SPENCER COUNTY, Ky. (WDRB) — Scheduled pay increases for teachers at Spencer County Public Schools may be at risk following the district's budget shortfall.

Earlier this week, Superintendent Willie Foster sent an open letter to the community, informing the public that the district's budget is $1.5 million in the hole.

The possible interruptions to planned pay increases could be part of the fallout.

Thursday, Foster told WDRB he met with every single staff member at every school this week after information about the school district's budget crisis hit the fan.

"The reality is, is we have to reset personnel, operational cost and land at the spot that we spend less than we bring in," said Foster.

By Friday night, there was a post circulating on a Spencer County Facebook community group, urging community members to speak up for teachers. 

The post said that Foster plans to ask board members to approve a proposal to freeze step increases for all employees for one year. 

Employees receive step increases based on their tenure and experience. The step increase pauses being suggested to further correct the budget shortfall that was created by a budget miscalculation.

The post asks community members to reach out to board members and urge them to vote against the cuts at Tuesday night's upcoming board meeting. 

The PTO for the elementary school released a statement as well, urging the board to consider other options. 

PTO members made several suggestions including a review of software, subscriptions and programs, finding other ways to generate revenue, evaluating non-essential stipends, applying for grants and outside funding, or implementing a multi-year plan to build contingency funds. 

"The teachers, the students, you know, they had nothing to do with this happening, but they're the ones that are being asked to sacrifice and, you know, try to recoup," said parent Korey Craddock.

Community members and Spencer County parents like Craddock are hoping board members vote "no" as well.

"Teachers aren't paid, you know, probably what they're worth and what they deserve, as it is," said Craddock. "They call it a step increase pause but really it's a pay cut." 

The possible elimination of 35 teacher jobs has also been discussed at board meetings. 

Craddock said if teachers aren't reimbursed once step increases resume, they will essentially take a forever pay cut.

He worries that interrupting step increases could create a domino effect.

"And if that happens, I also worry about teachers leaving the district," said Craddock. "When you're being asked to take the brunt of something that you had nothing to do with, and your pay and your livelihood is going to be affected. Who could blame them to look somewhere else."

After WDRB called each board member individually, we found that teachers have reached out to the board with concerns about possible interruptions to the scheduled pay increases.

"If their community has concerns, they, you know, should listen and should take heed to that before they make any type of final decision," said Craddock.

Open meeting laws prevent board members from meeting or discussing board business as a group outside of public meetings. 

For that reason, board members were unable to speak further on the issue. 

The board will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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