Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 20, 1991                   TAG: 9102200430
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOLS PLAN COST CUTS SALEM BOARD MEMBER OFFERS TO HELP BY SERVING FOR FREE

School Superintendent Wayne Tripp presented the board with budget requests covering everything but personnel costs. The roughly 15 percent cut - or $303,763 - reflects "economic conditions and a change in goals," Tripp said.

"Our goals are more modest, but we hope to maintain the quality of programs that we've enjoyed to date," he said.

Board member Glenn Thornhill Jr. suggested to his fellow members that they consider not receiving pay during the next fiscal year and allow that money to be redirected toward instruction. For several years, board members, if they have chosen to receive pay, have taken it in the form of a donation to Salem Education Foundation scholarships.

"It seems an easy place to cut," Thornhill said. "We cut a lot out of other areas."

But board member Walter Franke balked at Thornhill's suggestion.

"These funds help supplement higher education for students in the city of Salem," Franke said. "That would bear heavily on my thoughts."

The proposed budget lists a total of $6,800 in compensation to board members. Thornhill's suggestion would require a board vote.

The 15 percent reduction exceeds Tripp's initial estimate of a 10 percent cut in non-personnel costs. He made that estimate after learning last month that the proposed $101 million cut in state school funding could result in a $455,000 loss in school funds in Salem.

Should state funding come in lower than projected, "we'll have to look at personnel if we have to cut further," Tripp said.

Earlier, he said he wasn't ready to commit to the absence of pay raises for school employees.

The 15 percent proposed reduction would in part eliminate a planned library automation system at the Salem High School library, do away with $46,000 worth of computer equipment in the elementary schools and set aside numerous building improvements.

The school system may be forced to examine the future of its dropout prevention program, Tripp told the board.

Tripp also asked the board to consider increasing the cost of school lunches because a proposal to cut a "cushion" in the school cafeteria fund would require it to be totally self-sustaining.

The school budget "may have to be reduced even further," Tripp said. "But if we go much beyond that it's going to have an impact on students, employees and programs. All these [cuts] were needed items."