Thanks for reading Fluco Blog. I’m Perrie Johnson, Fork Union’s representative to the Fluvanna County School Board. My goal with Fluco Blog is to let people know what’s going on at School Board meetings beyond the reports available online. Be forewarned, when it comes to discussion, most of the comments I remember turn out to be mine! Here’s the latest…
The Aug. 9 meeting wrapped up a lot of work that started last year, putting plans into action for 2017-18. The Board approved the gifted plan, capital improvements plan, and standards of quality plan. We almost didn’t approve the monthly bills, because two of us objected to the Board’s payment of $470 for an administrator’s membership in their professional association. While I’m a big fan of these organizations, we have over 100 teachers and staff who belong to a very similar association but pay the $500 dues out of their own pocket. Also, the membership included a legal liability benefit described this way, ‘You’ll have peace of mind knowing that if your school district…refuses to defend you, your back-up plan is in place. Your affiliation with the Trust for Insuring Educators makes this valuable member benefit possible’. I gave essentially this same speech last year when we paid about $5600 for several memberships.
I didn’t do all the talking. We actually had a speaker address the Board during time for public comments. This gentleman recently wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper and came to the Board repeating his concern about grade inflation, noting that almost a third of our 9th graders received straight A’s at the end of last year. It’s great to get speakers, we seldom do, but awkward because we’re not allowed to engage with them in that setting.
Another awkward moment (for me) was the lack of discussion about the probable $1.7 million in leftover funds from last year. About $400-600,000 of that is dedicated to specific purposes by the state and federal government, but the rest goes back to the local government to keep or reassign to the schools. The Board Chair opened the subject (of what we might ask to use the funds for, I assume) but discussion was tabled until final numbers are available in Sept.
One of the last items of old business was a report from principals on how teachers get instructional supplies. This year’s budget allocates about $1500 per classroom for supplies.
Central/West Central does not release a specific budgeted amount to teachers from their $52,000. Requests go through the office of the principal. Central’s principal reports positive feedback about this arrangement versus an allocation by person. (I did not receive the same feedback from many teachers. I told the Board my impression was teachers prefer to do their own shopping, rather than asking for things from the administration. They know just what they need in terms of quality and specific features, and don’t always get what they’d hoped for when someone else does the ordering. Somehow the conversation began to veer toward teachers versus principals and I interrupted to say not one teacher inferred principals were unsupportive, only that purchasing can be more efficient if teachers are given more control.)
Last year Carysbrook teachers were allocated $450 each and could make further specific requests of the administration.
Fluvanna Middle School teachers received $250 last year and $400 this year. Of course, additional requests from the $62,500 will be considered by the administration.
At Fluvanna County High School this year, all classroom teachers were given an allocation of $1,036.60 per teacher for the year.
I brought up one more issue about instructional supplies that teachers shared with me. (I visited the schools the week before the children came to try and welcome and thank teachers individually.) They had another suggestion related to the control of purchasing. Many felt limited to ordering from Staples Business Advantage and Faye’s Office Supply and sometimes couldn’t get just what they needed, or get the best price. The superintendent said over 2000 vendors are approved, so I assume there’s a disconnect in communication somewhere.
The next meeting seems a long way away but I need some time to understand more about vocational certification scores, the detailed 2018 budget, and some decisions associated with transportation. At least that’s my list THIS morning.
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This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. The views expressed in this blog are purely my own and do not represent the Fluvanna County School Board, the school superintendent, or anyone else. Comments added by others are not necessarily my opinions and I am not responsible for their content.
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