Stimulus funds for teachers won't be fast-tracked

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. -- Looks like the federal dollar will have to wait a year in Prince William County.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday night during a special session of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, the board decided to table the decision to allocate potential funding from the recent Congressional stimulus package until next fiscal year.

Last week, Prince William County Public Schools made it publicly clear its intention was to use that money to hire up to 180 new teachers for the start of this school year.

While unanimous, the board’s decision was not without controversy.

With Supervisors John D. Jenkins, D-Neabsco, Maureen S. Caddigan, D-Dumfries and chairman at-large Corey A. Stewart absent, there were still enough members to vote. However, when a motion by Woodbridge Supervisor Frank J. Principi to reconsider the issue at the board’s next scheduled meeting Sept. 14 died due to a lack of a second, Principi informed the board and those attending he would walk out on the subsequent vote to consider the issue in the fiscal 2012 process.

He believed that by doing so, there would be no quorum and thus, no official action by the board. However, after discussion with county attorney Angela Horan, it was determined that Principi was in the room during the vote and thus, the board had a quorum necessary to pass the resolution.

Principi was literally opening the door to chambers when the four remaining board members cast a vote in the affirmative.

The decision to have the meeting was influenced in part by procedural issues and timing. According to Supervisor Martin E. Nohe, R-Coles, the first time the board heard of the possibility of hiring 180 new teachers was after reading it in the newspaper last Wednesday. Nohe also said there was a rumor circulating among the board that Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Steven L. Walts had already begun the process of issuing contracts out to teachers contingent on the federal money.

Walts sent a letter to County Executive Melissa Peacor dated Aug. 20 informing her of the school’s desire to hire additional teachers with the “approximately $249.5 million” provided to Virginia for distribution to area school divisions. The Prince William County School Board knew of Walts' intentions just a day before the information was released to the public, said Dumfries school board member Betty Covington.

In the letter to Peacor, Walts states that the decision rests with the county supervisors as to whether they choose to fund these positions. However, it also states that the school staff was already working with legal counsel to work up a modified contract for these new employees.

“Our goal is to fast-track the hiring to get these folks onboard for professional development opportunities and benefits orientation as early as next week,” Walts states in the letter to Peacor.

On Monday afternoon, the board issued a press release stating that there would be a special meeting Tuesday evening. During citizens’ time, more than a dozen individuals spoke for or against accepting the stimulus money.

Peacor then gave a brief presentation outlining the stimulus scenario and made a recommendation to the board to consider the issue during the next fiscal year instead of in the coming weeks. According to Peacor, Virginia will likely meet the Sept. 9 deadline to apply for the funds but it is unclear whether they will receive the funds and how much will be allocated to Prince William County.

Follow this story on insidenova.com.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-530-3904.