THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603230092
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
The School Board unanimously approved on Thursday a $56.8 million budget for next school year.
The spending plan will now be submitted to the City Council, which is scheduled to vote on it by early May.
The plan was recently revised. It now includes $231,200 more than what had been anticipated in state and other revenue when Superintendent Joyce H. Trump released the original 1996-97 plan in January.
Overall, the $56.8 million package is 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 this school year - in the annual check from the city.
That money would help pay for everything from new equipment and classroom materials to more expensive utility bills.
The plan would add 59 workers to the payroll, most of them new teachers or teachers' assistants to handle enrollment growth.
The average raise for district workers would be nearly 4 percent - with a range of 2 percent to 4.6 percent.
Many of the increases are linked to the opening of Northern Shores Elementary in the Harbour View area this fall; and the upcoming installation of new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems at nine schools next school year.
If the council approves the district's budget as presented, Early Start's staff will increase by six teachers and six teachers' assistants, allowing the program to serve a little more than twice as many disadvantaged 4-year-olds.
It currently serves about 80 needy preschoolers.
In 1996-97, the state will give Suffolk an additional $334,000 specifically for those children - many of whom start school behind their peers academically and socially.
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 according to a recent demographic study, enrollment growth isn't expected to ease up soon.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK SCHOOL BOARD by CNB