[BrownsvilleOnline] SCHOOL BUDGET/January 26, 2009

[Sally Cushing]

During these difficult financial times, local school systems face  
budget reductions at the local, state and national levels.  Local  
school boards do not have taxing authority to raise revenue for  
schools, so school budgets are provided to the school boards by the  
local boards of supervisors, with additional funding from the state  
and federal governments.

The Albemarle County School Board is reviewing the proposed budget for  
our next school year (2009-10).  Several issues of importance to the  
proposed budget for schools:

ALBEMARLE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET  FY09-10, $149.1M TOTAL BUDGET  
(PROPOSED)
Reduction of $2.2M compared to FY08-09 budget
Reduction in central services by 22 positions
No salary increases, including a freeze on step increases for all  
personnel
No increase in class size, no reduction in Art, Music, P.E., School  
Counselors, Media Specialists or Gifted Services
Reorganization and reduction of instructional support positions  
(Literacy Specialists, Math Specialists) to an instructional coaching  
plan
Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program (VERIP) to create costs  
savings through attrition

TAKE ACTION:          You are encouraged to contact local ACPS School  
Board members.
MESSAGE:                 SUPPORT efforts to make budget reductions  
that will NOT affect your students in their classrooms.

All School Board members may be reached by sending ONE email to:   schoolboard at k12albemarle.org
Additional information about the local school budget is available on  
the ACPS website:  www.k12albemarle.org, under the School Board header  
“Budget Information”.  The Clerk of the School Board may also receive  
your comments for distribution to the School Board members:
Clerk of the School Board, 401 McIntire Road, Room 345,  
Charlottesville, VA  22902, (434)296-5893
School Board Members are Steve Koleszar, Diantha McKeel, Barbara  
Massie Mouly, Pam Moynihan, Ron Price, Jon Stokes, and Brian Wheeler

School Board public hearing to receive your input about the proposed  
budget:
Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 6:30pm, Burley Middle School
(NOTE:  In the event that this is cancelled due to inclement weather,  
it will be rescheduled for Thurs., January 29, 2009 beginning at 6:30  
p.m. in Lane Auditorium of the Albemarle County Office Building.)



SCHOOL BOARD’S FINAL PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTED TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS  
IN 2 WEEKS:  FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2009

TAKE ACTION:          You are encouraged to contact local Board of  
Supervisors members.
MESSAGE:                 SUPPORT education funding.
All Board of Supervisors members may be reached by sending ONE email  
to:   bos at albemarle.org
The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors may also receive your comments  
for distribution:
401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA  22902, telephone (434) 296-5843
Budget information and contact information for Board of Supervisors is  
available on the Albemarle County government website:   www.albemarle.org
Board of Supervisors Members:  Ken Boyd, Lindsay Dorrier, Ann Mallek,  
Dennis Rooker, David Slutzky, and Sally Thomas

Board of Supervisors public hearings to receive your input about the  
county’s proposed budget:
Wednesday, February 25, 2009, time and location to be announced
Wednesday, April 1, 2009, time and location to be announced


GOVERNOR KAINE’S PROPOSED STATE BUDGET 08-10 CUTS $700M (TO DATE) FROM  
VIRGINIA’S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM:
Caps spending on school support staff
Eliminates planned 2% raises for teachers and support staff
Eliminates use of lottery funds for school construction grants and  
uses lottery funds for education programs currently paid for by state  
general funds

Most at the State Capitol anticipate the State budget will reflect at  
least a $4 billion deficit, by the time all budget considerations are  
presented.  Cuts to the education budget are coming, it’s a reality.   
This comes at a time when state and federal mandates for education and  
reporting continue to increase.  Since cuts are eminent at this time,  
it is important these cuts are on a one-time basis rather than on a  
permanent basis.  Our local Board of Supervisors does not have the  
additional revenue to pay for the educational requirements and reports  
required under Federal and State mandates.

TAKE  ACTION:	You are encouraged to contact your Virginia State  
Senators and Delegates
MESSAGE:		OPPOSE  permanent cuts in education funding.
Constituent Viewpoint Hotline during General Assembly Session:   (800)  
889-0229
Albemarle County State Representatives:
Delegate Watkins Abbitt, (804) 698-1059, DelWAbbitt at house.virginia.gov
Delegate Rob Bell (804) 698-1058, DelRBell at house.virginia.gov
Delegate Steve Landes, (804) 698-1025, DelSLandes at house.virginia.gov
Delegate David Toscano, (804) 698-1057, DelDToscano at house.virginia.gov
Senator Creigh Deeds. (804) 698-7525, district25 at senate.virginia.gov
Senator Emmett Hanger, (804) 698-7524, district24 at senate.virginia.gov

General Assembly information about Delegates and Senators and  
legislation:         http://legis.state.va.us/
The General Assembly adjourns February 28, 2009 (this is the “short”  
45-day Session), contact is needed immediately.

The finance and education committees of the House of Delegates and  
Senate will review and finalize Virginia’s state budget.  All members  
of the committees may be reached through these links (links provided  
by the Virginia School Board Association):

House Education Committee
     <http://www.vsba.org/BillTrack/Committees%202009/HouseEdCommittee.html 
 >
Senate Education and Health Committee
     <http://www.vsba.org/BillTrack/Committees%202009/SenateEdCommittee.html 
 >
House Appropriations Committee
     <http://www.vsba.org/BillTrack/Committees%202009/HouseAppropriationsCommittee.html
Senate Finance Committee
     <http://www.vsba.org/BillTrack/Committees%202009/senatefinanceCommittee.html 
 >



1/26/09  This document provided for your information and action by the  
ACPS Parent Council.  Parent Council serves as a forum for parents,  
educators, and school officials to share ideas and exchange  
information in order to further advance the quality of the public  
education system within Albemarle County.
www.acpsparentcouncil.org             
maryhuffard at acpsparentcouncil.org         jlewis at acpsparentcouncil.org
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