Suffolk School Board Plans to Ask for Increase in Money From City
Posted on: Saturday, 4 February 2006, 09:00 CST
By LINDA MCNATT
BY LINDA McNATT
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
SUFFOLK Just opening a new elementary school this fall is expected to take a $1.8 million bite out of the school systems proposed 2006- 07 budget.
School Board officials are proposing a $139.4 million operating budget for the coming year and plan to ask city officials for $45 million in local funds, a 15.5 percent increase from last year.
Items such as safety and surveillance as well as fuel costs have increased for the schools in the past year, Superintendent Milton R. Liverman said Wednesday. The number of students in the growing city has increased by about 2 percent, or 270 students.
In the coming year , an additional 45 positions will be needed to accommodate growth, Liverman said. The budget, which he called preliminary, also represents a proposed 5 percent increase in salaries for all school employees, which would cost $4.5 million .
The superintendent said he expects an increase of about $1.5 million in the cost of the state retirement plan, $1 million in life insurance premiums, a $1.2 million increase in health insurance premiums, and the $1.8 million it will cost to open Creekside, the citys 13th elementary school.
The School Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at 5 p.m. Thursday in City Council chambers.
The board will continue to discuss the budget March 9 and hold a special meeting March 23 to approve the budget and submit it to the City Council.
The council is expected to approve the budget by mid-May so that teachers contracts can be prepared, Liverman said.
In addition to the operating budget, the School Board will present to the City Council a $9 million supplemental budget that includes items such as string instrument education in the elementary schools, smaller class sizes in the fourth and fifth grades, an expansion of the gifted and foreign language programs, and more guidance counselors in the elementary schools.
The supplemental budget is presented along with the operating budget so either the board or members of the City Council can pull items from that budget that would enhance educational opportunities in the city schools, Liverman said.
Last year, for example, City Council members wanted to see a daytime alternative program, an item that was included on the supplemental budget, and the council was willing to fund it, he said.
uF06E Reach Linda McNatt at (757) 222-5561 or linda.mcnatt@pilot online.com.
Source: Virginian - Pilot
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