THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 29, 1996 TAG: 9603290460
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
The School Board on Thursday night approved a $200.7 million operating budget for the 1996-97 school year that offers employees a 3.2 percent salary raise, covers the largest enrollment increase in two decades and expands a preschool program for disadvantaged 4-year-olds by nearly 400 students.
Spending would increase by nearly 7 percent more than the current $188.1 budget, made possible by an infusion of new state money passed earlier this month by the General Assembly. One of the state initiatives will offer $1.8 million to add the preschool classes.
To help pay for raises, the School Board is seeking an increase of $2.8 million from the city, but officials have said not to count on it.
The school district will spend slightly more than $2 million to accommodate an influx of military families, which will increase enrollment by 740 students. The district now has about 36,000 students.
School officials now will send their budget to the City Council to consider. The final budget must be adopted by June 30, the end of the current fiscal year.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET by CNB