3/10/10
I would like to comment on the article in the Powhatan Today for March 10 referring to the budget.  The section stating if the school board does get additional money from the state, the first thing that they would do away with the salary reduction.  In my opinion I believe that they should reconsider the night custodial employees that would shift over to the outside contractor before doing this.  Some of those custodial employees have been there 18, 20, and 30 years which means that some of these employees have been there longer than the some of the teachers.  If their option is to go with an outside contractor that will only let them work 32 hours a week then that means no benefits, a reduction of their salaries and they wouldn’t be able to participate in the VRS(retirement) program.  In this day and time how can anyone live without medical benefits or not have some sort of retirement.  This is so unfair for those employees and I would hope that the school board would reconsider and put themselves in the custodial shoes (literally)before making such a drastic decision.

Dean

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I don’t know about the $374m that was found to be an error, but I doubt it was a surprise.  Who can remember the many times that the budget was saved by some kind of miracle in the past.  I can only think that it was a little bit of money that they were hoping they would not have to use but brought it up when push came to shove.  I see that part of the fix is to take a 3% cut to the top.  We already know Dr. M did not want this, and was agitated about the idea even being pitched.  Mr Gideons said they had no choice but to enforce this.  I still don’t think it will come to be and that makes it okay to say you will be taking a pay cut when you know you won’t really get one.  Mr. G and the others might be crossed off of the nice list this year though.  I have been there, you never know what is going to happen until it happens.  We will know soon.  Too bad so many have had to be distracted by this, and hopefully now they can settle down and catch their breath.  I remember it too well. 

The budget will pass, people will forget this like everything else, life will go on.  Then next year we get to do it all over again.

Can someone explain how the double posting phenomena that produced an additional $374,000 occurred? I understand why at last nights meeting everyone one was elated to see the newly discovered funds but how does an accounting over sight of this magnitude occur? I think this over sight tarnishes the credibility of the school system. Is anyone going to be held accountable for this error and are there other accounting errors?