The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
In October, Chesapeake school officials were told they could expect a $5.3 million increase in money transferred from the city's general fund.
By February, the estimated increase had dropped to $2.8 million. This week, the number fell to around $1 million.
It is a contrast from this time a year ago, when the Chesapeake schools were given an additional $16 million from the fund. Coupled with an expected $2 million drop in state funding, Chesapeake officials say the school system may be in for its tightest year in recent memory.
"We'll keep the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible. With multimillion-dollar cuts, we'll have to look everywhere," said Vicki Lucente, assistant superintendent for budget and finance.
Over the years, city leaders say they have heard few funding complaints from a school system that one councilwoman called Chesapeake's "prized possession." But some city officials are expecting lobbying from School Board members.
City Manager William Harrell and others say the school funding issue is a function of a tough economy that will also hold the city to only a $1.5 million increase in core government spending this year.
"We're both way down," said Deputy City Manager Betty J. Meyer. "We rise and fall together."
Earlier this month, the School Board unanimously approved a $436.9 million budget, which is up about 7.9 percent from the 2007-08 budget of $404.8 million.
Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols and other school budget officials have acknowledged that the proposed budget will have to change. And that can't happen until the city and state let them know how much Chesapeake schools will get.
"We're waiting for the dust to settle," Lucente said.
The proposed schools budget includes 51 new positions and 5.4 percent raises for most employees. Lucente said the schools also wanted to spend more money for textbooks and lease-purchase 70 buses.
She said it is "way too early to make predictions" about cuts.
Budget woes are not unique to Chesapeake schools. In Virginia Beach, the proposed budget could threaten efforts to rebuild Kellam and Princess Anne high schools.
"It's not like Chesapeake is alone in this," said Chesapeake Councilman Alan Krasnoff.
The city of Chesapeake's proposed budget includes recommendations to eliminate 50 unfilled positions and reduce general fund transfers to Social Services and the Community Services Board. Harrell said that both will be able to use undesignated reserves to make up for the lost cash. There will be no program or service cuts, he said.
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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Consider the source....
Only the uneducated do not appreciate education. Without the school system, there is not any reason for businesses and families to move to Chesapeake. However, there must be fiscal responsibility among the school board when it comes to expenditures. Academics is key, not "keeping up with the Jones's" (VA Beach). Employ and PAY the best teachers! It is NOT necessary to have a smart board in EVERY classroom, especially when many teachers do not want one. Every Chesapeake school has mobile smart boards (on wheels) for those teachers who use them periodically. Why does Grassfield H.S. have a food court? Why do ceilings still leak in the 800 hall of WBMS since 3 years ago? Was there a deal on trash cans to catch the water? Why are there "suits & skirts" in administration that serve no real purpose (low & middle "management" so big $$ administrators can sit behind a desk)?
Chesapeake Public Schools Budget Cuts
Chesapeake Public Schools is above average on using the budget for the classrooms. But despite comments from uninformed readers-it doesn't go toward saleries. I've been teaching for 20 years and trust me, if I was forced to go for more money-I'd have to leave Chesapeake because at least 1 other local system would pay me more! CPS keeps teachers teaching because of the benefits package and because they do a good job of making sure the teachers have what they need to teach the children. There are still thousands of things we have to spend our money out of pocket to have, but I've seen school systems where teachers have to buy even the most basic. And to the reader that claims $60K a year-yeah right! I don't make anywhere close to that figure-after 20 years and at the expense of recertifying my liscense. And just to circumvent those that believe we "get all those days off with pay" wrong again! We are paid for 190 days-the end. Sure we get Christmas and Spring break off-without pay! Summers-without pay. They will gladly let us stretch out our salary through the summer-but we don't get paid any more!
Chesapeake School System Is Fat
So the school system is worried about funding? 52% of the city entire budget goes to the school system; of the 52%, 83% goes towards school system salaries, health care and other "perks". So out of the $436.9 MILLION dollars that the school system gets; $362.6 MILLION goes for personnel, and only $74.3 Millon goes towards operations/maintenance and capital improvements in the school system. See anything wrong??? With about 6k employees in the school system, that averages out to over $60k a year! Back away from the trough!!!
The money should never have been counted in the first place
Why are they including transfers from the general fund in the school budget in the first place? In times of plenty, if there is extra money, the schools are, of course, entitled to their fair share of the pot. But it should not be planned on or an expected part of their planned budget for the year.
School populations in Chesapeake have been reported as dropping (although there is still overcrowding at middle/high school level, but the expectation is that in 5-10 years it will continue to drop as the baby boomer kids graduate and move on) but the schools plan as if there will be increased demand for years to come.
Don't let short-sightedness overcome common sense and long range planning, and quit spending money that isn't budgeted for anyway!
Yeah.....OK.....and.......
OK, so where do the "budget cuts" start? I'll give you a "hint". B.U.S. D.R.I.V.E.R.S (was that blatant enough?). School Boards always cut the budget on the "bottom" thinking the Bus Drivers salary coudn't be SMALL enough...try driving 40+ kids to school per day on $10/hr. WOW! There's some compensation for you! What a deal! Where do I sign up. The CITY of CHES/VB. should cut (2) major positions in the Admin. Dept that aren't being used. There's $75,000 $aved right there! If the Bus Driver's salary gets any lower...you're not going to HAVE any Bus Drivers. Hampton Roads is known for WELFARE paying jobs and with the responsibilities Bus Drivers have....Day Care workers are paid more per hour for less responsibility. I find it hilarious how the budget is an issue when 2 yrs. ago...they were spending money every chance they got. Poor budget planning is the result of this. Let's review and audit the books and see how many Admin. Departments can be "downsized" to save the money where it needs to be. That's a good start.