Teachers in the Barrow County School System are looking at three furlough days in the fall as a result of a mandate from the Governor’s office.
With Barrow County school officials having to deal with the Governor’s mandated three-day furloughs, superintendent Ron Saunders recommended last Thursday during a called meeting that the three days be in November. Saunders had recommended to the board that Nov. 3 be the first of three furlough days for 190-day employees with the next two being during Thanksgiving holidays.
The Thanksgiving holidays would now be extended to a week with two of the days being unpaid for teachers.
“We met with the principals, some assistant principals and staff about what approach to take,” Saunders told board members last week. “Some wanted to take the days during pre-planning but I didn’t feel good about that.”
The three furlough days must be taken by December and Saunders cautioned there may be more in the future.
“What we have to consider is this is just a start,” the superintendent said. “We have a fund balance we have gone into. We are going to have to survive the next two budget years without counting on revenue coming in.”
From what I've seen, that's where most complaints come from and although you'll say "No, that's not the reason" I'm willing to bet that would be at least a half-truth.
Taxpayer, look at how many years Ann Cronic has been with the BOE and the experience she has. And no, before you say I'm part of the system or part of her family or a good friend, you'd be wrong. I asked about this the last time it came up, and while her salary may seem high, it's probably pretty well in comparison to other counties. Travel expense is really very low - one or two seminars could take care of that. Sorry, can't agree with the "glorified secretary" when she's in charge of insurance, hiring our teachers and keeping them in Barrow County, keep up with time, number of employees in the system and a number of things you nor I could possibly come up with the answers for.
Keeping teachers in Barrow County has been a real problem for us.
To the other taxpayer, no one ever looks at the fact that that athletic director oversees all athletics in the school and he/she is responsible for teaching
I know there are others like her in the system. I say, get rid of them and hire new teaches. Not only would this lower the budget but it would also give the job to those who still want to teach and are not just passing time til retirement.