March of the teachers

By Rhonda Simmons

Published: August 11, 2008

The nearly 60 teachers, students and parents who gathered outside the Culpeper County Administration building Monday evening had a few assignments for the School Board — implement teacher raises, lower health care costs and revise the existing school calendar — just to name a few requests.

The 2008-09 operating budget included no step increase for teachers, no pay increases for any employees and higher health care costs all based on the existing slumping economy.

Culpeper County Education Association President Joyce Tyree organized Monday’s rally and met the group around 6:30 p.m.

Tyree addressed the crowd joking how she ordered the mild weather. All welcomed the temperate 80-degree conditions.

Armed with two signs that read: “Wanted! Higher pay for teachers,” the group began its trek to the School Board meeting.

The group started in the Culpeper Baptist Church parking lot at the corner of Scanlon and West streets — walked five blocks uphill — to the School Board meeting at 402 North Main St. arriving at about 6:50 p.m.

By 7 p.m., the crowd — settling into their seats — greeted David Cox, former superintendent of Culpeper County Public School, with applause, handshakes and smiles as he walked through the doors.

In June, the board voted 5-2 in favor of “mutually parting ways” with Cox during its retreat at Graves Mountain Lodge. Elizabeth Hutchins and Leanne Jenkins dissented.

Cox’s contract did not include a specific termination clause. Therefore, essentially released without cause, he is entitled to three more years of pay and benefits. However, by the end of his sabbatical, Cox must seek employment during the remainder of his contract.

Before the meeting, School Board Chair George Dasher read a resolution of appreciation for Cox and his seven years of service in Culpeper. Dasher also presented Cox with the oversized plaque including the resolution.

Under Cox’s leadership, the public school enrollment increased from 5,780 to 7,480. An increase of 29.4 percent, Dasher said.

“Under his leadership, the school division has achieved numerous goals including SOL accreditation and accreditation under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for all eight schools,” Dasher read. “(The school division) made great progress toward fulfilling the requiring the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, reducing the achievement gap.”

Dasher also mentioned Cox’s involvement in providing adequate facilities for students including a high school addition in 2002, an annex building to relieve overcrowding at the high school in 2006 and opening two new schools this fall.

“(He) also led the process from dream to design the transition for a successful and smooth opening of these new facilities — a tremendous undertaking in just seven years,” Dasher said. “The members of the School Board will miss his enthusiasm, his general and giving spirit and deep commitment to Culpeper County and will greatly miss Dr. Cox passion for teaching and learning. His innovation, his gentle and playful sense of humor and his love for each and every child who passes through the doors of a school building in Culpeper.”

After the applause, Cox thanked the captivated crowd for its support and the board for the resolution.

“I really appreciate this resolution and this recognition,” he said. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve in Culpeper and to work alongside talented educators. I know that there is a lot of talk about the importance of relationships and I certainly concur with that, but lets keep in mind that the most important relationship that we must nurture is that of the child and his teacher.”

The educator’s response
During the delegations, four people stood before the board to share their concerns regarding the school system and recent School Board decisions.

“We are well aware that the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors controls the purse strings in the county and we are also well aware of the economic downturn,” Tyree said. “It does become uncomfortable to find out that we’re the only county in the state that didn’t receive some sort of pay increase.”

Tyree said the lack of pay increase was accompanied by a reduction in instructional funds to the classroom teacher.

“Teachers are now taking more money out of their pocket to buy classroom supplies,” she said. Tyree also suggested that the board revise the school calendar.

“We are well aware that you’re not going to please everyone in whatever calendar you do, but when you give a calendar that almost no one likes we need to look at it,” she said. “And now is probably the time to start looking at that for the next school year.”

According to Tyree’s calculations, some CCPS employees must dole out $86 a month to pay for their revised health care insurance.

“That’s $1,000 out-of-pocket a year,” she said.

Virginia Education Association President Kitty Boitnott traveled from Richmond to personally address the board and echo Tyree’s comments.

“We need to attract and retain high quality teachers. We can’t do that when we show disrespect and disregard for the dedication and commitment of the contributions of those teachers and education professionals.”

Boitnott asked how did all of the other counties in Virginia manage to provide raises for their educators and Culpeper didn’t.

“They deserve to be respected by being paid a salary commensurate with their educational level and their commitment to the children that they teach,” she said. “We are here tonight to ask you to reconsider some of your actions and support our Culpeper colleagues.”

The parent’s perspective
Culpeper parent Yolonda Deane shared an old adage — you get what you pay for.

“If you have good teachers (making) good salaries, they are going to love their jobs and they are going to love the children.

“I am so tired of fighting a system that doesn’t appreciate their teachers,” she said. “I know that if your taking care of (the teachers) then they are taking care of my children.”

CCPS parent Alaphia Thomas-Cox questioned the reasoning of letting Cox go without cause.

“I’m a little puzzled because I can’t understand why if you’re reading such good accolades about someone and asking him to resign,” she said. “It makes no sense to me and I couldn’t explain it to my children.”

Thomas-Cox said she even attempted to ask her representative Jimmy Lee of West Fairfax for some sort of explanation.

“(I) was met with belligerence,” she said. “So I’m here tonight to find out what it going on. The public deserves an answer. We’re taxpayers and we voted you all in to represent the value of the community.”

Thomas-Cox suggested working out the issues before making impulsive decisions.

“Don’t just get rid of him because (you) have a personal vendetta against him,” she said. “We voted you all in to represent the community not for you personal agenda.”

“We didn’t put you in to be a puppet for some other board in this community,” Thomas-Cox added.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .

Carter receives salary increase
Acting Superintendent Larry Carter’s salary just went up 28 percent.

The Culpeper County School Board voted 6-0 in favor of approving his contract during Monday’s meeting. His new annual salary is $140,000 in salary and benefits. Carter will also receive $500 a month for travel expenses instead of receiving a company car.

Leanne Jenkins was absent.

As executive director of administrative services he made $109,324 a year.

The board also voted unanimously 6-0 in favor of considering a memorandum of understanding with the supervisors with regard to transfer funds between categories without the approval each time.

The board voted in favor of the first reading of school policies concerning student fees, fines and charges and exclusion of any type of tobacco on school grounds.

— Rhonda Simmons