Proposed funding cuts detailed at budget hearing
By Matt Pelkey
On Tuesday, Rappahannock School Superintendent Dr. Robert Chappell detailed the $415,000 in cuts that he worked into the proposed 2008-2009 education budget.
Chappell spoke at a public hearing at which students, teachers and eduction supporters urged the Rappahannock County School Board to protect education amid calls to reduce spending with declining enrollment.
Among the cuts, Chappell proposed the reduction of two teachers, two teacher aides and three transportation positions -- two bus routes and one car route will be lost.
Chappell said he hopes to accomplish the staff reductions through attrition, but he does not know if that will happen.
Paid assistant coach positions are also slated to be cut for teams with fewer than 20 players, and program restructurings make up most of the rest of the proposed changes.
In total, the schools would cast off $415,000 in expenses because of the proposed cost savings. Chappell's budget as originally proposed, which is $502 less than the current school year's budget, assumed that the $415,000 would not be spent. Chappell had not detailed the assumed cost savings until this week.
He also said that an extra $70,000 in expenses will be saved due to the schools receiving a lower insurance rate than was originally planned for.
Chappell noted that he proposed a 3.5 percent increase for school employees.
"They're more important than our textbooks; they're more important than our buildings," he said.
Chappell also disclosed that the school board had the night before approved his proposal to reduce the tuition cost for out-of-county students from $8,300 this year to $6,200 next year.
He based the new figure on a calculation of cost that did not include transportation or special education expenses, which out-of-county students currently must pay for. Chappell said those costs should not have been included in the tuition price.
School board members have called the tuition reduction a "gamble," though one that would pay off if it attracted students and brought more money into the school system.
The Tuesday night hearing, which offered the public an opportunity to comment to the school board on the proposed education budget, brought a crowd of over 30. Most of the speakers urged the school board to place education first when working on the budget.
Some speakers offered constructive criticism of the budget, highlighting areas where they thought the schools could save more money.
After the public comment period, school board members responded to many of the cost-saving propositions offered by the public. Wakefield District Board member Rosa Crocker noted that the schools were already working on a couple of the suggestions mentioned.
Many of the school board members said it was good to hear support from the public.
The school board had its last scheduled work session this morning, but still can make changes to the budget before Superintendent Chappell delivers it to the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors on March 31.
E-mail the reporter at mpelkey@timespapers.com.