The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 21, 1997             TAG: 9702210815
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY NANCY YOUNG, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   82 lines

CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT PROPOSES A $12 MILLION BUDGET INCREASE SCHOOL SPENDING WOULD RISE 6.5% THE INCREASE MOSTLY COVERS GROWTH, RAISES.

Hoping to keep up with growth and have a little left over to boost teachers' pay, Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols asked for a $12 million increase in the school budget Thursday.

His proposed $200 million budget represents about a 6.5 percent increase in spending over this year.

``I have reason to believe that the city can fund what we've asked for here, that it's realistic,'' Nichols told the School Board Thursday night. He added that his faith was based on conversations with City Manager John L. Pazour.

Some $7.3 million of the increase must be raised locally; $4 million is expected from the state, $655,000 from the federal government.

Nichols said most of the increase - about $4 million - will be used to raise teachers' pay an average of 3 percent. Another $1.5 million will be used for increases in school employees' benefits.

In addition, the district must pay for rising enrollment. Another 625 students are expected next year, bringing the projected total to 36,218.

Next year, the district will need to cover the operating expenses - everything from teachers to supplies - for two new middle schools and an addition at Great Bridge High School. Because of the new permanent classroom space, the district expects to need about 100 fewer portable classrooms.

Because the state is providing a smaller percentage of the budget than in the past, city taxpayers will have to foot more of the bill. This is difficult at a time when Chesapeake faces a $19 million budget shortfall in its citywide budget.

``The schools may need to pinch just a little bit, too, if possible,'' said Vice Mayor John W. Butt at a joint budget work session of the School Board and City Council last week.

The $200 million operating budget does not include the schools' capital budget, which covers new construction projects.

Pazour said it was too early to tell what the proposed budget increase would mean in terms of taxes.

Nichols said that while he is satisfied that the proposed budget maintains current class sizes and will preserve the quality of education, the budget doesn't include all he would wish for.

``I wish it were a larger (teachers') salary increase than what we're proposing here,'' he said, adding that a 3 percent increase will not keep up with the cost of living. Teachers also received a 3 percent raise last year.

The raise includes both step and cost-of-living raises. Teachers at the top of the pay scale will not get the step raise and can expect a raise of three-tenths of 1 percent.

Nichols told the board that a 3 percent average raise is all the district can afford.

``My impression is, that's it. We've pretty much maxed out in terms of what we can ask for from the locality,'' he said.

The superintendent said he would have liked to have seen more money for programs for remedial and gifted students. He also would like to see more money devoted to technology, including upgrading classroom computers.

``We're doing some of that now, but we're doing it a slower pace than I would like to do,'' Nichols said. He added that he would also like to lower the ratio of one computer for every 10 elementary students to one computer for every five students.

School Board Chairwoman Barbara B. Head said the board would deliberate on the budget Monday night and again March 10. It is expected to be approved March 20.

Head said the board usually supports the superintendent's budget proposals.

``We've pretty much approved what has been presented,'' she said. ``They're very thorough.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Copies of the school budget are available at all the city

libraries and schools, as well as in the school administration

building on Cedar Road.

The School Board will hold its first public hearing on the budget

at 7 p.m. Monday in the school administration building. A second

public hearing will be held March 10 at the same time and location.

Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols said he presents his budget

with the layperson in mind. ``I like for people to be able to read

it,'' he said.

KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOLS BUDGET


by CNB