Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 4, 1992 TAG: 9202040303
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
FIRST ROUND EASY ON SCHOOL BUDGET
Anyone expecting a spirited confrontation over the School Board's 1992-93 budget request went away disappointed as board members and school Superintendent Michael Wright easily fielded City Council's questions at a brief joint meeting Monday night.The board has submitted a substantially increased budget for next school year, while the city has called for across-the-board budget cuts of 3 percent.
"We're here to listen," said Mayor Tom Starnes as the session got under way. About two dozen teachers were in the gallery, most wearing buttons asking "What are Virginia's Children Worth?"
Council last month returned about $158,000 in unspent 1990-91 school funds to cover emergency repairs to the Belle Heth Elementary School roof and other expenses. Wright downsized his 1992-93 budget projection accordingly.
In a revised letter to Starnes, Wright said the funding return cut the estimated increase over this year's budget from 7 percent to 4.9 percent. If approved, the city's share of the $7.56 million spending plan would be $472,117.
A proposed 6 percent raise for school employees, a revised salary scale and increased health insurance costs account for $344,308, or over half of the new items in the budget. School Board Chairman John McPhail said they were the top three priorities.
An initiatives list also contains about $155,800 for new equipment, including computers, $16,140 for non-routine maintenance, and $8,520 for staff development.
Wright expressed the need to go ahead with long-standing plans for new art and band facilities at Radford High. The budget includes $37,000 for architectural and engineering work on the project, which would cost an estimated $500,000.