Teacher: No contract time for report cards

By MELINA DOWNS
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: June 12, 2008

STAFFORD — The Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex was filled to the brim Tuesday night as parents and students piled in to receive recognition and awards.

During the Stafford County School Board’s regular meeting, students from Colonial Forge High, North Stafford High, Stafford High and T. Benton Gayle Middle schools received awards for prizes earned at the Technology Students Association conference, with the Delta Epsilon Chi (DECA) program, and numerous chorus and band honors.

During the citizen comments section of the meeting, Lucy Burns a teacher at Hartwood Elementary School and Stafford resident, asked the board to consider mailing report cards to the elementary students this year.

According to Burns, after the board decided to alter the end-of-year calendar by making the last day for Stafford schools June 13, it also eliminated all of the early-release days, except for the last day of school.

Normally, teachers complete report cards during the early release days in order to send them home with students on the last day of school, Burns said.

“There is zero contract work time to complete report cards,” said Burns. “That’s not a fair expectation… Please agree to fix this problem that was created at the last minute and deserves a fair solution.”

“We’re looking at all of our options to ensure this is solved in a responsible way,” responded Superintendent David Sawyer, who said he was not sold on mailing the report cards because of the high expense.

Also during the meeting, the board voted to approve several large contracts.

The board approved the award of a construction contract to J.L. Kent & Sons Inc. for $481,208 to install curbs and gutters to existing parking lots at Stafford schools and to construct additional parking at Dixon-Smith Middle School.

In addition, the board approved the contract for Fleet Vehicle Fuel to Foster Fuel and Cool/Watchcard in the amount $1.3 million for July 1 through June 30, 2009.

The next regular meeting is June 24 at 7 p.m.

Melina Downs is a contributing writer at the Stafford County Sun. Reach her at .