The Virginian-Pilot
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PORTSMOUTH
The School Board on Thursday passed an operating budget of about $135 million for next school year, down about $14 million from this year.
It eliminates 109 positions through attrition but stops short of layoffs. It provides no raises.
The budget cuts 22 teachers, a total of 15 administrative and clerical workers, 33 custodians and 39 general paraprofessionals.
Other cuts include reducing spending by 15 percent on materials and services; reducing spending by 25 percent on travel and professional development for employees and School Board members; putting off replacing school buses and upgrading technology such as computers and printers; reducing spending on major building maintenance items, such as roof replacements; and eliminating individual music lessons now offered in the after-school program at Churchland High.
The budget also passes along to the school division and its employees a 33 percent increase in health insurance costs.
A tight budget year, with big reductions in state dollars and rising expenses, forced leaders to make tough decisions.
The budget reflects the same level of city funding as this year's, but with a reduction of about $10.3 million in state money and nearly $4 million less in federal stimulus funds.
The board passed the budget in a 7-2 vote. Board members Keith Nance Sr. and Mark Whitaker voted against it.
Some who voted in favor of the budget sounded apologetic for doing so.
"I will vote for the budget, but I will vote for it very reluctantly," board member Jean Shackelford said.
In other news, the board passed a revised version of the Code of Student Conduct handbook. It includes a provision that imposes a minimum 10-day out-of-school suspension for students who open locked school doors that are intended as emergency exits or who open entryways for anyone who has not properly signed in to the school.
The provision was prompted by the April shooting incident at Woodrow Wilson High in which a student allegedly approached a locked door and brandished a gun to get someone inside to open it.
Cheryl Ross, (757) 446-2443, cheryl.ross@pilotonline.com
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Instruction vs. Athletics
So, I wonder how much of the athletic or "general fund" monies that end up going to athletics got cut. It really unnerves me that teachers are expected to pay out-of-pocket for classroom supplies, yet the athletic teams are consistently given catered dinners before games throughout their seasons. The response given to teachers in the past has been that alumni or others donated the funds for these costs. Wonder if they will be willing to donate the funds to purchase a better reputation for our schools when they are no longer accredited because of the lack of instructional supplies and qualified teachers? Our schools and society in general have really sent our kids the wrong message: do nothing and get the payoff anyway. And let's not even talk about the dropout rates, which are sure to go up. Portsmouth needs to wake up and realize what's important. Drop the dead weight in teachers who get promoted when they screw up and we might be able to pay to keep those who do their jobs effectively in the system.
blah blah blah
More teacher whining. First year teachers in Portsmouth start (with no experience other than a short stint as student teacher) at 30,000 plus benefits. For nine months of work that is more than adequate. If you think you can make more money in the private sector, then make a move.
No Cents
I must say that $30,000 is alot of money compared to a person making $7.25 an hour. If you factor in the inflation rate, $30,000 might be about $18,000 - $20,000. If you don't believe it, go fill your gas tank up.
Help Needed
While I am not an employee that is affected by the raise in health insurance, those that are will take a hard hit. 33% is a lot of money exspecially when there is no raise at all to cover it. Its hard for a school employee that is not in administration or on the board to make it. The average employee is having to take on a second job in order to cover the bills. The children in the schools are suffering for this because teachers are coming to school exhausted. We have got to do something about making teaching salaries worth the effort of becoming one.
Tell me you aren't one of
Tell me you aren't one of those who listened to the socailaist rhetoric that your health insurance wasn't going to cost more. God bless the unions. ( Don't say there is no Teachers union in VA)
Portsmouth
Do any of these positions include Holley and the mayor position?
O-M-G! A local district cut travel spending?!
O-M-G. A local school district cut travel spending? Too bad the Virginia Beach City Public Schools has not cut some of the excessive and extravagant "professional development" traveling that some instructional specialists like to do. If the taxpayers knew, they would be outraged.
Say Again....
Ditto on that one...It's not only curriculum types, but technology people. I hear they are gone to more than they are in VB. Maybe that's why they increased the technology budget with the 15M windfall.