School board looks for budget cuts
By Alice Felts
Dr. Jonathan Lewis seems to be one of those people who sees the glass half-full.The revised FY09 total budget is now $140,679,527. Even with the board of supervisors cutting the school board proposed budget increase of $12.9 million by $1.7 million, the superintendent of schools said that the school system is fortunate to still have a budget increase of 8.6 percent in this current uncertain economy.
Lewis presented two options for a revised plan for the $11,190,052 “new dollars.”
Both plans include paying off the technology lease with the recently received one-time “rebate” from the Virginia Retirement System.
Option 1 makes the biggest impact on employees. It does not meet the salary plan for employees, but it does make it simple. All classified staff (non-certificate employees) would get a 3 percent raise and all certified staff (teachers and administers) would get a 2 percent raise. The plan does allow for two growth positions, if needed.
Option 2 allows the school system to complete its previous salary plan for teachers by providing the final payment of $1,500. In an effort to remain competitive for teacher recruitment, it also meets the school system's goal of offering a starting teacher salary of more than $40,000.
Option 2, however, seems to have the biggest impact on instruction and facilities, with big cuts in materials and supplies in every school and every department, and trims summer school offerings.
Regardless of the option the school board selects, Lewis reminded its members on Monday that even with reductions in the proposed budget, the finalized budget still allows for two new schools; coverage for health insurance increases of $45 a month for employees; coverage for all VRS costs; and some funding for salary increases.
What the reduced budget does not allow is sufficient resources for potential growth, he said.
The school board will vote on the options at the April 14 board meeting at Pearson Elementary School at 7 p.m.
E-mail the reporter: afelts@timespapers.com.