Step raises in question with bleak budget

 Teachers in Santa Rosa County are taking a step back to examine the possibility of no annual salary increase in their pay stubs this year.  The annual step raise that is distributed to teachers annually might be doing the moonwalk if budgets, which are low this year, don’t pull through. 

The annual raise is given to teachers based on performance standards every year.  The annual salary increase, which has been in effect for over 40 years, was given to all teaching personnel up until 2005.  After 2005, in order to save money, the increases became based off of teacher performance.  Now, with the county way under budget for its schools, the increases are being questioned whether to be implemented at all. 

Santa Rosa County School Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick, said the threat of taking away the raises are hitting hard for teachers, but the school board is in a corner.

Right now the county’s Base Student Allocation is $240.71 per student less than the state average.  Wyrosdick does not want to see Santa Rosa Schools settle for next in line, but budgets are looking gloomy. 

“We are not being given a forecast with positive growth right now.  We continue to deal with classroom compliance,” said Wyrosdick.  “As Superintendent I look and say, ‘If we spend money we don’t have, we’ll go broke.’”

And right now, Florida’s school systems are going broke.  With school money based on sales tax, and Florida still recovering from an economic downturn, money is starting to disappear with no end in sight. 

“This is a huge concern,” said Wyrosdick, “The concerns we have now are all based around this economic downturn, and the revenue.  If people aren’t buying things, the schools are not being funded.”

Wyrosdick said schools are trying to cut costs to account for raises and other mandatory spending needs.  Right now, the county needs more teachers, and the superintendent said there is not enough money to fill those positions. 

“The state of Florida is asking us to fund more students, and fill the same amount of mandates we were filling years ago, with less money,” said Wyrosdick.

Right now, Wyrosdick said legislatures, much like the schools are up against a wall with funding.  Step raises are going to become vital within the coming weeks while board members meet to come up with a resolution.

“We are finding it impossible to fund $1.8 million in step raises.  These are real numbers,” said Wyrosdick. “I’m not making them up, and this is the job the school board is dealing with right now.”

Wyrosdick said he met with school superintendents across the state in Tampa nearly a month ago to discuss this dilemma.  With budget cuts raining down on future fiscal years, there is constant question to whether raises will sink the already strangled deficit. 

On Oct. 19, the Santa Rosa Professional Educators met with the school district to rally for teacher salary proposals and to discuss missing budget money.  President Rhonda Chavers said she has spent 600 hours researching school board money decisions, and is outraged to find out the schools are running out of money.

“They claim to not have money, but on July 29, the principal at S.S. Dixon spent $4,507.96 on mahogany and leather furniture for the school,” said Chavers, “That is ridiculous.”

Chavers also noted the school board has paid an out of town attorney nearly $47,000 over the past few years to act as their personal consultant.  That attorney, according to Chavers attended the Oct. 19 meeting. 

“He sat there at the meeting and kept addressing to everyone this was his county. He doesn’t even live here,” said Chavers. 

Money in travel expenses also increased this year for 15 administration members to a $1,500 cap off.  And to accompany the travel increase, a brand new Ford Fusion was purchased by Head Start for $16,000 from the program’s own funds.

“It came out of Head Start’s own account,” said Chavers,” Why do they even need a car?  This is just a small indication of the stingy spending habits of our school board.”     

The school board and SRPE are heading into the ring for round two on Oct. 30 to finish their discussion, which was cut short due to time restraints Monday. 

Even with the dwindling school budget, there are still opportunities from the state for schools and their faculty members to earn extra money.  But even those options are taking a hit. 

The School Recognition Program awards, which are funded from the Federal No Child Left Behind Act were recently dispersed across Florida.  The money is awarded to schools in recognition of outstanding performance or an “A rating”.  This year the state awarded $1,465,584 to Santa Rosa Schools.

A committee of teachers at the A rated school congregate with employees and decide where the money is spent. All schools take a different approach to the voting process, but most come together and agree on a resolution.  At the end of the day, most faculty members vote to add it to their paychecks.  This year 25 Santa Rosa County schools received the award, but over the years, even the SRP award has taken a hit from funding. 

Berryhill Elementary in Milton took home $64,107, a big chunk of the award, which is based solely on student population.  Berryhill Principal Roger Golden said he has seen a decrease in the award money, which the elementary school has received for 9 consecutive years.

“The award money is based on student population,” said Golden, “This year we received $75 per full time student, last year we received $85, and if I’m not mistaken, it was $100 per student the year before that.”    

Right now Superintendent Wyrosdick said he is doing what he can to keep the budget where it needs to be.  He said his main concern is saving money and not going under budget.  Teachers who are hoping for a bonus this year might have to keep their hopes down for now.  A meeting to further discuss the raise issue is scheduled for Oct. 30. 

The bottom line is, we spend money because it is good for the kids, but there is only so much we can do right now.”