Education
Educators evaluating impact of governor's proposals
Local school officials are still grappling with how to handle Gov. Sonny Perdue’s Tuesday announcement that he plans to cut the education budget 3 percent and ask teachers to take three furlough days.
Several people — including Perdue — have said they’re uncertain if the governor can order teachers to take unpaid time off since educators have contracts with local school systems, not the state.
Dalton Public Schools officials plan to present Perdue’s request to committees made up of employees who have been working to reduce the budget, said spokeswoman Deana Farmer.
“All DPS employees are to report to work as originally scheduled,” she said.
Whitfield County Schools spokesman Eric Beavers said officials are still assessing the impact the governor’s decisions will have, and no decisions have been made.
“We are not going to hastily react to his announcement, but will take all the time necessary to make a wise decision that will have the least impact on student instruction,” he said.
Murray County Schools administrative services director Dean Donehoo said Wednesday afternoon that the school system will furlough educators two of the four planning days before school starts. Individual schools will choose which ones, he said. The third furlough day will be Oct. 17, a teacher planning and training day. Principals were notified about the changes Tuesday night, he said.
No one answered the phone at any of the Murray schools Wednesday afternoon.
The Murray Board of Education meets Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to adopt a $55.1 million budget. The meeting at the central office at 715 Chestnut St. in Chatsworth is open to the public. Donehoo said board members will likely be asked to adopt the planned budget, then make a budget amendment once all the facts about the governor’s announcement are sorted out.
It’s still unclear whether the governor’s budget cuts are 3 percent of funding for the remainder of the calendar year or for the fiscal year that runs July 1 to June 30, he said.
Murray Board of Education member Elizabeth Gould said the announcement is frustrating.
“Money and time are being taken away, but (for) educators, none of the responsibilities and expectations are being taken away,” she said. “It’s going to be tough.”
Perdue has strongly suggested teachers take furloughs on planning days so classes aren’t interrupted.
In Whitfield County, Pleasant Grove Elementary School teacher Amanda Thomas said she hopes teachers won’t be asked to take all three furlough days at the beginning of the school year.
Whitfield teachers get four planning days before school starts. She said those days are used for preparing lessons, meeting in groups with other educators and fixing up classrooms.
“I’m sure it would be difficult for teachers to get ready with three less days,” she said.
Dalton Board of Education member Tulley Johnson said on Wednesday he knew little about the governor’s announcement and would need to discuss the matter with the superintendent and other board members before he could comment.
- Education
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Preparing for the big game
Kayla Webb, 15, performs a cheer with the varsity and junior varsity members of the North Murray cheerleading team Wednesday as they walk laps around the track at Murray High School. The team is getting ready for their first game of the season, scheduled for Aug. 20, a scrimmage against Murray High. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
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