Schools Leader Talks Budget Cuts

North Stafford, Va. –– Stafford Schools Superintendent Dr. Randy Bridges took questions this morning from county business owners, touting his plan to cut $7.1 million from the school budget.

The proposed 2012 operating budget will cut 60 positions in an effort to save an estimated $3 million, and require all employees take at least one furlough day next year to save the system $825,000.

“Our core business is education and learning, period. We don’t build roads, we don’t do sewer, but do we have an impact on economic development? Yes,” said Bridges.

Bridges comes to the county from North Carolina and was hired to lead Stafford’s schools three months ago.
When he arrived, at least 15 positions in the school system were already vacant.

Eliminating more will be tough but necessary, he said.

“When you downsize things get pushed to some people who are already doing two and three things, and now they are doing five and six things and it becomes too difficult and decisions to cut need to be made,” said Bridges.

Not all of the positions eliminated will be teachers, but the numbers of students in classes are expected to go up.

Other ways the schools are looking to save money: reduce pay for long-term substitute teachers, cut the number of library assistants by half and salary caps for entry level employees.

Bridges took questions at the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Stafford Business Roundtable event at the Globe and Laurel Restaurant in Boswell’s Corner.