The Stafford County School Board approved a policy last night that allows the division to furlough employees for up to five days a year.

School Board members have said they don't intend to furlough employees in 2010-11.

They approved the policy because budget problems are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Furloughs require employees to take days off without pay.

The first draft of the policy presented on May 11 stated that employees could be furloughed up to 10 days a year.

Administrators reduced the maximum number of furlough days to five at the request of School Board Vice Chairwoman Patricia Healy.

"It's certainly my hope that we never have to use it at all," Healy said last night.

Stafford Education Association President Jannette Martin has also said she thought the system needed to limit the number of furlough days to five per year.

Martin opposed the policy but recently suggested tweaks if the School Board were to approve it.

In other business last night, the School Board eliminated five teaching positions in its 2010-11 spending plan, which it approved earlier this month.

Those five positions will be cut through attrition.

Superintendent David Sawyer recommended the budget amendment, which he estimates will save $330,000.

Half of the savings will prevent 15 instructional coordinators from having to teach one class each next year.

The division's next superintendent--whom the School Board hopes to hire in August--will decide how to spend the rest.

The budget approved May 3 required coordinators to teach one course every day for a semester or every other day for an entire school year.

That cost-saving measure would have enabled the division to hire 2.5 fewer teachers while maintaining this year's full-time equivalent of 1,814 instructors.

The School Board also voted 5-2 to approve $241,345 in additional reductions to next year's budget.

They include reducing contract lengths for eight vacant positions--such as Commonwealth Governor's School teachers and librarians--and eliminating a community and business relations liaison.

School Board members Meg Bohmke and Doreen Phillips cast the dissenting votes.

Bohmke did not support reducing contract lengths by 10 days for the two vacant Commonwealth Governor's School positions. Phillips was against deleting the business relations liaison.

Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com