Letters to the Editor
July 6, 2016
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As a former administrator in the Dickenson County school system, the recent school board layoffs and program cuts have raised some serious concerns.
I am concerned that the school system is being run with no checks and balances and no accountability. This school board’s failure to evaluate the superintendent since 2011 is not only a neglect of duty, but also a violation of the law. To make matters worse, in spite of failing to evaluate the superintendent’s performance, Chairman Rocky Barton, Rick Mullins, and Dr. Lyle voted in favor of giving the superintendent a new 4 year contract, the terms of which are financially irresponsible given our current budget crisis.
Shortly after being awarded this nice, new contract, the Superintendent announced there would have to be difficult decisions made on how to handle the over $800,000 budget shortage. What concerns me is the decision on where the budget cuts were made was based on recommendation of Mrs. Robinson and the central office supervisors.
Rather than look at wasteful and unnecessary spending, Mrs. Robinson’s recommendations were to eliminate 29 positions, resulting in the loss of vital programs such as art, music, drama, ets. In her tenure, we have lost over 90 teacher and support staff with no cuts coming from the central office. In fact as some teachers take home pay has dropped by over $200 in the last five years. Mrs. Robinson’s salary AND benefits have continued to rise.
We have learned through recently received public records that the central office staff employs 19 individuals, and a payroll around 1.2 million dollars per year.
I am concerned that those at the top of the pay scale in the school system are given COMPLETE and unchecked authority on budget cuts. This seems to be a conflict of interest. It does not appear that the school board questioned these recommendations at all. The manner in which teachers were chosen to be laid off does not appear to follow any particular policy. The public has been made aware of the certifications and experience of all non-tenured teachers.
The most concerning thing is that we are seeing first-hand the devastating effects of power unchecked. The school board has ignored the Virginia Cod, the Department of Education, and ever more concerning, their own policies.
It is time that the citizens hold this school board and this superintendent accountable. If we fail to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, our county and our kids have no future here.
Jettie G. Mullins
July 5, 2016
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Yes, we do have a new school, but for what? It has come at a great price to the county. We have a lot more then we will ever need. Did the school broad do their part in watching over the budget on the construction of the new school or did they all let one person make all the decisions? I think we all know the answer to that question....one person, and through it all she was trying to make herself look good, or she would have included in the planning process enough in the budget to keep the teachers. Then the kid's would get the education they need instead of having classes jerked away from them. Also, all I see with this new school is more loss, more people leaving, and bringing down the student head count that we need to help keep up the school. Then in turn we lose more students. Do they even think about the safety of the kid's anymore? I asked one school board member, I will not mention any names because it is not right to point out just one person, but I have requested one little building that is very important to our town and we can't get it, we have first use of it anytime we need, But I don't see how the school board is using it for anything so why not let the Town of Clinchco have it to keep it up and cut that cost for the school. Then I asked about the stuff that was inside the building and where did it go? He could not tell me where it went and said he would get back with me and I'm still waiting on a response. And another thing, from what I have been told is that the biggest part of that building was built with the help from CLINCHCO residents. Then on another note, I think some people are wanting everyone to think the board of supervisor's trip had a lot to do with it. But in my opinion that is just a drop in the bucket compared to what is supposed to be saved from the construction of the new school.
Thank you, Clinchco Mayor Jarvis Deel