Holiday furlough comes at a cost for many state educators

Another furlough day kicks in Friday for thousands of Georgia educators.

State Department of Education employees in Atlanta and as many as 2,300 Bibb County teachers and school employees in Macon aren’t working today to save money.

It’s part of efforts to save millions this school year.

The furloughs also necessitated other changes, including a first for the system: For the first time, three Bibb County high school football games were held Thursday night instead of Friday, because school coaches are among those furloughed.

This year, Gov. Sonny Perdue withheld money equivalent to six days of teacher pay for school districts, and he reduced funding even more in the new school year because of declines in revenue.

School systems could choose to take furloughs and decide when, or they could lay off workers or reduce the number of days that students attend school.

Some school districts are taking furloughs around holiday breaks, giving students and staff a four-day Labor Day weekend.

“Everyone is furloughed (Friday), including the (state school) superintendent,” said Matt Cardoza, a Department of Education spokesman. “We actually had 10 agency furlough days last year and are scheduled for five through the remainder of this calendar year.”

Remaining furlough days for state education workers are Oct. 8, Nov. 24 and Dec. 22. Bibb County principals and other workers also have a forced day off Friday. It was supposed to be a day for teacher planning. The central office is open, however, with employees there working.

“It’s tiring on everyone,” said Chris Floore, a spokesman for the Bibb County school system. “We hope the economy turns around so this is not a measure that is long lasting.”

Many educators have lost hundreds of dollars from their paychecks, he said, since this is the fourth round of furloughs that Bibb County teachers have faced in the past two school years.

Bibb County teachers will take their remaining furloughs Dec. 15-17, Jan. 3, March 11 and May 23.

The total in savings from furloughs is about $6.4 million in 2010-11 to the Bibb County school system.

But it’s not a day without pay for every public school system. Houston and Monroe county schools are in session Friday, for example.

Those districts are cutting the number of days in their school year, which is normally 180 days for students.

Houston and Monroe students will attend fewer days, saving on operating costs and teacher salaries. Houston will be closed Oct. 12 and Feb. 21.

Cardoza said his office is bracing for the prospect of more unpaid days off.

“We’ll be looking again to see if we need to implement more for next calendar year,” he said. “Our furlough day should not cripple any school systems or have an effect on testing.”

To contact writer Julie Hubbard, call 744-4331.