Note to AFPE Members - Do the Dollars Make Sense?

Dr. Dale presented a budget to the school board that eliminates COLA and Step increases for teachers and raises class size. This means that teachers will be asked to do more work for less money when you allow for inflation. Do the dollars make sense in this case? Would your doctor, dentist, or plumber accept 95 cents on the dollar? Is this the BEST plan?

AFPE has offered an alternative to staff. Give teachers the STEP increases that they have "earned" this year, and attempt to protect the counselor, social worker, and school psychologist ratios and class size. To provide the needed dollars, shorten the instructional contract by five days for 2009-10. Two days could be staff development days and three days could be shaved off the student calendar by shortening the number of teaching days from 183 to 180 days. Many experienced educators believe this could be done with minimal impact on the instructional program for a year as a stop-gap measure for these economically troubled times. This plan would generate a significant amount of money as reducing contracts by five days would net the system approximately 43 million dollars. In addition, FCPS must resume charging for AP/IB and PSAT exams with the exception of free and reduced lunch students. This would add another 5 million dollars.

We have been through this before. Freezing STEP increases now is very difficult to fix later and has a very negative impact on morale. By giving us the STEP increase we have earned we preserve some dignity and improve morale. There would be a monetary cost to teachers this year because of the shorter contract, but in succeeding years as the budget allows the days could be added back to the contract and we would be made whole again. Ask yourself, Do the Dollars Make Sense?

AFPE Board of Directors