Proposed school raises may cost Frederick $1.3 million

WINCHESTER — Frederick County Public Schools may end up paying $1.3 million in fiscal year 2014 to provide a 2 percent salary increase to all its employees.

The subject came up at a School Board meeting on Wednesday.

In December, Gov. Bob McDonnell said he would propose $58.7 million in fiscal year 2014 to support a state share of a 2 percent salary increase for all funded Standards of Quality (SOQ) teachers and instructional positions, including guidance counselors, librarians, instructional aides, principals and assistant principals.

Participation would be optional under the proposal, but for a division to receive state funding, a local match is required, the amount of which is driven by the composite index of the area.

The raises would take effect July 1, 2013.

However, school officials are concerned that the salary increases would not cover staff that is not funded SOQ personnel, and that the divisions would have to pick up the slack.

Among the Standards of Quality are staffing ratio requirements/standards that schools should follow to maintain good instruction. The reality, however, is that many Virginia schools hire beyond the SOQ requirements, and this staff is considered non-SOQ funded personnel that the locality funds.

If the governor’s proposal is accepted by the General Assembly in fiscal year 2014, Frederick County Public Schools would receive $700,000 from the state for the 2 percent raise. This, however, would not cover non-SOQ funded personnel or support staff, which make up 60 percent of the division’s employees — forcing the division to pony up $1.3 million to provide increases to these staffers.

More will be known when the General Assembly convenes Jan. 9.

Superintendent David Sovine will present the division’s budget on Jan. 15.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Stuart Wolk and Benjamin Waterman remained in their current School Board positions as they were voted unanimously as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

Wolk has been on the board for 18 years and Waterman for six.

Present at the meeting were Chairman Stuart Wolk, Vice-Chairman Benjamin Waterman and members Jody Wall, Michael Lake, John Lamanna and Peggy Clark. Jim Harmon was absent.

— Contact Rebecca Layne at rlayne@winchesterstar.com