Teachers and other Suffolk Public Schools staff were left feeling either relieved or slightly short-changed Thursday when the School Board approved a 1.5-percent raise as opposed to the 2-percent originally envisioned.

At their monthly meeting Thursday, School Board members voted unanimously to go with Superintendent Deran Whitney’s plan after the city budget allocated the district $2 million more than the $3 million increase from last year’s funding already recommended, and the General Assembly directed $910,029 in state funds to the division.

The district’s $123,539,771 revised spending plan also scrubs contingency reserve funds of $500,000 and phases Virginia Retirement System commitments over five years instead of one year, using an extra $655,029 to save 17 planned layoffs.

The saved positions include eight teacher assistants, one head office clerical position, three gifted teachers, three alternative education teachers, one middle school teacher and one high school teacher, Director of Finance Wendy Forsman told the meeting.

However, 16 potential layoffs remain, including three high school receptionists, 12 teachers and one clerical position, Whitney said.

“We were able to place several positions through attrition,” he said. “The hope is to replace more … as we get resignations or retirements.”

One School Board member had different ideas on how to fill the vacuum created by the lost positions, especially front-desk positions in the high schools.

“There are several sources that we haven’t tapped into yet that I have seen other school systems use,” Linda Bouchard said, suggesting utilizing “parent volunteers” and “students volunteering to get service points.”

Thelma Hinton was worried that fewer hall monitors would make it more difficult for law enforcement. “I have spoken to one of the officers (at Nansemond River High School) and he (told me) that the hall monitors provide a great support,” Hinton said.

School Board members reported that teachers are satisfied with a 1.5-percent raise to cover increases in the cost of living since their last raise about five years ago. Employees will not receive a step increase, however.

“I would have supported a 2-percent raise, however after talking with at least five different staff … each one told me that they would rather opt for 1.5 percent to save positions,” Chairman Michael Debranski said. “They were worried about their compatriots in the school system.”

Enoch Copeland said he was also able to gauge the views of staff. “I was approached with the idea that some of the employees were worried about their colleagues,” he said.

Whitney said future meetings with staff would detail the VRS plan. “It’s not easy to explain and it’s not easy to understand,” he said.