Board Approves Plan to Implement State Flexible Furlough

All employees’ paychecks will be reduced by 0.5 percent before June 30

Contact: Laurie Hogan (336) 370-8307
Created: 5/19/2009 10:21:02 AM

The Guilford County Board of Education approved Tuesday a plan to implement the 0.5 percent pay reduction and flexible furlough issued by Governor Beverly Perdue in an executive order last month. All Guilford County Schools (GCS) employees, regardless of the funding source of their pay, will be affected by the pay reduction and furlough. Last month, the governor issued Executive Order No. 11 mandating a 0.5 percent reduction in pay for all state employees before June 30. The order also stated that all full-time state employees will receive 10 hours of additional flexible time off that must be taken sometime between June 1 and December 31. The state later clarified this to say that teachers should only take leave time when school is not in session for students and changed the start date for the flexible leave days to May 1.

Some employees within GCS are funded fully or partially by state funds, while others are funded by local or federal funds. The state did not specify a plan for enacting the pay reduction and furlough among employees not funded by the state. After receiving additional guidance from the state and the board’s legal counsel, GCS will manage the pay reduction and flexible furlough by reducing all employees’ paychecks by 0.5 percent, regardless of the funding source. Since all employees typically benefit by getting the same pay increase as state employees, district officials thought it was appropriate for all employees to share in any pay reduction.

“As a school system, we rise and fall together,” said Sharon Ozment, chief financial officer. “While we regret having to reduce anyone’s pay, we believe the pain of the pay reduction and the gain of the flexible leave time represents the most equitable and fair approach for all employees.” All full-time GCS employees will receive a 10-hour credit for flexible time off. Flexible time off will be prorated for part-time employees. School-based employees will be asked to take the flexible time off when school is not in session for students. Since the reduction in pay for local employees is not state-mandated, GCS will hold those funds in escrow. These escrowed funds will be used to address budget shortfalls in either 2008-09 or 2009-10.

Paychecks will be impacted by the 0.5 percent reductions on the following dates: • Teachers - May 29 • Other 10-month salaried positions (teacher assistants and office support) - June 15 • 10-month semi-monthly positions (school nutrition and custodians) - May 29, June 15 • Bus drivers - May 29, June 29 • ACES - June 15 • 12-month semi-monthly positions (12-month custodians) - May 29, June 15, June 29 • 12-month salaried positions (principals, office support, central office) - May 29, June 29

Payments for salaried employees, including monthly Mission Possible incentives, monthly Twilight school incentives, monthly athletic director supplements, mentor payments, tutor payments, extra duty supplements, longevity payments, staff development stipends, disability payments and authorized extended employment, are excluded from the pay reduction. For hourly employees, longevity, disability, staff development, activity bus driver, substitutes, summer employment and authorized extended employment payments are excluded.

Please click on the link below to view the Flexible Furlough Program frequently asked questions.

http://www.gcsnc.com/superintendent/pdf/StateQA.pdf

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About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 71,000 students at 120 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. 

Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship.  For more information, visit the district’s Web site at www.gcsnc.com.