Teachers Fight Proposed Salary

Slim Budget Increase Blamed for Hindering Cost-of-Living Raise

Prince William County teachers are fighting a salary proposal for the next school year that would leave them the lowest-paid instructors among major school systems in Northern Virginia.

The controversy began this month after county school Superintendent Steven L. Walts proposed a $755.5 million budget that denies teachers a cost-of-living raise and leaves first-year salaries at $40,788. That's lower than comparable pay in Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

Now, blame is being passed around. Some of Prince William's 5,000 teachers are venting at school officials, who point to the county Board of Supervisors.

The board, which sets tax rates and spending levels, has given school officials enough revenue for an increase of 2 percent over the school system's current operating budget. Educators were given about $38 million less than they anticipated.

"It will take us years to catch up on what this budget is doing to our teachers," said Prince William School Board Chairman Lucy S. Beauchamp (At Large), who added that she is disappointed that supervisors have decided not to raise property taxes to boost revenue. The school board could adjust Walts's proposal when it approves a budget next month, but members say a drastic change is not possible because of the overall revenue limit set by the county.

Supervisors have told school officials that they would not raise tax rates because they want to give the public a break after years of rising tax bills and assessments.

Teachers, meanwhile, say that Walts's budget shortchanges what matters most.

"You can see where their priorities are. It's not on kids, and it's not on employees," said Meg Gruber, a Prince William high school teacher who is on the board of directors of national, state and county teacher advocacy associations. "They know how overcrowded the classrooms are."

The budget debate in Prince William is unfolding as the county tries to upgrade the reputation of a school system that has had lower SAT scores than its neighbors but has narrowed some achievement gaps in recent years. Highly regarded programs, including International Baccalaureate, are being introduced in elementary schools; marketing slogans that say Prince William is "Providing a World-Class Education" are widely advertised.

But some school officials say the budget proposal threatens to hurt the system's ability to recruit good teachers. In Fairfax and Loudoun, teachers are slated to get a cost-of-living raise and a "step" increase that rewards them for years of service. But, under Walts's proposal, Prince William teachers would receive only a 3 percent step increase. In years past, they also have gotten a cost-of-living raise.

"I'll be very blunt: They're very shortsighted," Loudoun School Board member Bob Ohneiser (Broad Run) said of Prince William's budget. He said salaries are critical when the housing market is so tight.

Walts, who met last week with disappointed teachers at a hearing, said that he has few options.

"I am playing with the hand that I was dealt," Walts said afterward. "I was passing on the unpleasant pain."

But several supervisors criticize the school budget's priorities. Although they do not have line-item budget control , the supervisors questioned Walts's decision to spend $5.3 million to finish an initiative that has brought all-day kindergarten to elementary schools. About two-thirds of them have the program; Walts aims to have it in all 54 within the next school year.

Supervisor John T. Stirrup (Gainesville) said he doubts the program's effects on achievement. Walts said that even if he postponed the expansion, it would mean only a small teacher pay increase. He said teachers now get retirement benefits not offered elsewhere.

But many veteran teachers are asking whether they will suffer for staying when they could have left to earn more. Some criticize the school system for funding what they call an extravagance: a $37 million administrative building to open next year.

School officials say it is no luxury and is needed to replace outdated facilities. It has " no marble floors" and no fireplace, Walts said.