SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

HOLLY HAZARD
Chair
IRENE EGAN
Vice-Chair

STAFFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

31 Stafford Avenue
Stafford, Virginia 22554-7246
Phone: 540-658-6000

W. BRUCE BENSON, Ed.D.

Superintendent

http://www.staffordschools.net

EMILY FALLON
PATRICIA HEALY
C. SCOTT HIRONS
NANETTE KIDBY
DEWAYNE McOSKER, JR.

Dear Employees,
Last night, the School Board discussed and voted on many topics, not the least of which
is the FY2017 Approved Budget. In the continuing quest to keep employees informed
of significant topics, I am providing a summary of the meetings highlights.
FY2017 Budget
Unlike previous years, the FY2017 Budget was formulated using actual expense
figures, not projected or previous line item amounts. As noted in my last
communication, the Board of Supervisors fully funded Superintendent Bensons request
of an additional $1.2 million and allowed the additional State education revenues of
about $900,000 to be passed onto the school division.
Here are some highlights of the FY2017 Approved Budget:

2 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all employees and the final 1
percent Virginia Retirement System salary increase;
A new starting teacher salary of $42,238, up from $37,793 two years ago;
Funding of a new health insurance plan for employees, with reduced premiums
for most employees;
Pay scale enhancements for various job classifications including teachers and
paraprofessionals; and
96.5 new positions, including 29 elementary school teachers to reduce class
sizes, 4 math specialists, 2 ESL positions, 2 CTT support positions, at a
minimum 2 high school English teachers, 40 Special Education compliance
positions (including social workers, counselors, OT/PT therapists, speech
pathologists) and 13 growth positions to be used to meet increased enrollment
and classroom hot spots that develop over the summer.

In summary, 95 percent of these additional budget items directly impact the classroom.
Overall, 84 percent of the SCPS budget is devoted to salary and benefits our people.
The School Boards adopted budget priorities for FY2017 focused on reducing class
size, providing market-based compensation systems for all employees, creating cash
capital reserve, and establishing sustainable cyclical replacement funding. This budget

School Board Chair Update

April 27, 2016
Page 2
makes progress toward these goals but the division still has work to do in many of these
areas.
With the recent findings from the interim forensic financial audit report, the School Board
and Superintendent are making progress on revising budget practices to ensure the
highest standards of financial management for Stafford County Public Schools. The
increasing communication and collaboration with the Board of Supervisors this year is a
positive step between the elected bodies who are responsible for the education of our
children in Stafford County.

Staff Announcements
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Tim Nichols as Chief Secondary
Officer who will replace Dr. David White who will be leaving SCPS to lead King William
County Schools as its next Superintendent.
Abigail Martinez will be joining the Moncure Elementary team as Assistant Principal to
take the position vacated by Bonnie Norton who will be retiring this summer.
Thank You
The school division will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week next week. Although only
one week is set aside for recognition, each one of you who serves our students makes
an impact on the students and families of Stafford County every day. You build bridges
by teaching a concept, holding a hand, supporting creativity, and taking an extra minute
to listen. You set the stage for the future of our children and ultimately, our world.
On behalf of the School Board, I wish you a wonderful week and share this inspiring
poem with you.
The Bridge Builder
By Will Allen Dromgoole
An old man going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening cold and gray,
To a chasm vast and deep and wide.
Through which was flowing a sullen tide
The old man crossed in the twilight dim,
The sullen stream had no fear for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.

School Board Chair Update

April 27, 2016
Page 3
Old man, said a fellow pilgrim near,
You are wasting your strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day,
You never again will pass this way;
Youve crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build this bridge at evening tide?
The builder lifted his old gray head;
Good friend, in the path I have come, he said,
There followed after me to-day
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been as naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!

Thank you for all you do to make Stafford County Public Schools a great place to learn
and work.
Sincerely,

Holly Hazard, Chair

Stafford County School Board