Faced with a fourth consecutive year with no raise or step increase, as well as a steady drop in take-home pay as result of rising health insurance costs, Mathews County Schools employees expressed their growing frustration with the situation and what some perceive as a lack of support from the school board.

A standing-room-only crowd filled the Mathews High School media center on Wednesday evening for a public hearing on the division’s 2011-2012 budget.

The proposed budget currently stands at $12,375,519, with the county asked to contribute $6.838 million, an increase of $323,014 over the current appropriation.

“We have been confused and hurt by the apparent policy to request level funding from the board of supervisors,” said Mathews High School math teacher Phillip Sanderson, speaking on behalf of the newly formed Friends of Mathews Schools. The group is made up of division employees and members of the community.

Many of those in attendance at Wednesday&rs...