School officials campaign for sales tax

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Baldwin County School officials are campaigning in favor of an extension of the county's increased one-cent sales tax and at least one faculty member feels pressured by their efforts.

The amendment, which would extend the sales tax already in place, will be on the November 6 ballot.

The group 'Invest in Progress for Baldwin County Schools' is working to garner more support for Baldwin County Amendment 2 "to retain the current level of school funding."

“For us to keep the 420 people in place who have been serving our children in the last two-and-a-half years with that funding we have to continue this investment,” said campaign organizer, Denise D’Oliviera.

Some faculty members at schools in the county said several schools have held special meetings to encourage teachers to vote in favor of the amendment.

They said supervisors have handed out pledge cards bearing the ‘Invest in Progress for Baldwin County Schools’ group's logo and asked employees to fill them out to pledge their support for the extension.

One school teacher wrote via email, telling FOX10 supervisors are "taking them up one by one and looking over them. Myself and others felt pressured into checking 'yes' regardless of our views."

D’Oliviera said the pledge cards are optional and handed out during faculty meetings to inform school employees of what’s at stake, should the tax not pass.

She says Baldwin County schools stand to lose $26 million, which would force the school system to make dramatic cuts.

The group has created a Youtube video championing their cause as well.

“I would venture to say that all of the principals understand and I know that they are making it clear that this is a voluntary tool that folks can either chose to use or not,” said D’Oliviera. “I would hope that teachers recognize that all of this work is about keeping their colleagues in place.”