Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 14, 1994 TAG: 9412140154
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
They will help fund pay raises for teachers and smaller classes in some elementary schools.
Superintendent Wayne Harris' proposed 1995-96 budget includes an average pay raise of 4.2 percent for teachers and 4 percent for administrators and other school employees.
The budget calls for hiring 12 more teachers to reduce class sizes in the lower grades in elementary schools that have high concentrations of students from low-income families.
The schools hired 25 additional teachers this year to meet the state's mandate to qualify for disparity funds. But the city will need even more teachers next year because elementary school enrollment is projected to increase by 125.
The preliminary $77.6 million school budget, up by nearly $4 million, includes a projected increase of $2.1 million in revenue from the city. That is more than double the $917,000 increase the city provided during the current school year.
But the state will provide a projected increase of only $1.3 million, less than half the $3.1 million boost it provided this year.
School administrators said city officials have cited growth in sales and personal property taxes as one reason they can provide a larger increase.
Harris, who presented the budget to the School Board on Tuesday night, said the projections are tentative and could be changed by the General Assembly's actions on several issues.
Richard Kelley, assistant superintendent for operations, said the schools ultimately could face a loss of $3 million per year if Gov. George Allen's proposal to end the business-license tax is approved.
Kelley said the schools would lose $150,000 next year if Allen's plan is adopted.
"I wouldn't say what we might have to do" if the city loses that revenue, "but I think we would have to look at people and salaries," which make up the biggest part of the school budget, Kelley said. Employee salaries and fringe benefits make up 82 percent of the budget.
The pay raise averages 4.2 percent for teachers, but there can be wide variations because of the city's pay scale and the way the raises would be implemented.
Harris has proposed that teachers with fewer than 10 years of experience receive a $600 supplement to help catch up with salaries in neighboring localities. Roanoke's salaries for younger teachers are lower than those in Salem and Roanoke County.
This is Harris' second year in a three-year plan to make Roanoke's salaries competitive with those in nearby school systems.
The budget includes $60,000 for additional transportational costs during the next year, when Jackson Middle School will be closed for renovation. Its students will have to be bused to other schools.
In drafting the budget, Harris said he has several objectives:
Provide salary increases for teachers and all other school employees.
Participate in state incentive programs such as disparity funds for at-risk students.
Improve student learning.
Reduce the dropout rate, which is 6.7 percent - higher than in nearby school divisions.
Increase the use of computers and instructional technology. Harris has developed a five-year plan to upgrade technology.
Support the magnet schools at the middle and high schools and expand the magnet options at the elementary level.
Promote teacher recruitment to attract good teachers.
Harris said that hiring 12 more teachers will cost $457,648 in salaries, benefits and related expenses annually. The schools also must spend $222,013 to provide five additional preschool classes for at-risk children and a homework assistance program.
The budget includes $740,530 just to cover the increase in utilities, equipment replacement and other maintenance costs.
Harris said school administrators are considering cuts in several categories that are projected to save nearly $450,000. These include driver education, adult education and class rescheduling to reduce the high schools' staffing.
The superintendent said the board will be in a better position to act on the budget recommendations after the revenue projections are firm.
by CNB