Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 4, 1990 TAG: 9004040445
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
The School Board's proposed budget includes a 4.62 percent increase, but keeps the local funding level at $3.9 million.
Even though the budget did not call for an increased local share, some supervisors questioned what the School Board was planning to do with increased funds from other sources.
The School Board already has voted to close two elementary schools over the next 14 months, saving more than $300,000 in operating costs, chiefly in the area of personnel.
The decision to close Rich Creek and King Johnston elementary schools was made because of declining enrollments and increased operating costs due to state mandates - including school bus replacements, asbestos removal plans and a 5 percent increase in teacher salaries. The school system also needs to repair two school roofs.
Bobby Compton, chairman of the supervisors, last week persuaded the board to delay voting on the school budget. He said the budget would be considered after other budget requests had been reviewed.
His move to vote on the budget Tuesday took at least one supervisor by surprise. Herbert Brown said he was not prepared to deal with the school budget, believing that last week's decision meant that a vote would come much later in the process.
But the supervisors did decide to vote when a motion to do so was made by Supervisor Richard Williams - who had favored voting on the school budget the week before. Compton seconded the motion.
Brown voted against approving the budget.
Supervisor Ted Timberlake said he was concerned that the school system would have $800,000 more to operate the schools in the next fiscal year, even though Rich Creek Elementary School would be closed and King Johnston open only to seventh-graders.
Williams pointed out that the cost of replacing five school buses would be $130,000 each, taking a large portion of the increased non-local funding.
Supervisor Willard Gowdy said he would support the proposed budget, but also voiced displeasure over the fact the School Board had said last year that closing schools would not save any measureable amount of money.
"I feel like they're long overdue in making this decision," he said.
The proposed countywide budget of $16,863,509 is almost $1.4 million more than the budget adopted for the current fiscal year. Supervisors will continue reviewing the budget requests at a Monday work session.
by CNB