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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 27, 1991                   TAG: 9102270434
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NEAL THOMPSON EDUCATION WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SCHOOL BOARD LOOKS AT FUTURE WITH TIGHT BUDGET

There have been no angry complaints. No bands of parents or teachers have crowded board meeting demanding more money.

Tuesday night was no different. But for the first time, some fears were publicly raised about problems the board may face once some of the cuts they have been discussing are implemented next school year.

"When September comes, there's going to be a lot of yelling," Superintendent Frank Tota said.

To appease parents and students who may have to rearrange schedules once some classes and programs are cut, the administration is trying to print students' fall class schedules before the summer, when they usually are completed. The process is being stepped up to give students more time to make schedule changes if they are affected by program cuts, said David Partington, director of secondary education and middle schools.

Tota said some pending cuts, such as summer-school electives, are unavoidable but bound to hurt and anger some students and their parents.

Next year's budget looks to be about $63.9 million - a $600,000 decrease from last year and possibly the first time ever that a school budget has shrunk from the previous year.

To reach that level and compensate for decreased state funding, the board plans to freeze teacher pay raises, cut programs and eliminate up to 40 positions.