THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 1996 TAG: 9603130515
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
City school administrators have proposed a $199.4 million ``bare-bones'' budget for next school year that offers employees a modest pay raise, adds a few new educational programs and provides for the largest increase in student enrollment in 20 years.
Spending would increase by $11 million over the current $188 million budget. The plan includes $5.5 million for 3.4 percent cost-of-living raises for employees, the largest budget item.
One budget priority is to launch a comprehensive reading program to improve dismally low reading scores in elementary grades. Among other things, the $593,387 program would add eight teachers and resource workers, an after-school tutorial program and several other programs.
Another top goal is to create alternative classes for disruptive middle school students. The $499,810 plan, including money to hire a private contractor to run an off-campus program for up to 50 students who have been expelled or placed on long-term suspension, would begin the first systematic attempt to deal with a persistent problem. It also would fund a position at each of the city's eight middle schools to oversee an in-school program for up to 32 students.
In addition, slightly more than $2 million is included to cover an enrollment increase of 740 students, the largest in more than two decades. The growth is coming from an influx of military families, many arriving from a Navy base closing in Charleston, S.C.
School administrators will present their fiscal plans to the public at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lake Taylor Middle School. It will be the last chance for citizens to influence the final numbers in the budget, which the School Board is scheduled to adopt March 21.
Administrators say they have enough money to just ``hold the line'' in most budget areas.
School Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. said officials are worried they may have to reduce the proposed salary increase because of concerns that city funds needed to pay for it may not come.
To help fund pay raises, the district wants nearly $3.9 million more from the city. MEMO: The School Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed 1996-97
budget at 7 p.m. Thursday in Lake Taylor Middle School's auditorium.
People who wish to comment should call 441-2237 to register. Copies of
the $199.4 million budget are available at schools and library branches.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK SCHOOL BUDGET by CNB