A lengthy exchange over teacher compensation and lack of funding for School Resource Officers was the highlight of the May meeting of the Gloucester School Board.

During Tuesday night’s meeting in the T.C. Walker Education Center, school board member Robin Rice questioned superintendent Dr. Walter Clemons on the budget recently approved by county supervisors.

Citing information provided by county administrator Brent Fedors in his budget presentation, Rice took issue with what the supervisors termed “unfunded priorities.” These were, among other things, a lack of funding for new positions (including SROs) and a reduction in the proposed amount allotted for teacher compensation.

The increase in local funds was reduced in the school budget from $2.3 million to $1.86 million before being further reduced to $1.654 million in the final, approved county budget, according to Rice.

Rice said that the school board had recommended compensation totals increase to $3.2 million...