The Goochland Education Parents Association, or GEPA, believes that a recent e-mail sent by School Superintendent Linda A. Underwood misrepresents the group’s agenda.

Last week Underwood sent an e-mail entitled “the battle is on” to Athletic Director Bryan Gordon and his wife, Goochland Elementary School principal Diane Gordon, writing, “Any way that any of the athletic boosters might be riled up enough to speak out at school board or supervisors meetings? GEPA has added elimination of the athletic director to their hit list.”

The e-mail was sent as a letter to a colleague, said Underwood. “On their (GEPA’s) blog, they had … seven positions listed with salaries totaling over $1 million. This was the first time I saw the athletic director included with central office positions.”

Underwood said that she had sent the e-mail to solicit support for schools’ athletic program, and was surprised that the email had been forwarded to others.

After learning of Underwood’s e-mail, GEPA Chairperson Jo D Hosken e-mailed a response: “It has come to our attention that Dr Underwood has sent out an email stating that GEPA supports the elimination of the Athletic Director.

This could not be further from the truth. While we do state that there are 7 positions that make over 1 million dollars we have always maintained that there should be NO cuts to teachers, textbooks and programs.”

Goochland County Public Schools (GCPS) has had frequent disagreements with GEPA this budget season, often centered on GEPA’s belief that the preservation of educator positions should take precedence as the schools struggled to balance its budget.

“The quality of education offered to children should be more important than anything else,” said GEPA Vice Chairperson Jane Christie. “Parents have asked, ‘Don’t cut teachers, cut administration.’  Teachers are the last thing they should cut.”

GEPA was formed in January in order to provide a united voice for parents during GCPS’ budget process, or what Hosken referred to at the time as “an almost tyrannical approach to governing the schools.”

The School Board’s approved $24 million plan is almost seven percent less than the current year’s $26 million budget.

Reductions include the elimination of the Tender Tots Program, the Virginia Preschool Initiative, the summer governor’s school, the literacy and mathematics specialists and at least 12 teachers.

Christie is frustrated that the School Board’s approved budget eliminates teaching positions and preserves administrative jobs.

“Everything we’ve pressed for and presented, and then what do they do?” asked Christie. “Ignore absolutely everything.”

In a letter sent to employees on Feb. 22, Underwood wrote, “I would prefer we go through the RIF (Reduction in Force) process only once, but I have little confidence that will be the case. As of today, the proposed budget may exceed actual revenues by as much as $1.5 million. That would require an additional reduction of $1.5 million from the budget.”

Following policies set forward by the schools’ RIF program, on Feb. 23 Underwood sent out 95 letters to employees whose positions might be affected.

Of those positions, which are primarily comprised of teachers and instructional assistants, two are considered classified employees, said Research and Information Services Analyst Brad Franklin. All GCPS employees are considered either classified or certified; certified employees, who are usually teachers, have to be certified in order to perform their professional duties.

The letters that were sent, said Underwood, were to verify the status of current employees. 

“This is all directed by policies and procedures,” Underwood said. “There is no personal judgment or selection in who might possibly affected by RIF.”

“I regret tremendously that the budget process has proved to be so divisive in this county,” said Underwood. “It makes me sad.”

Christie agrees that the process has been a lamentable ordeal.

“It breaks my heart, and is affecting all of our children,” said Christie. “This is so counterproductive . We don’t want to waste time fighting the school system; this shouldn’t be a fight, it should be a cooperative process, as we’re asking for, so we can help. There is a better way to do this.”

A public hearing for the budget will be held on March 30.