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Fauquier, Rappahannock partnership possible
Fauquier County Public Schools may have a chance to see what it's like being neighborly to adjacent Rappahannock County.
Two bills (HB 936 and SB 559) before the General Assembly would allow Rappahannock, the only eligible county, to participate in cost-sharing agreements with a neighboring county.
Such a partnership could allow Rappahannock, which has a .80 local composite index, to use another county's more favorable LCI, thus reducing the county's part of educational funding.
An LCI of .80 means that the state pays only 20 percent of the cost of education in Rappahannock County. Such a high number is not reflective of the residents' income, local officials say.
Dr. Robert Chappell, superintendent of Rappahannock County Public Schools, said that the school district started having preliminary conversations with neighboring counties in November about possible partnerships and is currently in a brainstorming stage.
Chappell added that Rappahannock is already in various partnerships with Culpeper, Orange, Madison and Fauquier counties for such projects as special-education regional programs and alternative-education services.
He anticipates that the new cost-sharing proposals will soon be put in writing and presented to the involved school boards for a vote.
Dr. Jonathan Lewis, superintendent of Fauquier County Public Schools, said Monday that he has not been contacted by Rappahannock County regarding a cost-sharing partnership.
Two counties are already participating in a partnership similar to that outlined for Rappahannock by the state legislature.
Highland County, with a composite index of almost .68, is teamed with Augusta County, which has a composite index of .33.
Gary Blair, superintendent of Highland County Schools, knows how helpful a cost-sharing partnership can be for a small school district.
“We have one teacher per grade,” he explained, “Our K-12 grades have a total of 280 students. We are so small, so remote, that it just isn't worth anyone's time to come here.”
So instead of having to hire a school psychologist, for instance, Highland County can share one with the adjacent Augusta County at a reduced rate.
Blair said that his school district also shares staff development, comprehensive planning and technological services with his neighbor's larger school district. “We share people and services,” he said.
Highland is expected to provide the same services as other school districts, such as special-education programs.
Augusta County Superintendent Dr. Gary McQuain said that his school district understood Highland's dilemma and decided to partake in a good-neighbor policy.
According to McQuain, the partnership, renewable each year, also offers such services as bus repair, distance learning and regional vocational technology with Highland County paying its fair share.
If the legislation passes, Rappahannock must partner with an adjacent county. It borders Page, Warren, Culpeper and Fauquier counties.
E-mail the reporter: afelts@timespapers.com.
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