can have people who do not work to expectations. Bad or incompetent teachers should not have a job...just like bad doctors, lawyers, plumbers, etc. Of course individuals who are found guilty of lying and falsifying data should be suitably punished. Based on the postings, many people have already found the principal in question guilty. Please remember that there has been no formal trial or administrative review, just a report that found her at fault. She has not yet had an opportunity to formally respond to the charges or present any evidence to support her side of the story.
Untrue
Where do you get your information? It is simply untrue that teachers are guaranteed a job for life. "Tenure" in Norfolk means that, after three years on the job, in order to fire a teacher, due process must be followed. Verify your facts before you add to the disinformation that is already confusing the issues, unless you are one of those who prefers truthiness to truth.
Huh?
What does tenure have to do with the budget shortfall of NPS? Would you rather see a system that undervalues experienced teachers?
Where do you come up with stuff?
Education
Both Jax and iqdou need an education. Virginia does not allow unions for teachers; they have Associations which have very little (if any) power.
Although NPS teachers get an annual contract, it is not a guaranteed paycheck for life.
Jax, they have already removed the principal of the school that was found to have testing irregularities. Ignorance can be the only reason someone would post such a hateful remark about the hard working teachers and administrators of NPS. I am glad that you don't live in my city.
My Ignorance..
..and so called "hatefull comments" are the culmination of teaching NPS young adults at an area vocational school. A few "demanded" I pass them! Fat chance! I flunked them and they dropped out of the program! They never showed up for class. And when they did show up, one was high.
As to the principle who was removed?...she was removed and moved to another position with the same pay and benefits! That is "Nawfawk" justice-that or she knew enough about some dirt somewhere!
There ARE hard working teachers in NPS, though you could stand to let some administrators go or if they choose-back to teaching (if they dare answer the call)
And as to living in "your" city? I'm glad I don't live in "good ol Nawfawk"! Your glad I don't live there-so we are both glad and happy!
Best wishes
one more thing....
i know very well 2 retired NPS teachers and they would argue until the cows came home this comment of yours:
"hard working teachers and administrators of NPS"
BUT, they would also defend the principal's actions saying that what she is accused of doing came from 'the top'....
What?
So what do you personally know about the situation? Not much, it sounds like. Wait until they get a little deeper into the investigation, and I hope the Pilot reporters don't back off from digging around.