Gainesville School Board recommends millage roll up

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville City School Board voted Monday night to recommend a millage rate roll up to 7.59 from 7.39.

The motion came from board member David Syfan, who told fellow board members his goal is to restore at least five instruction days to teachers and students. Teachers have been furloughed for 10 days as the school system has worked to make ends meet in a difficult economy.

"The community needs to come back and restore some instructional days for kids and restore some work days for teachers," said Syfan.

He said that he felt an addtional $3.50 per month was not too much to ask from homeowners to support the school system. The dollar amount, according to Syfan, would be the additional tax obligation for the owner of $200,000 home.

The board voted 3-2 to increase the millage rate, with Dr. Delores Diaz and BoardChairman Willie Mitchell voting with Syfan. Sammy Smith and Maria Caulkins voted against the roll up.

Diaz said that teachers have shouldered the burden of balancing the school system budget for too many years.

"You know, they've suffered. They've done without a lot of pay over the last couple of years," said Diaz. "We need to show them that we support them."

The final millage approval would come at the board's September 17 meeting.