Gloucester
2019-2020 GCPS Budget Discussed at School Board - Board of Supervisors Joint Meeting
Reporter Andrew Casteneda
22 March 2019
On March 19th, the Gloucester County School Board and Board of Supervisors met at T.C Walker Education Center to discuss the budget for the 2019-2020 school year. Public support for a budget increase for education was overwhelming, with many supporters wearing “red for education”.
Minutes before the meeting commenced, warmth was shared throughout the crowded auditorium. Friends hugged friends, representatives shook hands, teachers sat close to express solidarity. Caring smiles were plentiful. If one thing was apparent between every citizen in that room, it was a common care for Gloucester County and her well-being.
With a Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, the meeting commenced. “Let us resolve issues fairly and agree upon issues when necessary,” said the Speaker of the House.
As the floor was opened and the meeting progressed, a certain tension was revealed. Gone were the superficial greetings and smiles,and in came the truth that these two councils disagreed heavily with one another.
The School Board stood for an increase in funding with intentions towards competitive faculty and staff raises, a new or modified HVAC unit, and taking care of Gloucester High School’s black mold problem.
The prime issue with these motives is based on money. These tasks are extremely costly, with Dr. Walter Clemmons’ projected budget placed at $3.6 million to aptly dispatch these problems, to which the Board of Supervisors refused to grant. Not wishing to anger the public or other county organizations, the Board of Supervisors strongly oppose an increase in tax or a reallocation of funding from other county assets.
Clint E. Alexander, theater department teacher at Gloucester High School, was the first public citizen to speak. Confidently, he advocated for an increase in wages, not just for teachers, but especially for staff (i.e clinic, custodians, bus drivers). Most of these workers work multiple jobs and could be making a much better salary elsewhere, yet they humbly choose to stay and take care of the GCPS family.
Several GCPS faculty members themselves spoke up. Bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and even Ralph Van Ness of GHS Security stepped forward to defend staff rights to a fair salary and students’ rights to an outstanding education.
One cafeteria worker pointed out that the cafeteria staff only makes around a 2% raise for every year they work there, when in other counties, raises for cafeteria staff are around 7%, 8%, and even 13%. “That’s a little unfair,” She remarked.
A bus driver expressed her dismay over her incredibly low, unsustainable wages she makes when her duties are so severe. She displayed a care for everyone of her passengers, to which she has even provided new backpacks and lunch money to students who could not obtain it themselves, as well as a great sorrow and disappointment to the notion that she may not be able to continue her driving duties due to the incredibly low wages.
Security Head Mr. Ralph Van Ness noted his usual fiscal conservatism, but even with these views, agrees to an increase in tax for the sake of bettering Gloucester Schools. To Ralph, Gloucester High School is home, and if things don’t start changing, students, faculty, and staff are going to exit and Gloucester County Public Schools will no longer be home.
A great issue that was also discussed was in regards to GHS’ HVAC unit. “I was astonished to hear that the HVAC unit in place when I attended Gloucester High School back in ‘75 was the same one being used today,” One male alumni stated. “My first question was ‘how is it still working?’”
Not every public citizen was in support of increasing funding for GCPS, however. One citizen expressed that while yes, increasing real estate tax for schools is a noble cause, it impedes upon unalienable and constitutional rights to property. To his logic, if we allow this concession this year, what will it be next year?
At particular times, sessional tensions were significantly noticeable. One Senior chose to take the floor and express honorable ideals but in a profanitorical tone, stating “[GCPS Staff] is F****** awesome.”
Shannon Halterman, mother to a student in GCPS, remarked to the School Board and Board of Supervisors, “Down here, I can sense the tensions between these two boards. Get it together.”
No solid conclusion was met at the joint meeting, however, the Board of Supervisors seem willing and have expressed interest in increasing allocated funding for GCPS for maintenance purposes. The numbers, technicalities, and specifics of this increase is unknown. “The Board of Supervisors and School Board are currently at an impasse over the particular funding,” GHS Science Department Teacher Kimberly Gross-Cain said.
Despite disagreements, tensions, and all passionate beliefs and ideals, it is important for us as citizens of Gloucester County to remember that we are all on the same side. All of us call Gloucester our home. All of us wish for the prosperity and well-being of Gloucester and her peoples. We all care about this place, and really, that is what matters the most.