Most Bedford teachers say they won't take pay cut

BEDFORD — Roughly 70 percent of employees surveyed in Bedford County’s school system say they would not be willing to take a pay cut for the purpose of saving jobs in a tough budget year, according to results of a survey conducted by school officials.

The Bedford County School Board, which authorized the anonymous survey two weeks ago, received copies of the results Thursday. More than 1,200 of the division’s 1,755 employees took part.

Roughly 80 percent of surveyed employees indicated they would not take less pay to keep schools open — the board is considering consolidating two elementary schools in Body Camp and Thaxton due to expected funding cuts. Superintendent Douglas Schuch recommended the measure, which has outraged many residents of those communities, along with 124 potential job cuts.

Only 28.5 percent indicated they are willing to accept pay cuts between 1 and 10 percent in addition to a proposed 1 percent salary reduction for retirement contributions. Nearly 900 employees were against that, according to the survey.

“This speaks pretty clearly that staff are unable to take pay cuts,” Chairwoman Debbie Hoback said. “That has to be considered when we handle our budget.”

Board members wanted the feedback as they look for ways to offset a projected reduction in funding that Schuch has said could be as much as $7 million. The board has not made any final decisions and is waiting on final revenue figures from the state, its main funding source.

“We’re still looking at everything,” Hoback said following Thursday’s meeting.

Schuch told the board Thursday he is hopeful that he can amend his proposed budget to reflect “favorable revenue changes from the state” depending on a final version of the state budget. He said his numbers initially presented last month were a “worst-case scenario” and a difference of $3.5 million in two proposed versions of a state budget in the House and Senate would “change our way of thinking.”

“We believe we’ll come back with an alternate proposal that is better ... because we can’t put a number on it, we don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up,” Schuch said.

Meanwhile, the board is considering a number of options to balance figures in the proposed $94 million budget.

A move to set “staffing standards” that increase the size of classrooms is scheduled to go before the board for approval next week. Schuch said if it passes it would cut the number of layoffs from 124 to 114.

“It’s still a big number,” he said.

Tim Parker, director of human resources, said 51 people have indicated a willingness to participate in a voluntary retirement incentive program to minimize layoffs and 38 have already signed agreements. The school system also stands to lose nine other employees through general attrition, he said.

Board members debated going “line by line” through the budget to find savings. Member Dave Vaden said he felt the board hasn’t “scratched the surface” of potential savings.

Board member Shirley McCabe, who represents Thaxton, requested that the option to consolidate Thaxton Elementary School be removed from discussion. The majority of the board did not agree with the idea and said it should stay on the table until figures from the state, as well as funding by the Bedford County Board of Supervisors, is fully known.

“All we’re doing is gathering a lot of pieces,” said board member Gary Hostutler, who represents Forest, “and then we’ll put the pieces together when we get the revenue figures.”

The school board’s next meeting is Thursday.