THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995 TAG: 9512240011
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 200 lines
In the education budget Gov. George F. Allen unveiled Monday, he pledged $26,300 for every public school in Virginia to install classroom computers and pave the way to the information superhighway.
For school districts in South Hampton Roads, the plan would mean funds ranging from $473,800 in Suffolk to $2.1 million in Virginia Beach. While those numbers may look good on paper, local school officials say, the dollars are minuscule compared with the needs and will leave many schools puttering on the dirt roads of technology.
In Norfolk, for instance, the district's goal is six computers in every classroom - one for the teacher and five for students to share. It'll cost an estimated $50 million. The governor's initiative offers $1.4 million.
``While it's a positive step, $1.4 million doesn't fill the gap,'' said Norfolk schools budget director Forrest R. ``Hap'' White. ``I'd hate to see this as a 50-year plan. We need it in five years.''
As local educators last week began to assess the impact of Allen's two-year budget proposal, they were encouraged that the Republican governor and the Democrat-controlled General Assembly agree that public schools deserve a significant infusion of new cash.
Last year at this time, they were gearing up to fight about $20 million in cuts Allen had proposed for such programs as dropout prevention and school maintenance. And, with flat local funding and an expected loss of federal education dollars, the state is the last resort for cash-strapped schools.
``An increase in state funds is certainly good for local taxpayers, so it's going to help,'' said Michael Brinkley, finance director for Suffolk schools.
Yet their enthusiasm is tempered by the unmet needs and the uncertainty over many details of Allen's plan that make it impossible to say now whether it contains more sizzle than substance.
``We'll take anything we can get,''said Joseph Lowenthal, a legislative lobbyist for Virginia Beach schools. ``On the surface it looks pretty good, but it's a deceptive budget.''
Despite local skepticism, borne in part by cynicism over the politics involved in shaping a budget and the tradeoffs that invariably are made, officials in Virginia's Department of Education are touting Allen's proposed budget as one of the most generous in recent years to public schools.
Allen calls for an increase of $462 million over the two-year period beginning July 1 for basic school programs - $200 million more than needed statewide to keep up with inflation and enrollment growth, state budget officials say.
In addition, Allen provides more money to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, for at-risk 4-year-olds from disadvantaged families, for remedial programs and the technology initiative.
The governor also wants to return $15 million in lottery profits to local school districts as grants that school boards could use for a range of needs, such as construction, computers or pay raises.
``I think it's one of the finest education budgets we've had in a long time,'' Kathryn S. Kitchen, the finance division chief in the education department, said Friday after a preliminary number-crunching of Allen's budget.
``It's a phenomenal increase given the pressures facing the governor in putting this budget together. It's far and above any new money we've gotten in the last couple of administrations.''
Norfolk's White said: ``He looks to be expanding in the right areas. It seems to be a positive step and a strong talking position.''
Still, there are nagging concerns. There's no money in the 1996-97 budget, for example, for increased pay for teachers; it calls for a 3 percent raise beginning in December 1997.
``I don't know too many people who would be happy to say, `Well, yeah, I don't mind waiting two years for a raise,' '' White said.
Also, proposed cuts in seemingly unrelated programs, such as community health, could end up costing schools, White said.
A preliminary analysis of proposed cuts in community health programs, for example, shows that Norfolk schools could face up to $500,000 in new costs to pay for nurses that the city's health department now provides.
In addition, Allen earmarks much of the money for specific purposes, and local districts have to cough up matching funds for other programs, which render them unattainable goals for some.
A shortcoming of the technology initiative, for example, White said, is that it can't be used to buy software or for teacher training, both essential.
Because of software changes, many classroom computers are out of date and can't be used to access the Internet.
In Chesapeake, where rapid growth is creating a major classroom shortage, officials may not be able to use money earmarked for reducing class sizes in grades K-3 and for adding classes for at-risk 4-year-olds.
The district refused money during start-up of the initiative for 4-year-olds last year because it would have meant adding more portable classrooms - a sore subject.
``We didn't think that was prudent,'' said Davida W. Mutter, supervisor of business and finance.
Figures released Friday by the state Department of Education show that Virginia Beach schools - which, with 75,000 students, is the state's second-largest district - will receive the greatest increase - $16.6 million.
But much of that, Lowenthal said, will be ``eaten up'' by enrollment growth, projected at 1,300 students in 1996-97.
``Any little bit helps, but with a school system this size it's not going to make a major dent as far as the needs,'' Lowenthal said.
Democrats have praised Allen for embracing priorities they've been pushing, but some say they'll seek more money.
``He's moving in the right direction, but my gut feeling is that it's not enough,'' said Del. William P. Robinson Jr., D-Norfolk.
