Comments on: No preliminary numbers in first school budget committee meeting

By: Cathy Benson

Cathy Benson — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:58:59 +0000

Botetourt passed state tests with flying colors. Teachers here are doing their jobs because the tests definitely reflect that. We do have one of the best Technical schools around the state. I have to ask if you have been reading the many stories about the many school events and awards they have received as well as the Botetourt students in the Botetourt View? From a personal view point two of my children are at Virginia Tech, a huge and well respected University, and they came from a small school division in SW Virginia not NOVA or Tidewater or Richmond. They have done very well due to their hardwork and the K-12 education received here in Botetourt County Public Schools. And I could name 100′s of others I have known who left this division and have done the same or better at schools around the state and beyond. Vouchers sound good to people who live in failing school districts. Parents tend to make all the difference in the world in the way their children view being educated. No money is no money and blaming the administrators for being an administrator is a bit narrow in view. Some one has to Captain the ship and all of those programs that go along with it while teachers teach.

By: Terri Brockly

Terri Brockly — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 13:20:22 +0000

School choice would make things happen for Botetourt and the sounding counties. Vouchers would help get rid of the bad teachers and keep the good. If your school is not preforming then it gets shut down. Competition is good. The Tax payers are paying for the salaries of these teachers. It’s time to preform at the highest level or you are gone. Look at the retirement and benefit packages the top level school administrator get. If we cut those benefits then there would be money to give raises to the ones that really deserve it, the teachers.. I believe the biggest problems with the public schools is what they are teaching. Look at the last two generations of youth in the US today. I think the Botetourt technical center is such an asset to the community Job Well done for that progress. We must teach our youth about trades. It is harder and harder to find skilled workers. My thought has always been to get the elderly involved with the schools they have so so so much to teach the generations of today or put the draft back in and stop contracting service out to companies. The one and only thing that is most important is LOVE of country. Go back to teaching people about trades and the basics. When all the technology crashes we need to have people know how to do things like they did 20 years ago.

By: Cathy Benson

Cathy Benson — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 03:42:28 +0000

To be fair, I think the Administration would like to give pay raises. I could write 10,000 words (but space does not allow) about what goes on in these meetings but I can assure you from what was said that day, the administration would love to have a raise for all of the teachers in Botetourt. The state has cut back, the county is looking at revenue shortfalls and it all boils down to money. School boards cannot raise funds, so the two big funding sources are the state and local governments with some funds coming on the federal side. It is a hard situation no matter what side of the table you are on.

By: not again

not again — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:11:27 +0000

Ugh here we go again. Brads and crew making up excuses for giving people there steps. I teacher at botetourt that has been there for several years is still getting paid what a new teacher out of school would get paid. Something about that doesn’t sound right. Good teachers have to go to other districts to get there steps and make more money.