Education

As a father, I feel there are few things more important for our children than a good education.  Our family takes great pride in the fact that my wife was the valedictorian of Spotsylvania County's Courtland high school in 1987 and went on to attend one of the best medical schools in the world, Johns Hopkins University med school.  I attended Iowa public schools growing up and have a Bachelor's in Business Administration (BBA-finance) for my undergraduate degree and a Masters of Science in Systems Management.  I also attended numerous schools - to include very demanding flight school - while I served over 20 years in the United States Marine Corps. 

Indeed, Spotsylvania County has some of the best public and private schools in our nation and I'm proud to be a supporter of our school system.

During this year's (2015 - 2016) budget process I fully supported a proposed budget alternative (click here to hear it) made by my fellow board member - Dr. Paul Trampe -  which would have reduced the school's funding gap from $1.3 million to a few hundred thousand without raising taxes while reducing the personal property tax by a nickel. Unfortunately, the Board voted down this proposal 5 to 2 (click here to see vote). . . with Paul and I voting for it.   

Although we were unable to close the budget gap this year - we certainly have done a good amount of work for our schools over the past three plus years while I have served on the Board of Supervisors.  Please see some key improvements below.

The 2015 passed budget!!!

Although the motion made by Paul Trampe I mentioned above failed to pass, Spotsylvania County Schools did really well in our last budget cycle.  Highlights include:

- Hiring of 59 additional employees to the payroll
- Larger budget, $2,800,000.00 - ($2.8M) greater operating budget than last year
- A 3% pay raise for all employees
- Pay increases for our substitute teachers
- A $25 reduction in the athletic fee
- A 5% stipend increase for coaches and academic advisers
- Creation of a middle school debate sponsor stipend
- Creation of a James Farmer coordinator stipend
- Pay increase for long-term certified substitute teachers to $170/day
- Pay increase for long-term uncertified sub-teachers to $120/day
- Pay increase for interpreters (at levels 1 and 2) from $15 to $20/hr
- Pay increase for bus aides from $8.17 to $9.50/hr

starting salaries

I am proud to say that in the 2014 - 2015 school year - Spotsylvania County's starting salary's for teachers holding a Bachelor's degree was $39,390 - almost $1,600 ($1,597 to be exact) more than our sister county - Stafford to our north. 
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Teacher pay raises

Putting things in perspective - I thought it would be good to list pay raises over time.  In 2011 - four conservative, tax conscious  members were elected to your Board of Supervisors - who value education - please see what we were able to do starting in 2012, my first year in office representing Courtland.

SALARY INCREASE TREND DATA
- 2010 - no salary increase
- 2011 - no salary increase
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- 2012 - $600 Bonus and 1% COLA raise
- 2013 - .8% increase for all those below and an additional 5% pay raise that helped offset Virginia State mandated employee contribution towards retirement plan.
- 2014 - $900 bonus
- 2015 - see 2015 Passed Budget!!! on the left - 3% raises to all.  Step increase - first in eight years. 

Up Next

I have two major items I would like to see addressed over the next four years.  One is school safety - I would like to continue to work with the School Board to ensure our schools are as safe as possible in a pro-active way - I don't want to be reactive.

My second goal to also work with the School Board with is the elimination of the athletic fee as soon as possible.  A great step was taken toward that this year - we can do more.  I am very proud of our school system and count it one of the best in Virginia. 

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