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Hampton Sending More Money to Schools: The Deal for Next School Year Contrasts With Many Local Districts That Aren't Getting What They Sought.

Posted on: Saturday, 22 April 2006, 15:00 CDT

By Georgina Stark, Daily Press, Newport News, Va.

Apr. 22--HAMPTON -- An agreement between Hampton and its school division will mean more money than the public schools counted on for next school year.

The city's proposed budget, released last week, includes about $600,000 more than the school district had requested.

A city formula sets aside 62 percent of all residential real estate, personal property and utility taxes to the school district so the amount of funding the school system receives changes with the tax assessments.

Hampton is the only local school district funded this way, and Hampton school officials say it eliminates the tug of war that can happen between school boards and city councils or county boards of supervisors over how much local money school districts receive.

Many local school districts are projected to receive less than requested for the next school year. The Newport News School Board asked for $106 million from the city, but the proposed city budget would give the schools $103 million.

Isle of Wight County officials are proposing giving the public schools $2.2 million less than the county school board requested. Suffolk schools expect to receive about $3 million less than its school board requested. And Gloucester County's public schools could get about $1 million less.

Hampton Schools Superintendent Patrick Russo said through a spokeswoman that he will not discuss how the school district might spend any additional money until the City Council approves the budget on May 10.

Once it is approved, school officials will make recommendations to School Board members on how any additional money should be spent, said Hampton schools chief operating officer Michael Thornton.

Hampton school officials upset parents of special education students last month when they said they would eliminate 27 special education employees to cover proposed salary and health insurance costs for special education employees next school year.

The school district also cut funding for furniture, supplies and technology equipment to help absorb $1 million in state and federal money cuts for special education.

Hampton City Manager Jesse Wallace said the schools could get even more money if city officials find out that real estate reassessments are higher. Wallace added that the additional $600,000 over the budget request will not drop.

"As we refine our numbers," Wallace said, "we'll tell them if they're entitled to more."

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Copyright (c) 2006, Daily Press, Newport News, Va.

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Source: Daily Press

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