Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 24, 1992 TAG: 9201240345
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MONICA DAVEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
BEDFORD SCHOOLS KEEP RAISES LOW
Bedford County's School Board Thursday tentatively agreed not to seek more than a slight increase in teacher salaries next year.The board, which has in past years consistently called for bigger raises for teachers, was talking recession Thursday night.
"For this one year, I believe we all need to suck it up and tough it out," board member Russell "Butch" Wright said.
Wright and six other board members agreed in principle to seek what will amount to a 1 percent raise for most teachers in the 1992-93 budget.
School administrators, who have in the past been eligible for merit pay raises of up to 3 percent, also could get up to 1 percent next year.
Under the proposal, teachers would advance a step on the school system's pay ladder, but the pay scale itself would remain the same.
The increases would vary depending on a teacher's level of experience in the Bedford schools.
For a teacher with one year of experience, the raise would amount to $57 - from a starting salary of $23,002 this year to $23,059 next year, according to Superintendent John Kent.
For a teacher with 11 years' experience, the raise would mean $245 more a year - from $24,536 this year to $24,781 in 1992-93.
"I'd like to give 5 or 10 percent raises," board member Jackie Preston said. "I just don't think it's there."
"There are so many companies that are shutting down and laying off," Chairman Lorenza Davis said. "That's one positive thing I've heard about Bedford County public schools - everybody will keep their jobs."
The board's decision is certain to be disappointing to members of the Bedford County Education Association, which had asked for a 7 percent salary increase in a presentation to the board earlier this month.
That, Kent said, was an "unrealistic" request.
And at least a few board members wondered Thursday night whether a 1 percent increase was realistic.
"My honest opinion is that we may have to cut that," said board member Billy Tuck.
The School Board has yet to draw up a formal, detailed budget proposal. Once that's done, the proposal will be forwarded to the county Board of Supervisors for consideration.
The supervisors have yet to consider an overall county budget, either, but all signs suggest it will be a painful year.
County Administrator William Rolfe said Thursday that he expects only $400,000 in additional revenue next year from new development and growth.
Two years ago, Bedford County saw nearly twice that in new revenues from increased property values, Rolfe said.
In addition, local sales tax revenues this year are below expected levels, Rolfe said.