Dare County Cuts School Board Funding

Commissioner Max Dutton

The Dare County Board of Commissioners recently voted to reduce school funding for the month of October by $15,232, in retaliation for raises that were recently awarded to some members of the school system's central office staff.

Speaking during the "commissioner's comments" portion of the September 4th board meeting, Commissioner Max Dutton said that he could not "get his arms around" raises that were awarded to all members of "the central office staff" when other school employees did not get raises, and at a time when the county could not give raises to its own employees. Dutton said he had studied the school budget and "dug out" the raise increases after getting numerous complaints from citizens about the matter. Dutton's motion to withhold a like amount ($15,232) from the county's October payment to the schools was seconded by Commissioner Jack Shea and carried by a vote of 4-0. Commissioners Richard Johnson and Virginia Tillett were absent from the meeting.

However, EyeonDare has researched the matter and found that Dutton, and Shea alike were in error in their assumption that "no other school employees had gotten raises this year". In fact, all teachers and all other school employees were awarded a 1.2% raise by this year's General Assembly. The only employees working within the school system who did not get raises this year were the school nurses and school resource officers, all of whom receive funding directly from Dare County, not the state.
Dutton's wife is a school nurse, but Dutton says this did not play into his decision or opinion about the matter.

This action, in the opinion of EyeonDare, raises some serious questions about the dedication, credibility and fairness of play by the Dare County Commissioners regarding their relationship with the Dare County School Board. And, it raises more questions about back room tactics and secret meetings among the commissioners.

Regardless of where one might stand on the raise issue, the facts and questions regarding this matter are:

(1) The Dare County School Board gave the Dare Commissioners a copy of their 2012-2013 proposed budget back in May and that budget contained the $15,232 increase in allocation for salaries. Why didn't the commissioners raise questions then?

(2) The state legislature gave all teachers & state employees a 1.2% raise this year. Why weren't the commissioners aware of this?

(3) Why wasn't Dutton's interest in the matter, and subsequent motion, put on the meeting Agenda, instead of being discussed at the end of the meeting in "commissioner's comments"?

(4) Why aren't all matters concerning budget amendments put into the regular agenda, and not the "consent agenda" or "commissioner's comment" portions of each meeting?

(5) Why didn't Dutton go ahead and say that the $15,232 was actually 4% raises given to the school superintendent and assistant school superintendent, and did not, in fact, include the rest of the central office staff. Didn't this cast a shadow over the entire office staff?

(6) Why didn't Dutton tell the rest of his board that the raises given the above two people were, in fact, "contractual obligations" of the school board. (Note: The superintendent and assistant superintendent's contracts had been amended back in the fiscal year 2008 in order to award each a 4% per year raise, or an amount equal to any state raises, whichever is greater.  In other words, the school board had no choice but to award the raises.

(7) Why did board chairman Warren Judge call a "recess" just before Dutton made his motion?

(8) Why did no other commissioner ask questions or discuss Dutton's proposal?

(9) Did the commissioners have an illegal discussion of this matter, outside of their regular meeting?

(10) Does the board of commissioners have any business micro-managing school board expenditures after awarding county funding for each fiscal year?

(11) Is petty politics at play in Dare County government?

Nuff said.