Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 12, 1992 TAG: 9203120201
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
We are writing out of grave concern for articles which have recently appeared in the local press representing your apparent majority views.
At your meeting of Saturday, Feb. 29, a proposal by Larry Linkous, and supported by a majority of supervisors, recommended a teacher salary increase, while eliminating an increase for school administrators. Supervisor Linkous was quoted as saying, "White-collar workers are a dime a dozen. They don't need a raise near as much as other county workers. We need to show that we're trying to help the people who need help the most."
In the same article, Linkous reportedly said the supervisors should cut any salary increases for school administrators, including principals, from the appropriate category, and inform the School Board of the reason for their actions.
We, the unanimous voice of the Montgomery County Principals Association, are appalled, dismayed and disappointed by the Board of Supervisors' lack of sensitivity and understanding of the role, responsibilities and leadership demands of building administrators and instructional supervisors within the school division.
Members of the Montgomery County Principals Association, who have worked tirelessly to maintain standards of excellence for our schools, in recent years have been bypassed for salary advances. During that time, state mandates provided monetary increases for other division professionals while equal provisions were not made from local funds for school administrators.
With the increasing demands on public schools by all segments of our society, we would invite you to become more aware of our roles in the educational process of our young people in Montgomery County. We encourage your visit, or contact, to see how we efficiently manage the monies which taxpayers provide for the operation of our schools.\ Montgomery County\ Principals Association
Gary McCoy, principal of Harding Avenue Elementary School, is president of the association, which has 37 principals, assistant principals and curriculum supervisors as members.
by CNB