Henrico theater teachers urge board for stipend parity and clearer auditorium maintenance

At the Henrico County School Board meeting on June 12, JR Tucker theater teacher Lisa Dyer and Short Pump Middle drama teacher Tom Harris told the board that stipend changes and inconsistent auditorium maintenance have left theater teachers undercompensated and responsible for technical and safety tasks.

Dyer said she has declined to sign an extended-responsibilities contract because it would pay her "$600 less than I got last year," and said the new budget’s plan to match high school theater stipends to the head basketball coach is "a really good start" but not sufficient. "Theater teachers deserve a head coach stipend for each show we direct, period," she said.

The teachers framed the issue as both a compensation and a facilities problem. "Why is the theater teacher responsible for making sure things are working in an auditorium that is literally used by everyone?" Dyer asked, saying there is no consistent countywide protocol for auditorium usage, repair or maintenance.

Tom Harris said the division’s pay classifications do not reflect the year-round workload for drama roles. "ESS pay grades should be more equitable and better reflect the time, effort, and complexity of each position," he said, noting that athletic coaches are often paid per season while drama duties span the full year. Harris provided historic and current pay-data comparisons during his remarks, saying his 2023–24 data showed dramatics at ESS level 12 (183 days, $930) and that under the adopted AFP 2526 his dramatics offer was ESS level 18 (183 days, $1,403). He also described recurring facility fixes: "Again, this year, we bandaged an antique lighting system, picked up broken tiles off the floor, and rented or borrowed sound equipment to make the musical happen."

Neither Dyer nor Harris proposed a specific ordinance or motion; both spoke during the public forum portion of the meeting. The public forum rules announced at the start of the meeting stated that "a Henrico staff member will follow-up with speakers." No formal board action, vote or directive addressing stipends or auditorium maintenance was recorded in the meeting minutes.

Why it matters: Teachers said the combined effects of lower stipends, ambiguous ESS classifications and decentralized facility responsibility increase workloads on teachers and can affect program quality and student safety. Several speakers asked the division to create clearer central-office procedures and regular communication channels with theater teachers.

Clarifying details recorded from speakers' statements include that a previously referenced stipend amount was $1,600, that an extended-responsibilities offer cited for dramatics under AFP 2526 was ESS level 18 for 183 days at $1,403, and that 2023–24 dramatics compensation at ESS level 12 was reported as $930. Those figures were presented by the speakers and not acted on by the board during the meeting.

The board did not take formal action on the issues raised in public comment; the record shows the public forum ended and the meeting moved to the consent agenda. A Henrico staff member is expected to follow up with the commenters per the public forum process.