RADFORD BUDGET DELAYS RAISES FOR TEACHERS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 7, 1993                   TAG: 9304070235
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium
RADFORD BUDGET DELAYS RAISES FOR TEACHERS
The School Board has approved a budget adjustment plan that delays teachers' raises until Dec. 1.
Even then, the raises will be less than half what teachers asked for and somewhat less than the 4 percent the board had proposed.
At a special meeting Tuesday evening, the board voted unanimously to cut nearly $175,600 out of next fiscal year's proposed $7.6 million budget. The cuts were needed to bring the budget into line with available city funds.
Delaying the planned 3 percent raises for four months will save more than $139,600. The board also scrapped a salary scale adjustment that would have added another 1 percent to teachers' paychecks this fall. The board also delayed spending nearly $36,000 in instructional and library purchases.
"This is a very balanced approach to solving the problem," said Superintendent Michael Wright. He said the board's action meets state salary mandates and uses available resources.
Board Chairman John McPhail, who's stepping down in June, expressed disappointment that the board could not adjust the salary scale. But, he said he was even more frustrated that the state was pushing the educational-funding burden onto localities.
"Public employees in Virginia are the ones who've paid for [a policy of] no tax increase," he said. McPhail said the state should ensure that localities can "pay teachers what they need to be paid" if Virginia is to offer a world-class education.
Teachers attending the session were philosophical. Elementary schoolteacher Ann Baker said cutting funds for instructional supplies would have had teachers "dipping into their own pockets" to pay for them. "Localities have been bearing the brunt of it," she said.
"It's not a surprise," said Radford Education Association President Diane Mullis, who also pointed an accusing finger at Richmond. She said Virginia is the 12th-wealthiest state, but is tied for 35th place in its level of support for public schools.
Another teacher at the meeting suggested that City Council pull $10,000 it allocated for new seats at the Radford High School's Bobcat Stadium and put it into the school budget instead. A colleague, who did not wish to be identified, said the city should dip into its contingency fund to bolster the school budget.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB