COSTS Continued from pg. 5
displayed in Faison’s capacity, which Taylor said is at nearly tapped out. “In January, we had 15 more students in the same time the previous year at an annual cost of around $58,000 at a private specialty center,” Taylor said. “It adds up quickly.” There are currently 22 Hanover students at Faison.
BUDGET Continued from pg. 1
supplies laptops and devices for teachers and students. While most speakers also endorsed the plan’s 2% salary increase for all employees, some said it didn’t go far enough. John Thoburn has two sons, one who attends Patrick Henry High School and one a recent graduate. Both siblings have selected German for their language, but Thoburn said the experience has had its share of ups and downs. His son’s first German teacher left when an additional child expected in his household forced the experienced teacher to seek more compensation in another locality. The replacement lasted only three years, citing an inability to pay back student loans on her
ESSAY Continued from pg. 14
Participating students must sign the pledge on the Cover Sheet stating that the essay is their original work. This signed Cover Sheet must be submitted with each essay. Instructions and Cover
MARDI GRAS Continued from pg. 14
tion, Mardi Gras games, music, line dancing and lots of food and desserts, including tradi-
Special education students enrolled at private educational sites are served at facilities around the metro area, including Faison, St. Joseph’s Villa and the Home for Boys and Girls. “We are fortunate to have specialty schools in our community,” Taylor said. In other business, county administrator Rhu Harris presented his List of Initiatives for FY2019, a precursor to his budget presentation scheduled for
next month. Topping that list is the construction of the Atlee Library, a long anticipated project that is slated to begin in 2019. “We’re well into the design process and we’ve held a number of community meetings, online surveys … and our fiveyear CIP [Capital Improvement Plan] anticipates the construction of the Atlee Library to begin next year,” Harris said. “We would recommend that
funding be part of your proposed initiatives as we go forward. Also included on the suggested priority list is the continuation of the renovation of the vacated court buildings. The Circuit Court building is well into its construction schedule and the Commissioner of Revenue, the Treasurer, Internal Audit and Finance and Management are slated to move into that building in 2019.
Officials are now in the design phase for the former General District Court. Harris said it’s never too early to begin planning for a birthday bash, and Hanover County is preparing to celebrate its 300th in 2020. “We’ll be a brisk, young 300 years old,” Harris said. “We think that’s worth celebrating. This is a major milestone and we would ask that the board consider a citizen committee to
work with staff and board to plan out the festivities.” Harris also suggested the county complete its Community Development software. “We are about to undertake the selection with a vendor. The new system is dedicated to making our online capabilities for our citizens much easier to use,” Harris said. Harris also urged the board
meager salary as the reason for her departure. “While I am hopeful that another German teacher can be found, I am not overly optimistic that one can be retained,” Thoburn said. “It is not in the interest of our students to have our teachers turn over so quickly.” He addressed the current proposal to raise salaries by 2%. “While I am heartened to see a pay increase for our teachers in the budget, 2% is clearly too little to retain financially struggling teachers.” Thoburn suggested assisting struggling teachers by paying off student debt, and lightening the current 6x8 teaching schedule. “I urge you to inform our [Hanover County] Board of Supervisors of the very real consequences of falling behind in support of our teachers,”
Thoburn said. “Seek to negotiate a better deal with the supervisors for our children. Aim high,” he added. Representing Together Hanover, parent Rachel Levy also addressed teacher compensation and the lack of step increases. “We support the 2% raises for teachers and the funding of much needed new staffing positions as well as the absorption of increased benefits expenses,” she said. “However, teachers haven’t seen step increases in years and the problem of salary compression is a real one. We are losing veteran teachers because they can go to neighboring districts and make $8,000 to $15,000 more, even if starting salaries are comparable.” The county has provided salary increases for its employees the past four years in an effort to
remain competitive in a shrinking teacher pool, but no step increases have been funded. Step increases provide compensation for employees for the number of years worked. Gill pointed out he wasn’t sure when the county last provided step increase funding for its teachers, but noted it would add a significant amount to the budget and was not possible this year. Hanover County School Board member John Axselle, Beaverdam District, said he was around when the system was in effect and pointed to a scale that often pitted one employee against another regarding raises, and was burdensome to program administrators. “You had someone in Step 7 getting a bigger raise than someone in Step12, so I distinctly remember discussion
among staff that became difficult because of that. It was quite a bit to manage,” Axselle said. Another problem with the step system as currently written is that raises between steps are not uniform, and could be conceived as unfair by some. “I think it would round out the picture if we had additional information on that piece,” Henry District school board member Marla Coleman said. “Certainly, every speaker here tonight has addressed the need for compensation and I am in awe of the fact that we have been consistent in the years since we have recovered from the economy,” she added. Gill assured board members he would collect that data and provide an estimate of how much it would cost to initiate a step increase program.
Board chair Sue Dibble, South Anna District6, was clear on where she stands on the implementation of step increases. “The school board is not unlike any other business in our community,” she said. “We have to work within our means. At a point and time when we believe that we can afford it, we need to move in that direction but I don’t believe we are in a situation right now where we can afford it.” Officers from the Hanover Education Association, Hanover Council of PTAs and Hanover Professional Educators spoke at the public hearing. All endorsed the proposed budget and its intent to add eight positions to the CodeRVA Regional High School and supply all schools with a new visitor management system.
Sheet can be found at the Hanover County branches of the Pamunkey Regional Library System (Ashland, Atlee, Hanover, Mechanicsville, Lois Wickham Jones/ Montpelier and Cochrane Rockville Branch), on the Hanover Rotary website www.hanoverrotary.org. or by emailing Janice Henicheck at jhenicheck2@
gmail.com or 570-574-1481 or Clint Norris at cjnorris3@comcast.net or 804-221-7727. Essays will be judged on content, organization and style. he first place winner will receive a $100; second place will receive a $75; third place will receive a $50. Essays will not be returned. Only one essay per student
will be accepted. Entries must be postmarked by midnight March 16. Send all submissions to: Hanover Rotary Club, PO Box 6451 Ashland VA 23005. For more information about the essay contest and the Rotary Club of Hanover County, visit the club’s website at www. hanoverrotary.org.
tional Mardi Grass dishes such as Shrimp & Grits, Shrimp & Chicken Etouffee, Pancakes, and Red Beans & Rice. Advance tickets may be purchased in the church office
for $30 per person. Tickets also will be available at the door for $35. Attendees may dress in costumes or masks and a prize will be awarded for the best
costume. Masks and celebration beads will be provided for everyone. For more information, contact the First Shiloh Baptist Church office at 804-730-1348.
see COSTS, pg. 20 }
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The Mechanicsville Local
January 31, 2018
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