BOE approves salary reduction

Posted by
Angela Gary
in News Links, Top Stories
Friday, April 3. 2009
Comments (9)
A three percent salary reduction for teachers and classified staff members was approved by the Banks County Board of Education Thursday night.


The action came after two public hearings were held to get input from the community on the salary cut. Approximately 50 people attended the hearings and only five spoke.

At the hearing on Wednesday, April 1, four people spoke with two being bus drivers who asked that their salaries not be cut and pointed out that they are already “the lowest on the totem pole.”

“We’re here to listen to your concerns,” BOE chairman Ron Gardiner said.

Starla Shirley first spoke and asked that the bus driver salaries not be cut.

“We bus drivers do not feel our salaries should be cut,” she said. “…We don’t make anything now.”
She pointed out that some of the raises approved last year for some staff members total more than a bus driver makes in two years. She also spoke on the many duties the bus drivers have, including discipline and returning items students leave on the bus.

Bus driver Gena Carland also spoke against the pay cut.

Others speaking included teacher Gena Moore who said she would prefer a pay cut instead of employees losing their jobs.

Thursday night, only one person spoke. Jerry Payne Jerry Payne said that the board needs to look at what is the most important thing for the children and the quality of education needs to be maintained.

Following the public hearing on Thursday night, the board reconvened at 8 p.m. to vote on the proposal.

“As we have discussed at the past two hearings, my recommendations stands that we have a three percent reduction in local supplement to teachers and a three percent salary reduction to classified staff,” superintendent Chris Erwin said.

The vote was unanimous for approval.

PERSONNEL ACTION

Also during the meeting Thursday night, the BOE meet in closed session 30 minutes to discuss personnel. When the meeting was reopened, the board approved the resignation of Lori Rylee and Gerald Payton effective at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. Rylee is the assistant transportation director and Payton is a teacher at the high school.

The BOE also approved family medical leaves for Bonnie Parson, a custodian at the primary school, and Beverly Wilson, a bus driver.

Defined tags for this entry: , , ,
Related entries by tags:
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)
#1 Anon on 04/06/09 at 08:55 PM [Reply]
Where is the covrage of the dismissal of Public Safety Director John Creasy? It was the daily headline when he was putting up his campaing and when he shoved Chief Gary Pollard out of office but now there is no mention of the comissioners meeting?
#2 Concerned Banks County Citizen on 04/07/09 at 10:36 AM [Reply]
Okay . . . question . . . Am I understanding . . Teacher paycut is 3% of local supplement and classified staff is 3% of salary. Does this mean that the teachers aren't actually getting 3% of their salary like the classified? Why can't this be ACROSS the board if it's going to be done? I understand everyone is having to get cut back, that is fine if it's completely across the board. The classified staff don't get "local supplement" anyones. They are already low on pay scale all because they don't have a degree. To me a degree or degree's don't make you a better person or more deserving person. It's what's in your heart and in your hard work that you should get paid for!

Also . . . is Mr. Erwin and the county office staff getting a 3% pay cut? This should be across the board - same for all employees to be fair.
#2.1 Don Hays on 05/09/09 at 11:29 AM [Reply]
Of course not! You don't think our BORED of Education would take a cut? How could they possibly do their job of throwing teachers and administrators under the bus when we don't like something? Oh, and speaking of busses, nice timing on giving Beverly her leave, may she rest in peace.

