Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 24, 1995 TAG: 9503240137
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Without the additional funds, Superintendent Deanna Gordon said Thursday night, the teaching staff might have to be reduced and other cuts would be required that could hurt the quality of education.
``We have cut as much as possible and still present a responsible budget,'' Gordon said. ``Cuts in teaching positions will increase teacher-pupil ratios.''
County Administrator Elmer Hodge had agreed earlier to provide an increase of $2.6 million in county funds for schools for the next year. But school officials said that is not enough to provide salary raises for teachers and other school employees, in addition to covering higher expenses in other budget categories.
The School Board approved a $75.9 million school budget that has a $961,524 deficit.
Supervisors' Chairman Fuzzy Minnix said schools have been the county's priority, but he's not sure whether the money will be available.
``We'll have to look and see what we can do. We want to help if we can, but there is only so much money,'' Minnix said after the meeting. ``I am sure we will do what we can.''
The 1995-96 budget, 3.4 percent more than this year's, provides an average pay raise of 3 percent for teachers and other school employees. In addition, all would receive a 1 percent step raise, providing the equivalent of a 4 percent pay increase.
The new salary schedule would keep the pay for many county teachers above that of their counterparts in Roanoke. The raises are part of the county's five-year goal to raise teachers' salaries to the national average. The county now is about $1,800 below the national average.
Gordon and School Board Chairman Frank Thomas said they hope the salary raises can be preserved, even if the school budget has to be cut.
``As we strive to raise teachers' salaries, I hope the supervisors will help us out and provide the additional money,'' said Jerry Canada, School Board vice chairman.
School Board member Michael Stovall said the supervisors probably will question the request, but the board must stand firm on the need for the money.
``We know the supervisors will test us, but we must not back away,'' said Stovall, the Vinton District board member.
``Clearly, teachers are our biggest asset, and I wholeheartedly endorse this budget,'' said Thomas Leggette, the member from Windsor Hills.
``When we go to the supervisors, we've got to say we've got to have the money - we can't absorb more cuts,'' said Maurice ``Buck'' Mitchell, the Cave Spring board member.
Thomas said the board has been forced to turn to the supervisors for more money because the state will provide an increase of only about $800,000 next year.
If the supervisors will provide the additional money this time, Thomas said, he believes the board can avoid similar requests in the future because it has stopped using one-time surplus revenues to help balance its budget.
by CNB