THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996                 TAG: 9605070126
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN    PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Education 
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT                      LENGTH: Short :   40 lines

SCHOOL BOARD HAS TO MAKE CUTS IN THE BUDGET

The School Board last week unanimously passed a $31 million budget that falls short on some items board members had wanted to see in the 1996-97 operating budget.

A budget cut was necessary after the Board of Supervisors failed to fund nearly $400,000 of the amount requested.

Cuts recommended by School Superintendent Jane T. York included a $22,750 drug abuse resistance program, high school first aid and CPR classes, educational services buildings repairs and two school buses.

Salary increases originally recommended for teachers and support personnel, however, didn't suffer under the budget cuts. Some board members said they would support any budget that didn't affect a raise for teachers, expected to be about 4.2 percent. Support personnel should get an increase of slightly over 4 percent.

But Board Member Herb DeGroft, who throughout budget negotiations campaigned for increased security and drug abuse resistance programs, said that he would be willing to sacrifice salaries for safety.

``I think we're making a wrong statement,'' DeGroft said. ``We're talking about a piddling amount here.

DeGroft said he would like to reinstate the drug program, first aid classes and security lighting at Smithfield High that was cut from the budget.

Despite the fact that a motion DeGroft made to put $63,000 back into the budget for the programs he supported did not get a second, the board member representing the Hardy District still supported the final budget recommendation.

``It's not perfect, but if we have money left over in the year-end balance, we've got to have some buses,'' Board Chairman Richard Peerey said. by CNB