Teachers and staff are taking one for the team on Monday, as all schools in the Mill Valley School District close down for the first of two furlough days this year.
The unpaid day off for all staff, which includes teachers, support staff and administrators, is expected to save a projected $200,000 as the district combats a $1.4 million budget deficit.
“In light of the financial crisis facing the district after millions of dollars in cutbacks by the state, this is part of the staff's contribution in the district's shared sacrifices/solutions approach,” Superintendent Paul Johnson said in a letter to the school community. “I did want to stress that for our staff this is a significant personal sacrifice and their efforts are much appreciated.”
Teachers agreed to the salary reductions, as well as paying a higher percentage of medical coverage costs, in exchange for a one-time payment of between $248 and $497 to help cover rising premiums. That’s in addition to concessions teachers made last year to make annual contributions into a retiree medical benefit trust and to increase the number of years of service required to received retirement benefits from 10 to 20 years.
It’s also just one piece of the strategy to maintain the quality teachers and academic programs in the Mill Valley School District, Johnson said.
Kiddo! and the PTA’s have stepped up to help pay for supplies and PE this year, and the district is campaigning hard for voters to pass a new $196 parcel tax on top of the existing $731 parcel tax on the Nov. 6 ballot.
“I recognize that Monday's furlough day may pose a hardship for many families,” Johnson said, “and I thank you for your efforts to support the district.”
Here's what else is happening on Mill Valley Patch
- The Fleet Week and America's Cup View of Mount Tam
- Ben Affleck's 'Argo' Holds up to the Hype at MVFF35
- Submit Your Questions for Obama and Romney for the Next Presidential Debate
- PHOTOS: Hundreds Mix & Mingle at MVFF35 Opening Night Gala
- MVFF: Cooper and Russell Spill About 'Silver Linings Playbook' to a Packed Theater
- At MVFF35, Kerouac's 'On the Road' Hits the Big Screen with Deep Bay Area Roots
- How to Get Your Sports Team Featured on Patch
- Drunken Driving Arrests for 18-year-olds and Under on the Rise
- FEMA Presents Updated Flood Map: Will You Be In The New Floodway?
For local education news like this wherever you go, follow us! And don't forget to sign up for our daily e-newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
"Like" us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for the daily Mill Valley Patch newsletter | Start a blog
Citizen
What really peeves me off - how hard would it have been to coordinate this day off with the development day at Tam High, which was Monday last week?