THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602160210
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 168 lines
The superintendent's proposed operating budget for the 1996-97 year, $186.7 million, would maintain the basic instructional program and beef up school safety measures and classroom technology.
The proposed spending plan, released Monday, also reflects Chesapeake's rapid growth, calling for about 92 new teachers. Next year, the district expects another 675 students - or enough to fill an elementary school.
The district's current enrollment is 34,980, up 16 percent from 1991-92.
Overall, the $186.7 million operating budget is about 7 percent more than the budget for this school year.
Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols hopes local taxpayers will come up with most of the extra cash.
The spending plan is in part based on an 8.9 percent increase - or $7.1 million more than the nearly $80.2 million received for this year - in the annual check from the city's general fund.
The money would help pay for everything from new equipment and classroom materials to costs related to the September openings of an elementary school on Cedar Road and Hickory High School.
All district employees would get a 3 percent raise.
A public hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in the School Administration Building on Cedar Road.
The School Board is scheduled to adopt a 1996-97 spending plan in March and submit it to the City Council by early April for approval.
The proposed budget sets aside more money in two areas of interest to many parents and students: school safety and technology.
If the budget is approved as presented, nine new ``security monitors'' would be hired for the district's middle and high schools and 25 additional video cameras would be purchased for school buses.
The district also would spend $1.7 million on technology improvements, ranging from the purchase of 343 new classroom computers at the elementary level to a student-data management system, which allows computerized scheduling, attendance and grading, for secondary schools.
``Any time you put more money into safety and technology, that's a step ahead. I'm all for that,'' said JoAnn Clarke, a member of the executive board of the district's PTA and vice president of the Western Branch Council of Civic Leagues.
School officials say the extra $7.1 million they want from the city to help pay for such measures should be manageable in one of Virginia's fastest-growing localities.
``Basically, I think we're just trying to hold the line,'' said board member James M. Reeves.
``We're trying to keep up with the growth, and that's where the extra money comes in,'' he said. ``It's not like we're adding new programs.''
On Thursday, Interim City Manager Clarence V. Cuffee said his office had yet to review the administration's proposed spending plan. He declined to discuss how much the council would be willing to cover.
According to Nichols' proposal, the biggest percentage increase in expenditures would be seen in the facilities portion of the operating budget - which would jump 17 percent, compared with this school year.
Those dollars are earmarked to plan and oversee construction of new schools, school additions and major renovation projects.
The next largest increase would be a 9 percent jump in the operations and maintenance category, followed by a 7.4 percent increase in instructional costs.
While the district is seeking more from the city's purse, that's not the only place it's looking for financial aid.
The state's contribution to local schools is expected to increase 6.5 percent to $97.9 million in 1996-97. Most of those dollars are related to a 2 percent anticipated increase in the district's total enrollment; as well as growth in the number of city children receiving special education services.
State aid makes up about 53 percent of the district's current operating budget.
Federal dollars may barely trickle in next year.
The district, trying to play it safe, has budgeted $445,000 in federal ``impact aid'' for 1996-97 - down from the $1.1 million in this year's budget.
``Impact aid'' is supplementary money given to school districts with a sizable number of military personnel, other federal employees or federal property.
The program is intended to compensate school districts for revenue lost because of a city's inability to tax federal property. But the program's future is uncertain.
Washington's contribution to city schools amounts to only .6 percent of this year's operating budget. MEMO: Staff writer Denise Watson contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos
James M. Reeves
Clarence Cuffee
Graphic
Average salary - teachers
1986-87 - $24,924 in Chesapeake; $25,042 in Virginia
1987-88 - $27,129 in Chesapeake; $27,840 in Virginia
1988-89 - $29,085 in Chesapeake; $28,967 in Virginia
1989-90 - $31,104 in Chesapeake; $30,938 in Virginia
1990-91 - $32,584 in Chesapeake; $32,239 in Virginia
1991-92 - $31,634 in Chesapeake; $31,764 in Virginia
1992-93 - $32,934 in Chesapeake; $32,306 in Virginia
1993-94 - $33,669 in Chesapeake; $33,144 in Virginia
1994-95 - $34,275 in Chesapeake; $33,998 in Virginia
Source: School district
School enrollment over the years
1987-88 - 27,123 students; 2.90 percent change
1988-89 - 27,675 students; 2.04 percent change
1989-90 - 28,234 students; 2.35 percent change
1990-91 - 29,533 students; 4.27 percent change
1991-92 - 30,242 students; 2.40 percent change
1992-93 - 31,636 students; 4.61 percent change
1993-94 - 33,182 students; 4.89 percent change
1994-95 - 34,130 students; 2.86 percent change
1995-96 - 34,980 students; 2.49 percent change
Source: School district
Proposed changes in the operating budget
Three percent raise for all district workers: $3.9 million.
Maintenance of current pupil-teacher ratio by adding about 92
teaching positions: $3.6 million.
Total operating costs for opening Hickory High and a new
elementary school on Cedar Road in September: $3 million.
Technology improvements: $1.7 million.
Textbook purchases - math (grades 3-5); reading (grades 3-5);
English grammar and composition (grades 9-12); vocational education
(grades 9-12): $1.2 million.
Nine new ``security monitors'': $134,471.
Extra supplies, staff and equipment for 15 ``equity schools''
with many disadvantaged kids: $45,000.
The budget pie: Expenditures
Instruction:
80.3 percent
Operation and maintenance:
10.9 percent
Pupil transportation:
4.1 percent
Administration and attendance/health:
3.8 percent
Facilities: 0.9 percent
Source: Superintendent's proposed 1996-97 operating budget
The process
Thursday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. - First public hearing on proposed
operating budget; a budget work session followed by regular monthly
board meeting.
Monday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m. - Second public hearing and budget work
session.
Monday, March 11, 7 p.m. - Regular monthly board meeting; public
hearing; work session on the proposed operating budget. The board
may approve the operating budget at this meeting.
Monday, March 18, 7 p.m. - Special meeting; the board may approve
the operating budget at this meeting.
Thursday, May 9 - The City Council is scheduled to approve the
school district's operating budget.
*Note: Call 547-0153 for meeting locations.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOLS BUDGET by CNB