Stafford County, Va. –– School employees in Stafford may not have to take part in mandatory furloughs this coming year.
Stafford County schools Superintendent Dr. Randy Bridges is expected to tell the county school board an additional $1 million dollars now budgeted from the county will be enough money to offset mandatory furloughs.
“We are extremely appreciative that the Board of County Supervisors allotted the additional money to us, as we were facing a $7.1 million budget shortfall,” said schools spokeswoman Valerie Cottongim.
Because the school system is not yet out of the budgetary hole, teachers in the coming year will most likely not see raises, schools will likely see increased class sizes and the loss of some 60 staff and faculty positions.
Bridges announced those cost-cutting measures prior to the Board of Supervisors allotting the additional money to the schools last week.
The schools aim to save an additional $825,000 with the cost-cutting measures.
Bridges has also said he would consider cutting the number of library aides by half, capping salaries for top-level employees and reducing the paychecks of long-term substitutes.
