Rock Hill School Board Faced a Lose/Lose Vote

The Rock Hill School Board faced a vote to either reduce the reserve fund by $1.6 million or reduce it by $0.8 million and reduce teacher pay by 2 days (while not reducing the work load). By a vote of 4:1: (Brown against and Vining abstaining, Reid away on business), the board approved 2 teacher furlough days (See bottom of post for explanations on furlough days). Furlough days will be on Friday, October 23, and Friday, March 19.

The Board had already pushed off teacher furlough days during the budget vote by dipping into the reserve fund by $2.5 million dollars but the prospect of more cuts during the year forced the board to take a conservative approach this time to preserve as much of the remaining fund balance as they could. It was felt the 2 furlough days was the most that could be taken without major disruptions to operations.

Folks need to look at the fund balance as the same as their checking account balance, not as a savings account balance.

Sherry East, president of the York County Education Assn., and citizen Betty Every spoke to the board asking that the board not furlough teachers.

The board also approved by a 6-0 vote, first reading of a new board policy, JCR (Reassignment of Students), which states the Board will commit to parents and students to make every reasonable and practical effort to avoid reassignment. However, if reassignment becomes necessary, the board will begin the reassignment process in the fall of the year preceding implementation of a new reassignment plan.

Voted 6-0 to put the Annex building at 507 E. Black Street (behind the former district office) on the market for sale at the appraised value of $200,000. A condition of the sale will be that whoever buys the building will have to honor the lease agreements of the agencies currently housed in the Annex.

Voted 6-0 to approve first reading of board policies JIHC/JIHC-R (Use of Metal Detectors) and JLCEE/JLCEE-R (Use of Automated External Defibrillator).

Voted 5-1 (Vining against) to approve first reading of board policy JIH/JIH-R (Searches, Student Interrogations and Arrests).

Voted 5-0 (Vining abstaining because he does not take a board stipend) to reduce the board stipend by the same percentage as the reduction in pay for teachers.

Principal Al Leonard and South Pointe High School will host the board's work session on Monday, October 12, beginning at 5:30 in the media center.

Furlough Questions and Guidelines

Who will be affected by the furlough?

All employees with the exception of school cafeteria employees and bus drivers will be affected by the furlough. In addition, part-time teachers who work only on instructional days will not be able to furlough.

What days are scheduled as furlough days?

October 23 and March 19 will be furlough days. All schools and offices will be closed on these days. Administrators will furlough two additional days to be selected by the administrator.

Who is classified as an administrator and will be furloughed four days?

All employees paid on the administrative salary schedule will furlough four days.

Will instructional assistants be required to take furlough days?

•Instructional assistants will consider October 23 and March 19 furlough days, if possible. •Assistants who have one remaining teacher workday will take that day as a furlough day and will, with the approval of the principal, select an instructional day as the second furlough day. •Teacher assistants who have worked all possible teacher workdays will select two instructional days, approved by the principal, to furlough.

•Substitutes may only be hired for special education assistants assigned to specific duties, and the day will be subtracted from the school's total allocation.

Will supplements be affected by the furlough?

Supplements for extra jobs and duties (ex: athletics, lead teachers, bus duty) will not be affected by the furlough.

Will National Board Certification pay be affected by the furlough?

In accordance with state regulations and funding, furlough reductions will be reflected in National Board Certification pay. National Board Certification checks will be paid on Nov. 24, Jan. 25, and May 25. Reductions will be reflected in the November 24 and May 25 payments.

The first furlough day on October 23 is a scheduled pay day for employees paid on the monthly payroll cycle. Will this be changed?

Checks and direct deposit notifications will be delivered to the schools by October 22. Checks will be dated October 23 and funds will be available in individual bank accounts for direct deposit by October 23.

The second furlough day on March 19 is a pay day for employees paid on the bi-weekly schedule. Will this be changed?

Checks and direct deposit notifications will be delivered to the schools by March 18. Checks will be dated March 19 and funds will be available in individual bank accounts for direct deposit by March 19.

Will sports games and practices be allowed on the furlough days when school is closed?

Games and practices will be allowed on furlough days.

Will personal leave days be allowed on the day before or after the furlough day?

While there is no policy concerning furlough days, requesting a personal day before or after the furlough day will be strongly discouraged. Administrators and all staff are asked to be sensitive to the needs of the schools and students.

When will the deductions from payroll checks begin?

•For administrators, 260-day employees, and employees who begin the pay cycle on July 1, the deduction will come from nine checks, beginning with the Oct. 23 payroll and ending with the last check in June.

•For teachers and other employees paid on the monthly payroll cycle, the deduction will come from nine checks, beginning November 24 and ending with the last check in July.

•For all employees paid on the bi-weekly payroll the deduction will come from 18 checks, beginning with the November 13 payroll and ending with the July 2 payroll.