$2.1 Million School-Budget Rise Eyed
By JUAN ANTONIO LIZAMA
In the past, the Hopewell School Board has been conservative in asking the city for funds. That’s not the case in the coming school year, a school official said last night.
"In the past we have taken deliberate care not to ask but so much," school Superintendent Winston O. Odom told the board as he began his presentation on the 2008-09 proposed budget. "At this point in time we are asking considerably more than we have asked in the past because our needs have escalated. We are getting further and further behind."
The estimated $46.7 million spending plan would ask $14.5 million from the city, about $2.1 million more than the the school system is receiving for the current school year.
Funding from the city had been relatively flat for several years before it increased somewhat in the current budget cycle, Odom said.
"But it did not take care of many of the needs we have," he said.
The school system needs to recruit and maintain teachers, which is a major issue, Odom said. He proposed a 7.5 percent salary increase for teachers, which includes step increases, and other initiatives to accomplish this.
"In order to maintain a quality school system, you have to make sure you have quality people," he said.
The special-needs student population and the severity of the students’ conditions are increasing and driving up costs, he said.
Odom included among his requests money for the Head Start early education program because federal money for that program is being cut, he said.
Outside funding for two school resource officers may be cut as well, and the proposed budget includes money to cover that expense in that event.
"We have to ensure that we keep those resource officers," he said.
Odom also proposed 12 new positions, including a number of elementary school teachers.
He told the board that he has included funding for an anticipated student enrollment growth stemming from the Fort Lee base realignment, generally referred to as BRAC, the acronym for the commission that studies Armed Forces base realignments and closures.
Board member Juanita C. Chambers questioned the inclusion of funds for something that’s undefined.
"I don’t disagree with your strategy, but there are many unknowns built into this budget," she told Odom.
Odom responded: "Even if BRAC doesn’t happen, our needs very far exceed what we have asked for."
In addition, the school capital improvement budget proposal, which will be submitted separately to City Council, has $34.8 million in construction needs.
Other School Board members expressed doubt during a work session after Odom’s presentation that the city would fund the additional $2.1 million because of its own money constraints.
The board will continue discussion on the budget at its Feb. 12 meeting.
– Contact Juan Antonio Lizama at (804) 649-6513 or jlizama@timesdispatch.com
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO
Originally published by Times-Dispatch Staff Writer.
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