THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602020181
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 117 lines
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, in the proposed 1996-97 budget, is seeking 55 new workers and more money from the city's purse to help schools cope with steadily increasing enrollment.
Superintendent Joyce H. Trump's proposed $56.5 million spending plan - which includes federal grants and money from school food programs - reflects the district's growth mode.
Overall, the $56.5 million package is about 10 percent more than the total budget for this school year.
It calls for a 4.3 percent increase - or $600,000 more than the nearly $14 million received last year - in the annual check from the city to help pay for everything from new equipment and classroom materials to more expensive utility bills.
The proposed 1996-97 plan, released Monday, also would add another 55 workers to the payroll, most of them new teachers or teachers' assistants to handle growth.
The average raise for district workers would be nearly 4 percent.
A public hearing on the budget will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in City Council chambers.
The School Board, which is only now beginning to chew on the proposed budget, is scheduled to adopt a 1996-97 spending plan in March and submit it to the City Council by early April for approval.
Several council members contacted this past week said they had not yet thoroughly reviewed the proposed budget, which increased total expenditures for personnel, pupil transportation, instruction and operating costs by 9 percent to 16 percent, compared with the current school year.
The administration predicted that most of the extra cash in 1996-97 would come from the state - because of the city's blossoming enrollment and increased per-pupil allocations proposed by Gov. George Allen.
Next month, the district will have a clearer picture of exactly how much money it can expect from the state, which gives Suffolk a little more than half of the money the district spends on its public schools.
Right now, the state's contribution is still hard to predict because legislators have yet to approve a spending plan for Virginia for the upcoming year.
But the administration's proposed budget ``is not a wish list,'' Trump said.
``. . . It was about the need to make certain that we had all of the players in place and all of the materials and equipment in place to serve the children who are with us and those who are going to be with us,'' she said.
``We have attempted to identify the impact of growth and change to our facilities in every single area, and that has been a challenge.''
Compared with last school year, the district's enrollment is up nearly 5 percent, or by about 500 kids - one of the biggest increases in years.
And enrollment growth isn't expected to ease up any time soon, according to a recent district demographic study.
The administration increased to a total of $285,000 - up by nearly $90,000 - the amount it set aside in a ``growth contingency'' account, which would help pay for some of the increased personnel and equipment costs. Proposed expenditures are based on a district enrollment of 10,300 students next school year, compared with 10,090 last September.
The district really anticipates 10,400 students to enroll. But the money for the additional 100 students - the $285,000 - won't be spent until enrollment numbers are firm, said Michael Brinkley, the district's finance director.
Although the proposed spending plan calls for the expansion of the Early Start preschool program for needy 4-year-olds, thanks to more state dollars specifically for those children, the plan doesn't commit any money to new programs that aren't already in place.
Many of the increases are linked to the opening of Northern Shores Elementary in the Harbour View area this fall; and the installation of new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems at nine schools this summer.
If the budget is approved as presented, Early Start's staff would increase by five teachers and five teachers' assistants, allowing the program to serve about twice as many disadvantaged 4-year-olds. It currently serves about 80 children.
Total federal dollars aren't expected to change significantly.
Like PTA Council president Brenda Galen, few parents have had a chance to digest the proposed spending plan.
But linking most of the dollars to growth-related concerns makes sense, Galen said Wednesday.
``I feel we're just trying to keep up at this point,'' she said, referring to the district.
``We know there's a lot of growth in the school system, the number of mobile units shows that. I don't think the money is being asked for frivolously. Things are changing.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Northern Shores Elementary School will open in the Harbour View area
this fall.
Graphic
HIGHLIGHTS
Following is a look at some of the highlights from Superintendent
Joyce H. Trump's proposed budget for the 1996-97 year. Her
administration's proposed $56.5 million spending plan reflects the
district's growth mode.
A public hearing on the budget will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in
the City Council chambers.
The School Board is scheduled to adopt a 1996-97 spending plan in
March and submit it to the City Council for approval by early April.
The plan adds 55 workers to the payroll, most of them new
teachers or teachers' assistants.
The average raise for district workers would be nearly 4
percent.
Overall, the $56.5 million package is about 10 percent more than
the total budget for this school year.
The plan calls for a 4.3 percent increase - or $600,000 more than
the nearly $14 million received last year - in the annual check from
the city.
The number of needy 4-year-olds served in the Early Start program
would increase from 80 to about 160.
by CNB