THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503180419
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Education
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
The School Board voted 6-1 Thursday to adopt Superintendent Richard D. Trumble's $86.2 million operating budget for 1995-96 - a document that assumes the city's share will remain $25.2 million.
City Council plans to approve the schools budget by late April. Since the 1992-93 year, council has budgeted $25.2 million annually for city schools. Board member Ray A. Smith Sr. opposed the budget. He said the board needed to request more city dollars. Board members James E. Bridgeford and Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr. were absent.
The total budget is nearly $104.6 million, which includes money from grants, the cafeteria fund and student activities.
If council approved the budget as presented, several areas would be cut next school year to make things balance out:
With the exception of work at S.H. Clarke, elementary school renovation projects would be put on hold.
Money for new or replacement teaching equipment would be cut 77 percent.
At least 22 administrators could be reassigned to vacant teaching positions or jobs with new duties.
Each of the city's six magnet schools would lose a $30,000 annual stipend; Park View Elementary's Montessori program wouldn't expand to third grade.
Board members lamented the ``bare bones'' budget, but several said the city's financial pinch left no alternative. In response to a board request, Trumble offered another spending plan Thursday that included an extra $1 million from the city for several maintenance projects, but he encouraged the board to accept his original plan. The city, he said, also is pressed for cash.
Here's a look at several big-ticket items:
A 2 percent raise for employees.
$1 million to cover an increase in the number of special-education students placed in a locally based, but state-run, program called SECEP for students with unique learning problems.
$700,000 for renovation work at S.H. Clarke.
20 elementary school teachers; and 10 paraprofessionals, workers who assist teachers in the classroom.
Two speakers at the public hearing Thursday urged board members to look for ways other than the proposed cuts to save money; a representative from the bus drivers and bus monitors group asked that retirement benefits be extended to those workers.
Smith said board members and others must spread the word that schools can't make do with less, or the same, because needs have grown too rapidly.
Federal dollars dipped about 17 percent from last school year to this, and likely will decrease by another 25 percent in 1995-96. Extra state money allows the district to get by, but funds come with strings attached.
Enrollment is on the decline and whenever it dips, the district loses money. Meanwhile, the number of students in costly special-education programs steadily increases.
Trumble said $87 million in documented maintenance needs are still unmet.<
The superintendent plans to free up $1 million in the current budget to buy several items for next school year: Library and other equipment for three centers opening as elementary schools, math books and 11 buses.
The belt will tighten as this school year comes to a close. Trumble will pull the $1 million from areas such as travel, supplies, equipment and maintenance projects. He said he would offer details next month.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD
by CNB