The Spotsylvania County School Board meeting covered several agenda items: 1) Teachers advocated passionately for higher salaries, sharing stories about working multiple jobs and struggling financially on their salaries. 2) The board recommended approving a new student information system to replace the outdated DOS system and allow real-time access for parents, teachers, and students. 3) The board approved using $2.2 million in carried-over funds from the previous fiscal year to provide a $900 bonus for all school system employees. However, the board has little autonomy over salaries and must work through the county Board of Supervisors for budget changes.

1. +
A Glimpse
into Public
School
Governance
Spotsylvania County
School Board Meeting
Courtney Carbaugh
EDCI 506-01

2. +
The Meeting

Attendance:


More than 100 attendees
at start of meeting – mostly
parents in attendance for
student marching band
performance
25-50 attendees after
completion of marching
band performance – even
mix of teachers,
administrators, and parents

Date: October 14, 2013

Type: Regular Meeting

Location: Spotsylvania County
School Board Office, 8020 River
Stone Drive, Fredericksburg,
Virginia

3. +
Major Agenda Items
• Fine Arts Display
• Superintendent’s Award
• Recognition of
Chancellor High School
by Rappahannock
Choral Society
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Spotsylvania High
School Marching
Knights Performance
Opening
Items &
Instructional
Highlights
Action Items
• Recommendation for
New Student
Information System
Product
• Budget Amendment#6
– Approval of FY 2013
Carryover Funds
Recognition
and Awards
Comments
• Public Comments
• Board Member
Comments
• Superintendent’s
Report

4. +
Advocating for Teacher $alary
The public comment portion of the meeting turned out to be
nothing short of inspiring!
No fewer than 8 teachers stood as representatives of educators in their
schools to share stories about the impact of low teacher salaries and the
lack of step increases and cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) over the last
few years in Spotsylvania County.

5. “I rent out part of
my home and
teach 2 classes
at Germanna.”
“One SEA
member
works 3
jobs.”
“I can’t
afford to live
where I
work.”
+
“I make $130 more per
month after earning my
M.Ed.…which is less
than half of what is
needed to make my
student loan payment
for that degree.”
“We fight for our
students. Is there
someone willing
to stand for us??”
“I am more
than just a
teacher.”
“What is a
teacher
worth?”
“49% of SEA
members at
my school
have a
second job.”
“I’m not one to
speak in public,
but I am
stepping out of
my comfort zone
for this issue.”
“44% of
“No one has
started talking
about a plan
yet…a plan
equals hope.”
“My 2 teenage
sons work to
contribute to
the
household.”
SEA
members at
my school
have a
second job.”

6. +
Teacher $alary:
The School Board Role and Response
 Response
was
generally positive and
supportive
•
•
•
•
Commiseration over
“embarrassing” salary
situation
Current teacher on the
board offered that her role
as school board member is
her second job
Salary is a priority this year
Comments are appreciated
– “positive and touching”

But…ultimately budget for
teacher salary has to be
approved by the
Spotsylvania County
Board of Supervisors.
•
•
•
Teachers were encouraged
to repeat these comments at
the Board of Supervisor
Town Halls
Board asked teachers to
keep the conversation going
through the budget process
Superintendent: We will try
to stay responsive to those
needs

7. +
Reality of the School Board Roles &
Responsibilities
According to the text…

“School-board members are
responsible for all aspects of
employee relations[.]”

“The board must keep the
school district solvent and
get the most our of every
dollar.”
In reality…
One aspect of employee relations is
retention of employees, which includes
options like bonuses and salary increases.
The school board has no autonomy to utilize
these options.

The board is given a budget to manage, but
again they have very little autonomy (if any)
to prescribe funds as they see fit.

The teachers that spoke seemed frustrated
and discouraged to have the proverbial buck
passed from the school board to the Board
of Supervisors.

Gutek, G.L., Levine, D.U., Ornstein, A.C., & Vocke,
D.E. (2011). Foundations of Education (12th ed.).
California: Wadsworth.

In their fiscal role, the school board served
as little more than a sounding board in this
situation. This will be reflected again later in
the approval process for a budget
amendment for employee bonuses.

8. +
Spotsylvania Enters the 21st Century:
Recommendation for a New Student
Information System
The Recommendation Process
Workgroup formed
earlier to establish
needs and review
options
Workgroup
presentation of
research process and
recommendation
School Board to vote
on approval of
Edupoint
recommendation
Why does the county need a new student information system?
Currently the county is one of only three Virginia districts still using an old
DOS system, which does not offer real-time information. The county
seeks to increase end-users to include parents and teachers. It has also
become difficult to find tech staff to manage the program because this
kind of programming isn’t really taught anymore.

9. +
Spotsylvania Enters the 21st Century:
Recommendation for a New Student
Information System
Why should the school board approve the recommended Edupoint
student information system?

Real-time data

Would allow for combining of several programs currently in operation
under one system

District can control data that parents see (like grades)

Offers a mobile view

Would be ready for use by the first day of school 2014

Projected cost savings of $350,804 over the next 5 years by way of
retired programs and consolidated applications under this system

10. +
The School Board Likes
(Approved 6-0)
Questions before approval:

Compliant with “need-to-know”
privacy guidelines?


Legality of not issuing request for
proposal (RFP)?


Yes, customizable access and secure
system.
Approved by legal counsel because
similar districts have procured this
product.
Training before September for
teachers?

This
“School boards set the general
rules about what is done in the
schools, who does it, and how. The
shift to school-based management
has changed the what, who, and
how, permitting greater involvement
of teachers, school-based
administrators, and parent groups in
day-to-day school operation and
direction.” (p. 220)
Yes, hopefully beginning in July.


Grades can be entered directly
by teachers

Administrators could track
behavioral issues

Parents can have immediate
access to all of that information
Why is this the best product of
those reviewed?




Met all established needs
User-friendly
Company’s history with other districts
of similar size and make-up
Customizable programming
architecture

11. +
Better than a Jelly-of-the-Month Club
Membership:
Budget Carryover Becomes Possible Bonus
$2.2 million budget carryover funds from FY12
– Superintendent led initiative to find a way to
ensure this surplus went to teachers
Must be used for one-time cost only (no COLA
or step increases)
Allows for $900 bonus to be paid to
all school system employees –
payable by December 20
Tax applied at the FY12 rate
Should more than cover even the highest
employee healthcare contribution increases

12. +
Budget Carryover Approval:
Who’s The Boss?
• Approved! (6-0)
• “Even though we are
charged with operating
the schools […], we are
hamstrung by the
Board of Supervisors.”
School Board
County Finance
Committee
• Must review before
going to Board of
Supervisors
• Approved
• Will not even look at a
school budget
amendment unless it
has been approved by
School Board
• Awaiting approval
Board of
Supervisors
It was noted several times by both the board members and presenting budget staff that Dr. Scott
Baker, the Superintendent, should be commended for his efforts in leading this initiative. This effort
aligns with the textbook’s description of superintendent as “chief executive officer of the school
system” responsible for administrative management including budgeting (p. 222). It is also a politically
savvy move that should allow him to build some support among his teacher and taxpayer
stakeholders.

13. +
Lasting Impressions
Teachers
must
advocate for
their students
and
themselves!!