In the education budget Gov. George F. Allen unveiled Monday, he pledged $26,300 for every public school in Virginia to install classroom computers and pave the way to the information superhighway.
For school districts in South Hampton Roads, the plan would mean funds ranging from $473,800 in Suffolk to $2.1 million in Virginia Beach. While those numbers may look good on paper, local school officials say, the dollars are minuscule compared with the needs and will leave many schools puttering on the dirt roads of technology.
In Norfolk, for instance, the district's goal is six computers in every classroom - one for the teacher and five for students to share. It'll cost an estimated $50 million. The governor's initiative offers $1.4 million.
``While it's a positive step, $1.4 million doesn't fill the gap,'' said Norfolk schools budget director Forrest R. ``Hap'' White. ``I'd hate to see this as a 50-year plan. We need it in five years.''
As local educators last week began to assess the impact of Allen's two-year budget proposal, they were encouraged that the Republican governor and the Democrat-controlled General Assembly agree that public schools deserve a significant infusion of new cash.
Last year at this time, they were gearing up to fight about $20 million in cuts Allen had proposed for such programs as dropout prevention and school maintenance. And, with flat local funding and an expected loss of federal education dollars, the state is the last resort for cash-strapped schools.
``An increase in state funds is certainly good for local taxpayers, so it's going to help,'' said Michael Brinkley, finance director for Suffolk schools.
Yet their enthusiasm is tempered by the unmet needs and the uncertainty over many details of Allen's plan that make it impossible to say now whether it contains more sizzle than substance.
``We'll take anything we can get,'' said Joseph Lowenthal, a legislative lobbyist for Virginia Beach schools. ``On the surface it looks pretty good, but it's a deceptive budget.''
Despite local skepticism, borne in part by cynicism over the politics involved in shaping a budget and the tradeoffs that invariably are made, officials in Virginia's Department of Education are touting Allen's proposed budget as one of the most generous in recent years to public schools.
Allen calls for an increase of $462 million over the two-year period beginning July 1 for basic school programs - $200 million more than needed statewide to keep up with inflation and enrollment growth, state budget officials say.
In addition, Allen provides more money to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, for at-risk 4-year-olds from disadvantaged families, for remedial programs and the technology initiative.
The governor also wants to return $15 million in lottery profits to local school districts as grants that school boards could use for a range of needs, such as construction, computers or pay raises.
``I think it's one of the finest education budgets we've had in a long time,'' Kathryn S. Kitchen, the finance division chief in the education department, said Friday after a preliminary number-crunching of Allen's budget.
``It's a phenomenal increase given the pressures facing the governor in putting this budget together. It's far and above any new money we've gotten in the last couple of administrations.''
Norfolk's White said: ``He looks to be expanding in the right areas. It seems to be a positive step and a strong talking position.''
Still, there are nagging concerns. There's no money in the 1996-97 budget, for example, for increased pay for teachers; it calls for a 3 percent raise beginning in December 1997.
``I don't know too many people who would be happy to say, `Well, yeah, I don't mind waiting two years for a raise,' '' White said.
Also, proposed cuts in seemingly unrelated programs, such as community health, could end up costing schools, White said. A preliminary analysis of proposed cuts in community health programs, for example, shows that Norfolk schools could face up to $500,000 in new costs to pay for nurses that the city's health department now provides.
In addition, Allen earmarks much of the money for specific purposes, and local districts have to cough up matching funds for other programs, which render them unattainable goals for some.
A shortcoming of the technology initiative, for example, White said, is that it can't be used to buy software or for teacher training, both essential. Because of software changes, many classroom computers are out of date and can't be used to access the Internet.
In Chesapeake, where rapid growth is creating a major classroom shortage, officials may not be able to use money earmarked for reducing class sizes in grades K-3 and for adding classes for at-risk 4-year-olds. The district refused money during start-up of the initiative for 4-year-olds last year because it would have meant adding more portable classrooms - a sore subject.
``We didn't think that was prudent,'' said Davida W. Mutter, supervisor of business and finance.
Figures released Friday by the state Department of Education show that Virginia Beach schools - which, with 75,000 students, is the state's second-largest district - will receive the greatest increase - $16.6 million. But much of that, Lowenthal said, will be ``eaten up'' by enrollment growth, projected at 1,300 students in 1996-97.
``Any little bit helps, but with a school system this size it's not going to make a major dent as far as the needs,'' Lowenthal said.
Democrats have praised Allen for embracing priorities they've been pushing, but some say they'll seek more money.
``He's moving in the right direction, but my gut feeling is that it's not enough,'' said Del. William P. Robinson Jr., D-Norfolk. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
VP
GOV. ALLEN'S PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET
SOURCE: Virginia Department of Education
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
by CNB