Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992 TAG: 9203050302
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The supervisors had requested information from the school system about the cost of opening the new Falling Branch Elementary School in Christiansburg by various budget categories - such as costs of instruction and operation maintenance.
But County Administrator Betty Thomas distributed a letter from School Superintendent Harold Dodge that she said did not answer the board's questions. Dodge's letter contained only the lump sum additional cost for opening the new school, $576,034.
Supervisor Henry Jablonski said the board needs information from the School Board that would allow the supervisors to appropriate a school system budget by individual budget categories, if supervisors decide that's what they want to do.
The School Board has proposed a $52.5 million budget, 33 percent higher than this year's $39.2 million spending plan. Faced with a weak economy, supervisors have been looking for ways to cut it.
"We need to be versatile to be able to consider the budget in a lot of different ways," said Jablonski.
The supervisors have asked the School Board in the past for information about how much money would be needed to give school employees 4.5 percent raises; but they also need figures for 3 percent and 4 percent raises if 4.5 percent becomes impossible, Jablonski said.
Supervisor Jim Moore said he was opposed to approving the school budget by category, but other supervisors said they want to look at that option. Budgeting by categories would allow the supervisors to approve money for raises for teachers and other employees, while perhaps approving no raises for higher-paid central school office administrators.
Supervisor Larry Linkous also was angry about a letter Dodge had sent to school administrators and non-teaching staff this week. Linkous said the letter misrepresented his comments at a board meeting Saturday about the outlook for school employee raises.
Linkous said his comments to fellow supervisors about not giving some school system employees raises this year was aimed only at administrators in the central office in Christiansburg.
Supervisor Joe Gorman also was upset about Dodge's letter. Noting that the letter probably was copied on School Board equipment, Gorman said, "If they're hard up for money, they can quit doing that stuff."
Linkous said he had never mentioned not giving raises to non-teaching employees such as custodians, secretaries and bus drivers. In fact, Linkous said, his idea was that if money for raises is limited, those paid the least now should be the ones to get raises.
Jablonski said he agreed with Linkous' thoughts on school employee raises.
by CNB