The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
In what Superintendent David Stuckwisch called an "extremely preliminary" report, he and Assistant Superintendent Dan Pendarvis on Thursday night projected a nearly $12 million shortfall in the division's operating budget next school year.
They delivered the news to School Board members at the group's early meeting.
"These are rosy projections," Stuckwisch told them. "This could get worse."
Raises are not being considered, he said. Furloughs aren't off the table, he said, and neither are layoffs.
Given the choices, eliminating positions through attrition is preferred, he said.
The goal, Stuckwisch said, is "in every way possible" to try to save people's jobs.
School Board member Jim Hewitt said he was thankful the board could hear the projections so it has time "to plan and prepare."
N ext year's operating budget could be about $137 million, down from about $149 million this year, according to a division document detailing the projections. Actual budget numbers won't be known for months. Administrators looked at, among other things, projections that the division could receive about $4 million less in state funding.
The document showed that the division's health insurance costs could go up 27 percent. Other insurance costs, as well as costs for electricity, heating fuel, water, sewage and stormwater, also are projected to rise.
Pendarvis estimated that the division might have to reduce expenses by more than $16 million to balance the budget.
"We're usually trying to balance out $2 to $3 million," Stuckwisch said. "We're looking at $16 million. It's surreal."
The ideas administrators discussed to balance the budget included eliminating technology upgrades and bus replacement; further cutting travel and professional development spending for employees; eliminating fifth block at Churchland High; and reducing through attrition 33 custodian positions, 39 paraprofessional posts and 59 teachers, clerical workers and administrators.
It will be months before the board votes on the budget.
In other business, the board unanimously approved the division's revised 2007- 17 comprehensive plan.
Cheryl Ross, (757) 446-2443, cheryl.ross@pilotonline.com
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Portsmouth Family
As a teacher for PPS, my husband is a teacher for PPS, and my daughter goes to school in a PPS, I feel this is insane. My argument is this: Without teachers there would be no professions. There would be nothing. We don't do this for the money obviously, but holding Master's degrees in our areas and knowing our content, and daily interaction with our students...priorities need to change! We are underpaid and rarely appreciated, but we were prepared for that going into this. Losing our jobs, or losing our houses to pay for health insurance should not even be an option.
Portsmouth Residents
We are finally seeing an improvement in the PTA w/Fathers, Grandparents, Uncles all helping in our elementary schools. Bringing in groups like Boys & Girls clubs in at least two of our elementary schools, with hopes of a middle school. Making a difference to keep the classrooms focused on academics vs. disruptions. Children coming to school on time, breakfasts served to get our children off to a great start each morning. Don't touch the breakfasts, this is proven to be a great help to our community's children.
Why don't we start to look at Iacocoa's example but in the government area, take a pay cut from the top for all to succeed. I don't believe anyone is making the $12M to help the shortfall? Are there any foundations or charity programs other government grants our school board can apply that would be willing to assist in some of our school's projects to help us improve our facilities? Businesses are hurting though, this economy needs to recover.
I think we've seen such a great improvement in our city since our Superintendant has come into this position. I see him walking about the city with files, as he looks like he's going again to work with city hall to assist
why don't you start
By taking away the city car and city gas tha Dan Pandarvis uses to drive back and forth from his Virginia Beach home to his job at Portsmouth Public Schools.
good grief
Why in the heck is it ok for someone to come from another city and be able to have control over our schools...then we give them a take home vehicle AND pay for gas..talk about inappropriate funding
woah....that sounds like a
woah....that sounds like a fantastic recommendation.....i honestly had no idea....why in the world are we paying for THAT
We need some new leadership
We need some new leadership on the school board.....im sick of the bickering and personal agendas playing out.....not to mention the arrogance can be cut with a knife........
We need some folks on this board who can aggressively confront this projected shortfall and start making plans now on how to deal with it.....layoffs and job loss should be out of the question.....attrition and cutting trips/bus replacement and extra cirricular should be a start....although I dont like it....with the economy and useless governor Kaine's budget we have little choice...
Another example of how hard
Another example of how hard these times are.
It's a travesty schools have to feel the cuts, too.
Short fall
It is a sad day when we have to cut this many postions in order or meet a budget. The children in the system are the ones that will suffer the most.
By cutting teachers, you will not be able to offer all the classes that are needed. By cutting teachers, the size of the classrooms will expand. (They are already over crowded now) By cutting Paraprofessionals, those that need special help and attention will not get it. By cutting paraprofessional, a lot of the work that is being done in the classrooms will no longer get done. Alot of times, they are the ones doing all the work anyway. Maybe instead of cutting the jobs of the people whom with out them the school system would not be fully accredited we should cut jobs of those people that never step foot in a school building or jobs of those that never work with the children.
The children must be your first thought when doing these cuts. Without that no one is going to want to move into the city and place their children in the public school system. We have been down this road before. Thats way we hired a new leader in the first place. Please do not bring the city down to the same place we once were.
shouldn't have spent 15 million on a new school
Everyone saw this budget cut coming. If they didn't they neeed to be re-educated.
They shouldn't have spent 15 million on a new school because the old one needed new lights and HVAC.
If they had some self control in spending tax money they wouldn't be in this problem. Now, hardworking people within the school system will suffer with layoff. How about starting at the top first for a change.
Let me sound of the warning for next year !!!!!! Its going to happen again next year and be an even bigger cut. Wake up !
Shortfall my eye
The school system always yells shortfall and the need for more money. You should cut some of the weight at the top and trim all the waste. Your operations division wants to have meeting that are always MANDONTORY!!! but talk about something that could be handled through e-mail. You have to pay people to come in for those meetings. You cover up losses when theft goes on by employees. You allow people to resign and avoid prosecution so there is no bad press. By the way, how many computers have you had stolen over the past couple of years.Making them pay by with charges and restitution would give you back some of your money. The skeletons in the Portsmouth Public Schools office would make taxpayers choke. You already have 43% of the City's money. I guess when you have it all, you will be happy. Hey, I got an idea, why don't really buy new books when parents pay all those book fees. You may have money cut out of your budget, but so does everyone else. Suck it up and put the money into the kids in the school instead of the Admins pocket.