Declining state revenues inflict deep cuts on schools
By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@lcs.net
Caroline public schools are facing steep cuts in funding from the state, both this year and the next.
"This puts us in a tough spot," Superintendent Greg Killough told the School Board at Monday's meeting.
This year, a decline in state revenues will result in Caroline schools receiving $857,298 less than anticipated. To cover the shortfall, cuts totaling $860,000 are projected.
They include:
- Freezing equipment purchases – $150,000
- Teacher turnover – $250,000
- Suspending 4th quarter contributions to the Virginia Retirement System for the staff – $390,000
- Reducing textbook funding – $70,000
For the coming year, the schools will receive $1.9 million less from the state. With projected increases in VRS rates ($312,000), group life insurance ($38,000) and health insurance ($183,000), that shortfall grows to $2.4 million.
Possible budget cuts to make up for the shortfall include additional cuts for equipment ($290,000), cutting back on textbooks ($300,000), cutting some Internet service ($22,000), teacher turnover ($200,000) and teacher turnover benefits ($47,000).
This however totals only $1 million. Another $1.4 million in cuts will be needed.
The Virginia Association of School Superintendents has announced a press conference January 19 to announce the effect of the cuts on all 133 school divisions. Teacher positions are expected to be cut, class sizes to rise and some programs and services will be reduced or cut.
Half of the state's superintendents are considering cutting summer school remediation, assistance for at-risk students, and education for four year-olds.
The superintendents are appealing to the governor and General Assembly to delay unfunded mandates such as new graduation requirements, a Financial Literacy course, and middle school career plans, while maintaining the number of school support personnel currently required by the Standards of Quality.
Superintendent Killough said he intended to attend the press conference. He noted that Composite Indexes have been frozen across the state. Caroline's was frozen at 3.8 when it is now 3.5, which would have resulted in approximately $600,000 less in cuts.
"We're going to have to make a lot of tough decisions in the coming months," he said. "These cuts are going to impact us deeply."
In other School Board news, Daniel Webb of Webb and Associates offered a proffer of 17 acres for a new elementary school in Bowling Green. Webb and Associates proposes building a 600-unit residential development possibly to be called Green Ridge and are now seeking rezoning.
The School Board however is currently considering spending from $7.5 million to $11.5 million to expand and renovate the existing Bowling Green Primary into a preK-5 school for 850 students, whereas a new school of the same capacity on the Webb site would cost $19 million to build.
The School Board though welcomed the proffer, projecting a need for another school building sometime in the future.
Also, citizen comment on the redistricting of the attendance zones of Madison Elementary and Lewis & Clark Elementary will be sought at a public forum at Madison on January 19 at 6:30 p.m., and a second public forum at Lewis & Clark, January 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Built for 950 students, Lewis & Clark is currently over-capacity at 1052 students, while Madison, designed for 440, is under-capacity at 404.
The proposed attendance zone for Madison would extend north to the Spotsylvania line.
Feedback from the forums will be used to review and revise the proposal when the Attendance Zone Committee meets January 28 at the School Board Office, 9 a.m.
Then on February 8, there will be a School Rezoning Public Hearing at 6 p.m. at Caroline Middle School, followed by a presentation for approval to the School Board at 6:30 p.m.
