DATE: Thursday, March 13, 1997              TAG: 9703130429

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B11  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   56 lines

SCHOOL BOARD SUPPORTS BIGGER BUDGETA FORMAL VOTE ON ADDING $3.2 MILLION IS EXPECTED IN VIRGINIA BEACH ON TUESDAY.

The School Board has voiced support for adding $3.2 million in programs and positions to the proposed budget put forward by the superintendent.

Although a formal vote will not take place until Tuesday, the board met in a special budget work session Wednesday evening. A majority of them offered support for additions ranging from reducing class size in the elementary grades to increased benefits for some employees to special programs aimed at helping students from the most talented to the most needy.

Among the additions to the proposed $418.8 million financial plan are:

Making sure no kindergarten through third grade class exceeds 25 students, and no fourth or fifth grade class has more than 26, at a cost of about $900,000.

Fully expanding a preschool program for at-risk 4-year-olds, which will bring in grant money from the state, at a cost of about $1 million.

Adding a part-time nurse and part-time guidance counselor to Open Campus High School at a cost of $35,000.

Expanding Kemps Landing Magnet School to 600 students and adding ninth-graders to two highly regarded magnet programs; about $832,000.

Providing hospitalization benefits for entry-level bus drivers and some employees of the adult learning center; about $128,500.

The workshop came as the board has struggled with meeting the requests of a variety of division constituencies. While some groups have lobbied for individual programs during the budget process, a growing number have demanded increased funding for schools in general.

The School Board has no taxing authority, and its spending plan must be approved by the City Council. Under a new way of funding schools adopted by the council last month, the division will get a fixed percentage of some city tax revenues. Many school leaders have said this is not enough money to meet the needs of the Beach's schools.

The gap between what the funding formula would provide and what the schools say they need from the city is about $9.1 million. If the board's needs exceed revenue, then the board must press for a tax increase to make up the shortfall.

The last portion of the meeting was dominated by discussion of how best to respond to the new funding formula. Some board members have expressed concern and frustration about the way the formula was negotiated and presented to the public.

On Wednesday, the board discussed a resolution expressing dissatisfaction with the amount of money provided. But some board members questioned the need for any response.

``Passing a resolution is a waste of time, and it's political posturing,'' said board vice chairman Delceno C. Miles.

Board member Nancy Guy said she didn't disagree with the need for a response, but felt it should be framed in terms of the board's statutory responsibility to present a needs-based budget - not one based on a formula.

The resolution will be developed in the coming days; the board is scheduled to act on it Tuesday.

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