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…
Within minutes of beginning September’s open session, there was a controversial vote on the position of Director of Elementary Instruction and Federal Programs. The vote was to put a certain person in the position. I have no objection to this person or the last, but I do object to the position itself. I voted no because this was not a director’s position a few years ago and, in my experience, the highly structured methods and programs put in place by those in the position severely restrict teachers’ abilities to use their own professional judgment to tailor instruction to meet the needs of their unique group of learners. It’s a mouthful, I know. And I have other concerns. The motion to fill the position failed (2 in favor, 3 against) but I think the discussion will live on.
The first round of public comments drew 7 speakers, commenting on kindergarten staggered opening (teachers were appreciative), my opening day remarks (staff was supportive), testing (too much), and the first day bus fire.
Budget reports covered three years. Closing out 2018 gets us closer to a “carryover” amount for 2019, which is about $1.5 million BUT the timing of sales tax revenue reduces that by about $180k and another $500k is spoken for by state and federal programs we’re obligated to fulfill. Then another $470k is “promised” to the county for funds used for Carysbrook roof replacement.
The 2020 budget discussion began with the governor’s plan for a 3% raise BUT state funds would only cover positions required by the Standards of Quality. That includes only 219 out of our 500+ employees. To raise all salaries by 3% would cost us an additional $625k. I thought it sounded like a lot, too, so I asked twice. The administration is also looking at some large class sizes at the high school.
Two items of Unfinished Business came up. Ms. Stewart asked the Board to consider busing student voters to the polls during the school day in November. The admin will prepare a report for our next meeting. I asked if the Board was willing to discuss reducing the amount of testing we require in Fluvanna. At our last seminar we heard from the administration about testing. I’d also like input from those who give the tests and use the results for instruction. The Board agreed to have this future discussion.
A couple of action items were especially interesting. In addition to some simple changes to the teachers’ probationary policy, the Board voted 4-1 to change the terms of probation from 5 years back to 3.
We changed the date of the November meeting from the 14th to the 7th. I hated to make the switch, and we thought about not changing it since three of us would be available, but two requested the change and both the clerk and deputy clerk will be away on our regular day.
We were scheduled to vote again on the motion from last month that certainly felt like a reprimand to me concerning my opening day remarks to staff. However, Ms. Stewart and Ms. Pace rescinded their motions and the item was removed from the agenda. I was actually disappointed (and said so) because I was hoping for a vote of support from a majority of the Board, and would have preferred that as the last word. I respected the Board’s wish to move on, though, and somehow resisted the temptation to revive the motion myself!
For the last round of public comments, two teachers made it through the entire meeting to speak again in support of my opening day comments to staff. I am very grateful to everyone who came, spoke, emailed, shared a kind word, patted me on the shoulder. I needed it!
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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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