Brentsville HS Destaffs 13 Positions

Due to a decline in student enrollment that is expected next year at Brentsville District High School in Nokesville, the administration will destaff some instructional and classified positions at the school.

According to Brentsville Principal Katherine Meints, a total of 13 people have been destaffed for the upcoming school year. This Reduction in Force (RIF)  will include ten teachers and three classified positions.

While not technically considered layoffs, it is the policy of Prince William County Schools to attempt to accommodate displaced staff by placing them in other positions within the county. Decisions to RIF individual teachers are based on seniority, performance, and special skills.

PWCS Regulation 554-1 states, "Continuing contract teachers who are affected by RIF shall be placed on a confidential recall list maintained by for one fiscal year, after which they shall have no recall rights. Teachers under probationary contract shall have no recall rights but will be given consideration for reemployment at the discretion of the Division Superintendent or designee."

This is the second round of destaffing at Brentsville District High School. Teachers, administrators and support staff were destaffed last year as Brentsville students moved out of classroom trailers and into classrooms at Patriot.

This year, Brentsville still retained its rising senior class. However, as school boundaries are redefined, Brentsville will find itself at only 67 percent capacity for 2012-13, based upon current enrollment numbers supplied by Prince William County Schools.

As Brentsville finds itself under capacity, PWCS reports that Patriot will be at 114 percent enrollment. This could mean that some destaffed Brentsville employees wind up at Patriot.

While PWCS works to place these employees within the school system, they undergo the same interview process as a new employee. Because of site-based management, school administrators decide whether or not they want to hire those employees.

Administrators often sympathize with teachers who are destaffed, but they must adhere to regulations.

“If the enrollment should grow due to transfers or new arrivals over the summer, we may offer positions to overstaffed teachers first. Obviously the other consideration is the approval of the principal who is receiving them,” said Meints.