Superintendent recommends November furlough days for teachers

Posted by
Mike Buffington
in Top Stories & Breaking News, Winder Archives
Monday, July 27. 2009
Comments (7)
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.”

By closing an extra two days for Thanksgiving, Saunders and school officials also hope to see savings in energy costs.

Employees on 190-day contracts have to take three furlough days. This includes teachers, administrators, central office staff and the superintendent.

Those employees on 180-day contracts, such as nutrition workers and bus drivers, will have two days.

The state Board of Education was not scheduled to meet until Tuesday morning to approve local boards acting on the furloughs. This prevented the Barrow BOE from taking action last Thursday night.

Assistant superintendent of finance Ken Cato had some cautionary words for BOE members and other school officials at last week’s called work session.

“If this current trend continues then the next thing may have to be salary and benefits,” Cato said of what would be cut next. “I believe another round of furloughs are coming in November. I don’t want to give you doom and gloom, but we have some decisions to make in the next two months.”

Cato said the board should be cautious about using too much of the fund balance, but at this point, the next option would be to cut salary and benefits.
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#1 Henny Penny on 07/28/09 at 10:00 AM [Reply]
I suggest a permanent "furlough." Including the purloin-prone superintendent and his worthless lackeys. Let the sky fall upon them!
#1.1 linda on 08/17/09 at 07:56 PM [Reply]
First to Sillygirl - 4 principals does seem excessive, but as to who you would fire - maybe someone you or one of your children had problems with in school?
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
#2 taxpayer on 07/31/09 at 12:14 PM [Reply]
Every taxpayer in Barrow County should go to the following website open.ga.gov and look at some of the salaries being paid to Barrow County school personnel. For example: athletic director/vocational-salary $81,609.24. Compare to science department chair who's salary is at least $20,000 less. Here's where funding could be cut.
#2.1 taxpayer on 08/17/09 at 06:15 PM [Reply]
I agree with you every taxpayer should go to the web site and look at some of the outlandish salaries that some of the people are making in the board office. Ann Cronic being one of them. She is quote personnel/human reso, which is nothing more than a glorified secretary!! Her salary for the year 2008 was $105,336.04 and a travel expense of $2683.80 !! Now explain that school board!! Cut pay where it should be cut!!
#2.1.1 Anonymous on 08/17/09 at 10:31 PM [Reply]
My neighbor is teacher - 6th grade science. All she does is complain about her students, their parents, etc .... She just got a masters on line so when she retires she can get a higher retirement. She doesn't care about her job, she's already checked out. She's counting the days until she can retire.

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.
#3 Sillygirl on 08/17/09 at 02:35 PM [Reply]
I cannot get it through my head: why in the world does AHS need 4 Principals? One main man and three others to handle cirriculm, behavior and athletics? Big waste of money there! Let's talk about some of the teachers whom need tobe fired due to their incompentance! That would be great to have a poll and vote who you want out of the schools! It would definitely wake up the School Board to see what us citizens think of their staff!
#3.1 rac76 on 08/28/09 at 10:17 AM [Reply]
Hey, Silly girl. The high school that I graduated from way back in the '90s (in New Jersey) had four top administrators. One main principal, and then 3 vice (aka assistant) principals. It worked for them, and it probably helps with the different departments and helps to keep everything running smoothly. I personally believed that the BOE needs some reconstructing, and that there should be a process of weeding out the teachers that just don't give a rats a**. Those type of teachers are everywhere, not just here. Also what's wrong in paying the PE teacher a little more than the Science teacher? I think that PE is lacking in this state, and anyway to help promote healthy activities is fine with me. NOW don't get upset, I love science, but Children of today need to move and let off some steam.
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