CHESAPEAKE
School Board members didn't think a $436.9 million budget would stick when they passed it in March. They were right.
City and state revenues came up short by $8.3 million, and expected electricity and fuel costs have risen by $3.2 million.
Tonight, the board will decide how best to balance the 2008-09 budget - a process that may result in fewer bus purchases, lower-than-expected raises for school employees and less money for new technology.
"It's a real jockeying game. It really is," said Marilyn Woodall, the school division's budget director.
The board is scheduled to pass a $428.7 million spending plan, up 5.9 percent from the 2007-08 budget of $404.8 million. It includes a local contribution of $185 million and $239.7 million from the state. The remaining money comes from other sources, such as the federal government.
Energy costs may not be the only budget item for which board members add funding.
Recently approved changes to the division's gifted education program, including the closing of the Laboratory School for the Academically Gifted, will save about $32,100 in transportation costs. But paying for supplies, teacher training and writing workshops will cost about $103,000.
Board members also will consider adding about $175,000 for a middle school tutoring program.
Reducing proposed raises from an average 4 percent to an average 3.2 percent is among the administration's recommendations for cuts.
However, employees stand to get higher raises if the first part of a three-year salary study implementation is approved, Woodall said.
That 1.4 percent salary scale adjustment would mean that those paid according to the scale would receive an average 4.6 percent raise, she said. No employee, including people at the top of the scales, would receive less than a 4 percent increase.
Other reductions the School Board will consider: eliminating five new positions, replacing 35 buses instead of 70 and cutting the global positioning system that monitors bus locations.
Hattie Brown Garrow, (757) 222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com
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Are you kidding
Apparently you two have never lived outside of city limits and SEEN what other district schools are like. I grew up and had the unfortunate luck of going to Portsmouth schools. I bent over backwards to makesure my kids werent there. Portsmouth teachers are disrespected underpaid and in some instances should be not teaching. I came to Chesapeake and LOVE IT. Teachers communicate with you the schools are CLEAN the kids actually LEARN instead of just sitting there the kids HAVE POTENTIAL thanks to this school system. I wouldnt trade Chesapeake for nothing I have a child on the way and BELIVE ME she will wear the green and gold with pride like my other two children do now.
School Budget?
Why does more than half of the City`s budget go to the schools?
Easy Way Out
You always have to take the easy way out and cut pay raises rather than work and be creative with other means to cut the pork. You will end up dumbing down the teachers who are already underpaid, just like we keep dumbing down the classes that they teach.