The Patrick County Board of Supervisors on Monday unanimously approved the amended $54 million budget for fiscal 2018-19, which caps the local contribution to the Patrick County School division at $7.1 million.
“The only shot we have at it is right now at budget time,” Karl Weiss, of the Blue Ridge District, said before casting his ballot to rein in spending and address other issues in the division.
“Last year, we heard from many great teachers who were leaving,” said Lock Boyce, chairman and of the Mayo River District. After polling teachers to determine the reason for their departure, “not one said it had to do with money. They were leaving because of morale and working conditions,” Boyce alleged.
Nancy Carlson, one of two to address the supervisors Monday, said she felt “somewhat responsible” for some of the controversies in the division.
“I don’t think any of the conversations we’ve been hearing would be taking place if I hadn’t heard whispers last year of some raises in the central office.”
Alleging favoritism and nepotism, Carlson said “a lot of people are very annoyed. It doesn’t seem like certain people are held accountable. … I’ve also heard there will be a high turnover this year” of school staff.
Boyce said it is unfortunate that once the local contribution is approved, “our voices don’t count and your voices don’t count,” he added to those attending the meeting. “The only way to confront this type of arrogance is to continue to offer them the amount of money they got year before last.”
Jane Scales Fulk, of the Dan River District, also noted that supervisors have no control over spending in the division after the local contribution is approved. She said when concerns arise, “each member of the community needs to speak to their school board member and let them know they’re not happy.”
Rickie Fulcher, who formerly served on the Patrick County School Board and currently holds the Peters Creek District seat on the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, said he feels there needs to be accountability.
Fulcher said $128,000 in the division’s budget was allotted to purchasing buses; an additional $192,000 was allocated to leasing buses. “Even though no money has been expended” to buy buses, the amount remains in the budget. “That should not be a line item in a budget, but it’s still in there,” he said.
Crystal Harris, of the Smith River District, said the 2 percent pay raise for the superintendent in the current budget cycle is more than the salaries of some cafeteria workers and school bus drivers. She also expressed displeasure that the auditor calculated two different figures as the amount of the local contribution required by law – one for the supervisors ($7.1 million) and another for the school board ($7.7 million).
After the vote was taken, Boyce said “I hope the school board understands what their duty is and I hope they fix it.”
The amended budget also included $22,000 requested by the Special Ops Team to help pay for training and additional equipment.
Supervisors met in closed session with members of the Patrick County Economic Development Authority and Debbie Foley, economic development director. No action was taken after closed session.
