The Virginian-Pilot
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CHESAPEAKE
School officials are "very confident" the division will be able to use the federal stimulus money coming its way to avoid layoffs, Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols told the School Board on Monday evening.
At the same meeting, the board unanimously approved revisions to the budget it passed earlier this month that would use the anticipated $13.7 million in stimulus money to keep the filled positions that had previously been slated for elimination.
The plan uses half of the stimulus money to avoid layoffs this year and holds on to the second half for next year, when the division "more than likely will be faced with the same situation," Nichols said.
The budget the board originally passed eliminated more than 200 positions. Eighty-three of those were vacant. The rest were filled, however, and if they weren't vacated by retirements, eliminating the positions would have meant layoffs.
The division received word earlier in the month that it would receive $13.7 million in federal money, but school officials still had to clarify the rules on how the money could be spent.
School divisions are being directed to spend the money in ways that save jobs, Nichols said.
But they're also being instructed to be careful about spending the one-time pot of money on things that will be re curring costs, so that when the funding stops, the division won't be left holding a bill.
Under the revised budget, t he vacant positions will still be eliminated. Nichols also said he still hoped to eliminate some of the positions that were cut in the original budget through attrition, including some administrative positions and some staff positions at the city's alternative school.
So far, the division has received notice of 37 pending retirements, said James Roberts, assistant superintendent of personnel and support services.
The board will vote on the final version of its budget in May.
Alicia Wittmeyer, (757) 222-5216, alicia.wittmeyer@pilotonline.com
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lower enrollments?
I don't know about Chesapeake, but Va. Beach has been in a downward cycle for several years now of lower enrollments. This means that teachers are going to lose their jobs not due to the economy but due to fewer students. When enrollments increase again, more teachers will be hired. Using the stimulus money for capital improvement projects would boost the economy by hopefully providing jobs for contractors who may currently be out of work.
regular maintenance...
I believe some chesapeake schools have been in need of big repairs [roofing and heat/air systems] for quite some time. They're always getting put on the back burner due to lack of adequate funds in the budget. Depending upon the meaning of 'regular maintenance' I might be inclined to think some of this is being waylaid too. I just love all the jobs being created by Obomber's huge government welfare checks. Everyone's getting a welfare check except us taxpayers. But this is the CHANGE you all voted for. I'm counting down the days....how much more damage can obomber do in 4 years and will this country survive him...
Contractor
Must be a roofing contractor.You defintely dont have any children in Chesapeake School System.Thinking capital repairs should be done in lieu of our childrens future??. But it does make me wonder if regular preventative maintenance is being performed.
every city, business, even those....
currently on welfare are all getting money except the poor schmucks who have to pay for all of it --- US! the taxpayers! Obomber needs to get a real job -- though I'd prefer his immediate resignation.
Bad decision
If the city gets a one-time shot of stimulus money, the funds should be directed toward the capital projects that are pending and stalled. I note several roofing and school infrastructure repairs that should be taken care of NOW while the money is available. The funds won't be there next year and guess what will happen. The school district will have to lay off the individuals anyhow. That is unless we buy into the notion our economy and housing tax base will recover. All Superintendent Nichols has done is postpone the inevitable for a year. By making the hard decision now, at least those employees would have until the end of the school year under the existing budget.
we're in the money....
er....everyone's in 'our' money but us taxpayers.