Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 31, 1990 TAG: 9003310522
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIM ZEOLI SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Wright requested $3,560,338 in local funds, $114,052 less than his previous request. The proposed budget totals $7,671,597, with 46 percent from the city.
According to Wright, state aid will be greater than anticipated because of adjustments in funding formulas during the recent General Assembly session.
However, the revised budget still exceeds the city's target of a 2.5 percent increase in school spending by $513,183 because of salary increases and other factors.
This year, the state mandated a 5 percent raise for teachers. The revised budget allows for a 5.6 percent increase. Wright said the percentage can change if personnel changes are required.
The addition of a state-mandated social worker or visiting teacher also caused the budget to increase. Even though the state didn't specify the position be full-time, the School Board budgeted this position as such.
"We would like to see this person spend half of the time as a visiting teacher and half working with at-risk youths who aren't successful in school," Wright said. The board believes there needs to be a person who can work with students who are at risk of dropping out of school.
Wright said he was concerned about declining enrollment that resulted in reduced sales tax revenues and $43,529 less in per-pupil allocations from the state. He said the school system has been losing students for several years.
"I would estimate we will lose around 20 or 30 students by September," he said. "Over a 10-year period from 1979 to 1989, we lost 337 students. But the number of tuition students is increasing."
Radford's school system currently has 87 students from other localities who pay $200 each for tuition. Wright said the schools could probably accommodate 25 or 30 more.
Council members asked about where Radford stands concerning the Magnet School, a regional school that will offer students alternatives to their regular schools. Wright said the School Board voted not to participate in this school for the upcoming year.
"Instead, our interest is to offer at Radford High School a program which will challenge our most capable students," Wright said.
The 1990-91 school budget allowed for $17,500 to send students to the Magnet School. Wright said a portion of this will be needed to improve high school programs.
by CNB