Editor, The Smithfield Times:

In fiscal 2023, Isle of Wight County Schools Superintendent Theo Cramer spent $345,717 more than was in his budget. This brought shame to IWCS since this had never happened before, I believe, in county history.  

He promised the School Board, county supervisors and citizens that he had secured funds in the fiscal budget to return the $345,717 to our county. Did he follow through? Please show us taxpayers the accounting records showing this occurred.  

Citizens’ input on the Capital Improvement Plan was stopped, leading in part to increasing our real estate tax rate by two cents that year. Now it’s happening again, with a five-cent projected increase for fiscal 2026.  

Recent Tidewater News articles report that the Southampton County supervisors took their School Board to court for Freedom of Information Act violations by not releasing school financial records and have asked for a financial forensic audit of the school division. The Franklin City Council has voted to ask its School Board to resign. Will our supervisors hold Dr. Cramer and IWCS Board’s majority accountable, only funding needs instead of wants?

“Mandatory” was used this year by the superintendent to ask for 3% raises for employees/maintenance staff. He knows it’s “not mandatory” because our supervisors have to “pony up” half of the 3% raise for “SOQ positions.” Virginia pays for the other half. Too, Dr. Cramer’s well aware that Virginia is not giving raises to non-SOQ positions, which includes maintenance. 

Last year I felt sorry for the teachers when the IWCS administration sent them to a supervisors meeting to plead their case for pay raises, but they were unable to speak because it was not the required public hearing. This year was even more embarrassing because the teachers were blaming our supervisors for not funding their “step pay” increases. Wow! What a shocker when Supervisor Renee Rountree revealed that IWCS has a surplus of $3 million in the current fiscal 2025 budget. This could easily cover the $500,000-plus for all the “step pay” raises for our teachers.  

As a taxpayer, I spoke at the supervisors’ public hearing and explained several cost-saving measures that would not cause an increase in our real estate tax rate by five cents. The big question now remains for us taxpayers: Will our supervisors listen to us citizens, their constituents, or to the School Board majority and their seemingly “spendthrift” superintendent?

 

Herb De Groft

Smithfield