Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 19, 1993 TAG: 9303190245
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
SCHOOL BUDGET RISES IN PULASKI
The Pulaski County School Board received a proposed $24.5 million budget for 1993-94 Thursday night, an increase of $361,000 over the current year.But county costs would be up if the spending plan is accepted, because the state is providing $464,000 less next year.
Mainly, the county would be asked to increase this year's $500,000 for maintenance and facilities to $773,800 next year to keep aging school buildings in shape.
Another $84,000 in increased county funds would be sought on top of the capital expenses, for a total jump of $757,800 in county funds next year.
The budget includes a 3 percent salary increase for all employees.
The School Board has been involved in drawing up the proposed budget along with the staff, but did not act immediately on it following a public hearing at which no one spoke Thursday night. It went into closed session to discuss personnel, because part of the budget would involve cutting enough employees to save $265,000.
"As much as we can, we've tried to handle it by attrition," said Superintendent William Asbury. "But, in some cases, we won't be able to."
About $35,000 will be saved next year by the closing of Jefferson Elementary School, not counting employees. A one-year moratorium on bus replacements would save $100,000. In all, operational costs were reduced in the proposed budget by about $811,000.
But it still contains such educational initiatives as adding elementary-guidance counselors, psychologists and nurses at an additional $160,000 cost to address what school officials called serious socioeconomic conditions facing students.
It also has $36,000 to protect pupil-teacher ratios, and $20,000 to provide planning and staff development for teachers.
Other initiatives, with no additional costs anticipated, include staff development programs and pilot nongraded programs at Northwood and Claremont elementary schools.
The budget also anticipates pilot projects at Pulaski County High School involving curriculum, structure, organization and staffing; reorganize the central office; providing an extended day-care program before and after school for kindergarten through fifth grade; and developing an elementary math/science technology demonstration school to open in September 1994.
The demonstration school would be located within an existing building and, if successful in improving math and science skills, expanded throughout the system. "The planning and development of it will actually occur this year," Asbury said.
Another initiative with no cost attached is be a one-year study of an incentive-pay plan.