Does anyone else find it disconcerting that NONE of the members of the BORED could actually qualify to be teachers, since none of them have college degrees?
#3 Here's how it works...... on 04/07/09 at 11:55 AM [Reply]
For teachers, the state pays x amount based on experience and number of degrees. Banks County has been paying teachers 6% of this number on top of the state's pay. Banks will now only pay teachers 3% of this number on top of the state's pay. Technically, this is only a 2.83% paycut for teachers (they used to get 106% of x and now they only get 103%). So the difference between the certified cut and classified cut is only about .17% (seventeen cents per hundred dollars).
#4 HARD TIMES 1 on 05/16/09 at 06:43 AM [Reply]
WHY IS IT THAT MR ERWIN HAS NOT LET KNOWN HOW MANY TEACHERS AND PERSONAL HE HAS LET GO BEFORE HE TOOK OUR 3% CUT FROM US . YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT HAS TWO OR MORE JOBS, YOU NEED TO DECIDE ONE OR THE OTHER . THEIR ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A JOB..IT HAS NOT BEEN TOO LONG AGO THAT ERWIN WAS THINKING ABOUT ANOTHER SCHOOL SYSTEM, THAT SHOULD TELL YALL HE WOULD TAKE SOMETHING ELSE IF OFFERED, (THAT WOULD BE NICE). ANOTHER ONE THAT COULD GO WOULD BE HIS WIFE. GO TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OFFICE AND SEE IF SHE DESERVES THAT JOB. DOES HE NOT MAKE ENOUGH MONEY, LOOK AT THE BUS SHOP, 3 PEOPLE TO WORK ALL TIME, SUMMER TOO. WE ONLY HAVE AROUND 50 BUSES , WE ARE OUT OF SCHOOL MORE THAN 50 DAYS,SO IF THEY WORK ON ONE BUS A DAY, WHAT DO THEY DO THE REST OF TIME.. NOW IF YOU GO BY AND LOOK THEY SITTING AROUND AT LEAST BY 1 EVERYDAY, THAT SHOULD TELL YOU 3 IS TOO MANY. WHY DOES IT TAKE 2 BUS TRAINER,TO TRAIN THE SUB DRIVER, , WE CANT GET SUB DRIVERS NOW..WOULD YOU DRIVE A ROUTE FOR 20 DOLLARS, NOT KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE GOING OR LETTING THE RIGHT KID OFF AT THE RIGHT HOUSE THEIRS ALOT THAT GOES ON WITH THE BUSES,,EACH YEAR IT GETS WORSE...WHY DO I DRIVE, IT WOULD BE FOR THE INSURANCE..PEOPLE IN BANKS COUNTY NEEDS TO GET INVOLED,,,OH BYE THE WAY OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IT SUPOSE TO BE DRUG FREE AND TOBACCO FREE. COME TO THE BUS SHOP AND SEE HOW MANY LIGHTS UP.... WE COULD SAVE MONEY IN ALOT IN WAYS IF YOU THE PEOPLE OF THE BANKS COUNTY WOULD GET INVOLED OUR KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE...THEY NEED THE BEST.I HOPE YOU DONT DENY THEM THAT...........
#4.1 Oh Please..... on 05/18/09 at 10:01 AM [Reply]
You are hipocracy at it's best..... (along with many of your other concerned citizen friends)
What would Jesus do?
He would look for the blessings in these hard times. He would look for a way to help others in need. He would not be wishing that others would have their jobs taken away. He would not be hateful and cruel to people who would give their last dime if you needed it.

I have lost my job and by the grace of God, I am hanging on for now. Don't let hard times harden your heart..... Be thankful.....
#4.2 BC Bus Driver on 05/18/09 at 06:42 PM [Reply]
First of all the three guys in the shop that you are referring to are hard working guys, not only are they our co-workers, they are my friends. They are much appreciated for all of their hard work and we as a whole (group of drivers) think they are the best. If a 3% cut is going to affect you that much then maybe you should consider a second job instead of attacking your "friends" and co-workers. Since you evidently have so much time on your hands maybe you should consider volunteering for the school or the American Cancer Society, and be productive instead of lashing out at my friends. I will not stoop to the level of commenting on this subject again.
#4.3 bus driver on 05/20/09 at 08:58 AM [Reply]
1. I have more than one job,if you did you would not be going by the bus shop so much.2.We can tell by the way you talk on the radio you drive for the insurance. NOT for the love of the KIDS. 3.Why would you like to see anyone lose their job? They could take your route and put the kids on other buses. THAT WOULD SAVE MONEY!!!! The three guys you are talking about work very hard ALL OF THE TIME. They are our friends and we love them all. Get a life and stay out of our co-worker life. Most of us are a BIG HAPPY (co-worker) FAMILY.
#5 Dee Dee Arrowood on 06/10/09 at 10:43 AM [Reply]
I taught school 16 years in 4 counties. The administration and teachers in Banks county are top notch. You are blessed to have Erwin and Reed in the two top leadership roles there. They are above board people making the best decisions they can in bad times. Trust their judgment on this.
Add Comment
E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
CAPTCHA

 
   
 
Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.
 

↓