THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 1997 TAG: 9701220395
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 105 lines
The School Board extended the work year for teachers by two days, but it also left room Tuesday to pay them for the extra time if money is available.
The vote on the 1997-98 academic calendar came after a rally in which more than a hundred teachers and their supporters expressed concerns that the district hasn't been treating them right.
High on their list of issues had been the proposal to add instructional days without increasing their pay, and to take away three half-days of training and planning time for elementary and middle school teachers.
In a letter sent out last week, Melody Copper, president of the Virginia Beach Education Association, cited a number of issues which she said reflected ``a disturbing trend in the past year toward treating teachers, and indeed all employees, with a lack of respect.''
Although the teachers' contract is for a 200-day period, for much of the past two decades teachers have been required to work only 190 days. The district is not required to pay them extra for up to 10 additional days, but board members voted 10-1 for the administration to keep those days in mind during the budget process.
The board also agreed that one of the disputed half-days would remain intact near the end of the year for teachers to work on records, but the other two half-days would become full days for students.
Board members said the issue was not a lack of respect, but one of making the best decisions possible for children.
``The majority of the calendar committee believed increasing instructional time for our children should be a priority,'' said board chairman Robert F. Hagans. ``Their contention was simple. A school system committed to educational excellence needs to go beyond a calendar developed to meet the minimum state standard.''
The state requires 180 instructional days.
Before the meeting, about 150 people attended a rally held by the VBEA outside the school administration building.
One of the speakers was Cindy Merrill, a teacher at Kings Grant Elementary School who told the group, ``We're here because we don't get any respect.'' She questioned the value of adding days to the end of the school year.
``Kids' minds are not on learning the last week of school. The majority have mentally checked out.''
Among those attending the rally was Judy Goodman, a library and media specialist at Princess Anne Middle School.
``I feel like we have a moral question facing us. I think the School Board needs to get the message that teachers are concerned when they adjust our working conditions.''
Several board members said they felt communication with the teachers could have been better during the decision-making process.
Board member Nancy Guy, who represented the board on the calendar committee, said she assumed that because teachers were on the committee, their colleagues would be told what was discussed and how decisions were made. She assured the teachers, however, that the viewpoints of educators were considered.
The majority of the committee backed the proposal.
The School Board has never ruled out additional pay for additional days. At Tuesday's meeting, members emphasized that they could not promise the money without going through the budget process. Board members indicated that initial funding estimates for the upcoming year could be grim. They urged the teachers to work with them in getting adequate funding from the City Council. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
BILL TIERNAN/The Virginian-Pilot
Traci McGrath, with sign, and John Bova, right, Spanish teachers at
First Colonial High School, were part of the rally before the Beach
school board meeting. More than a hundred teachers were protesting a
two-day, unpaid extension of the academic year.
Graphic
THE CHANGE
The School Board adopted an academic year calendar that has two more
instructional days. ``The majority of the calendar committee
believed increasing instructional time for our children should be a
priority,'' said board chairman Robert F. Hagans. ``Their contention
was simple. A school system committed to educational excellence
needs to go beyond a calendar developed to meet the minimum state
standard.''
THE RALLY
Teachers objected to working the two additional days without pay.
Although their contract is for a 200-day period, for much of the
past two decades teachers have only been required to work 190 days.
In a letter sent out last week, Melody Copper, president of the
Virginia Beach Education Association, cited a number of issues which
she said reflected ``a disturbing trend in the past year toward
treating teachers, and indeed all employees, with a lack of
respect.''
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD VIRGINIA BEACH
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION