The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The City Council is taking $8.8 million in school reserves for its own budget but will try not do the same next year, according to an agreement reached in a Monday meeting.
The council's decision to use the money to partially fund a new animal shelter and recreation center has angered school advocates. A protest at City Hall organized by the Virginia Beach Education Association is planned for tonight, an hour before the final City Council public hearing on the budget.
School Board Chairman Dan Edwards said Mayor Will Sessoms and Vice Mayor Louis Jones said that the schools can keep their "reversion," or unspent end-of-year money next year. Historically, the City Council has returned that money to the school division. This year and last, the city has taken some of that money for its own budget.
"They have indicated we can count on those funds," Edwards said, referring to the next budget cycle.
Sessoms said, "Council has a history of allowing the school system to take reversionary funds and use them as they see fit." He added the City Council will try in the future to return that money to schools but noted it is not required by law.
Edwards said the City Council has fully funded the school division for next year, a point he thinks might be lost on protesters.
"It's very important for those that are protesting to know that they have supported the school in the past and they are supporting the schools next year, and we are reasonably hopeful that they will continue to do so beyond," he said.
The $8.8 million cut has been projected to affect schools, possibly with larger class sizes and layoffs, in fiscal year 2011-12.
Superintendent Jim Merrill sent out an automated message last week to all employees and parents of school children about the possible funding loss, a move that angered City Council members.
Sessoms stressed that the school division will get all the money it requested in the upcoming fiscal year and next. "The bottom line of this is they are whole based on their budget for the second year," he said.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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The $8.8 MIL
The $8.8MIL is still taxpayers money allocated by the city council. Like it or not, it is not the school boards money. The city council giveth.....the city council taketh away. The council has the right to use excess funds or reserves as they see fit.
Part I
I don't know how many will show up for this rally, especially since a compromise has been agreed to and it is currently raining. But, the money aside, Dan Edwards comments concerning the protestors were a "sell-out."
These groups, whether you agree with them or not were willing to put themselves on the line for their school system. It appears, the PTA and VBEA were reacting to the total indignation of the school board and administration. Edwards is said to have pointed out that the VBCPS will be "fully funded next year, a point he thinks might be lost on the protesters." Well, evidently it was a point missed by the SB in their strongly worded May 4 Resolution objecting to the actions of the City Council. Nothing like sticking up for those who are sticking up for you, Dan...loyalty not a strong point for ol' Dan-O.
I don't know what impact this will have on public education in VB, but, what seems apparent from far too many comments, is the depth of distrust and hatred for teachers. That is the truly sad part, and if you think the CC hasn't noticed, just watch them spend that money.
Part II
And then ask...in a nearly $2 billion budget, they couldn't find $8.8 million dollars?
What other capital improvement plans are included in the budget that trump schools, a rec center, and a new problem-laden animal control center?
It will be interesting to see if in the next 12 months CC doesn't come up with some new project that will make this $8.8 million look like pocket change....but, they will find money for that project somewhere.
What happened to the school's budget is just a sympton of a bigger problem.
Hey Brian
Making a comment to the teacher about why she isn't teaching proves your lack of knowledge. It's no wonder teachers don't receive the respect they should, it's ignorance such as yours that fuels the fire.
Let me promise this...
I will TRY to pay my taxes next year. Can't promise that I will, but I promise to TRY.
We have term limits on the city council. It is called election year. I promise NOT to vote for any city council member that votes to approve this budget, either this year or next. I believe that it is a done deal. Votes have already been counted, arms twisted, just need the pats on the back.
The votes in November will tell the whole tale. But from past experience, the public is just rattling sabers at this point. We will probably see the same people behind the dais in January. I would like to be proven wrong, though.
Money from the children
The school system did not save money by taking it from the children. The money was saved by energy conservation and frugal spending habits. They shopped aroung and got better deals. You call it a reserve, I call it a savings account. A saving account that will be needed in times of emergency, I don't know, something like when Princess Anne High burned down. The citizens of VB did not have to pay higher taxes to cover that.
I am a VBCPS employee, I did not get a raise and will not get a raise, but the "Reserve" money is not for raises, it's for covering shortfalls and one time expenses, just like our personal savings accounts. The city's got one of those, and it sounds like an Animal shelter and Rec center would fall into the category of one time expenses. They need to tap their own account.
Federal Impact Funding
Every year school children come home with manilla cards to indicate whether or not they have a parent in the military. The Fed. Govt pays per child of military dependents to the schools to as their contribution to educate these kids. Let's hope the Beach didn't scoop of some of these funds and misdirect it to the Rec Center. Yes, VB does need a new animal shelter the other one was atrocious but it needs to be paid for out of the correct tax base not raiding the schools reserve. If that is done and then VB loses a substantial military proportionate pay then will the city "pay back" the $8 million?
I don't get it. . .
all the comments about taking from the children and taking from the schools when the teachers aren't getting raises. . . This money was not going to be spent on the children or the teachers.
Teachers- Dont blame council for now taking the money back, blame your school board/administration for not giving you the raises you feel you deserve, THEY HAD THIS MONEY THE WHOLE TIME!
Parents- you gave (ok, they took) this money to be spent on your children, they did not follow through on their promise or/and they took too much.
The whole point is that
The whole point is that teachers aren't getting raises. We aren't complaining because of that. My comments are an attempt to show that teachers have, in fact, sacrificed as well and are not attempting to be mean spirited about the loss of school funds.
These funds were saved through a variety of practices. Things like energy efficiencies, postponing capital improvement projects, and not filling open positions.
These things were done because, as you may recall, the CC and state love to steal funds from the school system. The ONLY reason the funds in question even exist is because the state reversed course on unfreezing the funding formula. Should they change their minds again, which seems likely, then the school system could be short of funding.
But, you are all right; we're just whining.
VBteacher
Hey, vbteacher, aren't you teaching? Your comment is at 10:24 am. Shouldn't you be teaching instead of commenting online about the raise you want?