ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512220019
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
With its budget deadline less than three weeks away, the bulk of Radford School Board decisions Wednesday night addressed an increasing student population and aging facilities.
The board will give final approval of the budget proposal at its Jan. 4 meeting - two days before City Council's deadline.
The proposal includes an additional $2 million above last year's budget. Some of the cost includes mere guesses about how much the consumer price index and retirement benefits will increase.
Also included is the request for an additional third-grade teacher at McHarg Elementary. Superintendent Michael Wright said with at least nine more pupils entering third grade next year, an additional teacher will keep class enrollment in the low 20s
Also proposed for McHarg is another part-time secretary.
The board agreed to propose $30,000 for four teacher aides - one in each of the schools. The aides will rotate to classrooms as needed to help with special needs pupils.
The board included a 5 percent raise for teachers and support personnel, proposed by the Radford Education Association last month.
"I don't think 5 percent is unreasonable, though," said member F. Spencer Hall.
The board also proposed funding for four lunch monitors to give elementary school teachers a duty-free lunch period.
Sanding Radford High School's gym floor and replacing several sections of McHarg's roof topped the list of specific school repairs.
The board included almost $550,000 for technology improvements, plus another $63,000 for a distance-learning classroom complete with television monitors, video cameras and audio equipment.
The board agreed to only about one-eighth of the $22,160 in additional funds requested by the band program.
Last month, band boosters Co-President Gary Nunn had asked for the additional money to hire a part-time assistant band director and help with the maintenance of band uniforms and instruments.
A free school bus system, full-day kindergarten and the reduction of pupil-teacher ratios to 18 to 1 in kindergarten through third grade were cut from the budget.
LENGTH: Short : 49 linesby CNB