Final school district budget under discussion at listening session

COLUMBIA - Emotions were running high at the final school board listening session held before the vote on the finalized budget for the 2008-2009 school year.

There were more than a few dampened eyes as teachers, concerned citizens, and board members discussed the ramifications of not operating the salary schedule for the upcoming year.

The main issue of the evening was whether the salary schedule for Columbia Public Schools staff will operate in the upcoming school year. The community members that attended were concerned that freezing pay will lower teacher morale and affect the classroom environment.

Board president Michelle Gadbois thinks, however, that it is unlikely that the board will vote in favor of the scheduled pay increases.

“I don’t think there are enough members” in favor of operating the salary schedule this year, Gadbois said. “I’m torn. I fully understand that dipping into money we don’t have is a long-term problem.”

The board plans to vote on a finalized version of the operating budget in a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Ann Alofs, a teacher at Benton Elementary School and mother of two, expressed her concern about the working environment for both teachers and students. As she spoke about her worries, tears filled her eyes.

“Morale is so low,” Alofs said. “I don’t know how much longer we can hold on.”

Alofs’ emotional comment drew an evident welling of tears from both Gadbois and board member Ines Segert.

“We hear you,” Gadbois said. “Several of us know what it means to work our tails off for CPS. I, too, hope this is rock bottom.”

Board member Steve Calloway also weighed in, saying he has lost sleep over this possible pay freeze.

Pat Fowler, an MU staff member, thinks it is important for the district to pay attention to “the lowest of the low paid” employees in the school district.

“I don’t know how they do it,” Fowler said, adding that she thinks there is a growing number of people struggling to make ends meet.

Calloway agreed that the district’s support staff was low-paid.

“Support staff are so low paid, they truly are low paid such that the district cannot compete for quality help,” Calloway said. “We have great help in our buildings. We don’t have the money.”

In a letter to staff, Superintendent Phyllis Chase said she doesn't think the board should operate the salary schedule this coming year.

Matt Cone, a social studies teacher at Rock Bridge High School, said he would have rather not been at the meeting.

“I’m here because I care,” Cone said. “When I talk about morality, it’s really a very serious, concrete thing. Of course morale is going to be hurt if we don’t operate the salary schedule.”