Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 25, 1994 TAG: 9403250193
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Board members said Thursday night that the quality of the county school system will begin to deteriorate if the budget is not fully funded.
"I think it is overdue - we send a message to the supervisors that we need more of the county's revenues," said Maurice "Buck" Mitchell, vice chairman of the School Board.
"We need to present a budget to the supervisors that shows our real needs," said Jerry Canada, a School Board member.
County Administrator Elmer Hodge has told school officials that the county can provide $2.5 million in new revenue for the School Board in the next year.
But that is not enough to meet the schools' needs, board members said at a budget meeting. They said the budget crunch has been made worse because the county will receive an increase of only $1 million in state school funds in the next year.
"I am deeply appreciative that the county is willing to provide us with an additional $2.5 million," Canada said, "but that does not cover all of our real needs."
Mitchell said more money will be required to maintain the school system's quality.
"We have a choice - either we continue at a quality level, or we let it slough off a little every year," Mitchell said. "We deserve more of the county's money."
Chairman Frank Thomas said he hopes the supervisors recognize the school system's needs.
"This a budget of real needs. If we don't get the money we need, we will have to make some hard decisions," Thomas said.
If the supervisors don't provide more funds, he said, the School Board might have to reduce proposed pay raises for teachers and other school employees.
The budget includes 3 percent raises and an adjustment to the pay scale to provide large raises for teachers near the middle of the scale.
Superintendent Bayes Wilson said the raises remain his top budget priority. The raises and additional teachers needed next year will cost $2.9 million.
Board member Barbara "Bootie" Chewning said that computers, instructional supplies and other equipment will have to be cut if the supervisors don't provide more money.
"We must have the money to go forward," Chewning said.
The additional request of $1.6 million is broken into two categories: $800,000 for expenses described by board members as absolutely essential, and another $800,000 for items recommended by a budget advisory committee.
Thomas said the School Board may not get all of the $1.6 million, but it has a duty to present the school needs to the supervisors.
by CNB