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By DAPHNE HUTCHINSON
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
At its July meeting, the Rappahannock County School Board accepted the resignations of 13year veterans Don and Judy Bomberger, bringing the number of vacancies from the 1985-86 school year to 12 and the turnover rate to 17 percent.
The figure is a significant drop from last year’s 37 percent, yet classrooms will still be directed by relative newcomers at the blackboards. Of the 70 men and women who will teach in the county’s elementary and high schools in 1986-87, only 33—or 47 percent—were with the system five years ago, according to Superintendent Robert Estabrook.
Mr. Estabrook pointed out, however, that teachers’ salaries have climbed right along with the teacher turnover rates. “If you look at the last two years, salaries have gone up by 24 percent, and if you look at the last three, they’ve gone up by 34 percent,” he reported.
“I doubt if many other school divisions have done as well,” the superintendent said, describing the increases as “spectacular and very supportive of our instructional staff.” Yet he acknowledged that low pay is the reason for leaving given most often by departing teachers. “While our pay increases in Rappahannock have been substantial in the last three years, we started out so low. That’s the problem. We’re still not competitive with the sur
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