[MeriwetherMatters] Schools Budget Update April 21, 2008

[MLS Matters]

MLS  SCHOOLS  BUDGET  UPDATE
  APRIL  21, 2008
     

    MLS  Parents:

     

    Many thanks for your efforts during the past several Board of Supervisor (BOS) public hearings regarding the budget.  Several parents (and former students) from MLS spoke to the BOS in support of school funding, and many participated with telephone calls, emails and letters.  Your efforts to share information with the BOS made a significant difference to highlight how our schools would have suffered under the proposed budget reductions.

     

    The Board of Supervisors (BOS) held a 4 1/2 hour budget work session on April 9th and finally decided upon a 71 cent tax rate by a vote of 4-2.  The BOS included a stipulation that 1 cent of tax revenues (about $1.6 million) be set aside and only used if projected revenues are less than budgeted during the next fiscal year.  Any funds not used for revenue shortfalls will be returned to the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget at the end of the year.

     

    School Board Chairman Brian Wheeler wrote on his School Matters Listserv newsletter(http://www.wheeleronboard.com/schoolmatters.htm) that he anticipates the School Board's $151.3 million budget request for 08-09 to be fully funded.  Chairman Wheeler also wrote the School Board will continue with some cuts as part of its implementation of recommendations in the Resource Utilization Study (i.e. central office expenditures).  Chairman Wheeler continued that other cuts (i.e. strings, world languages staffing subsidies) or additions (i.e. specialty centers) that were identified in various contingency plans will be on the table for final review.

     

    The proposed budget included significant benefits for MLS:

    
   increasing our  LITERACY SPECIALIST  time at MLS   
   providing a  MATH  SPECIALIST to MLS   
   increasing TECHNOLOGY  SUPPORT to teachers   
   professional development support for TEACHERS   
   increasing intervention and prevention support 
    HOWEVER, although the BOS approved a higher tax rate, the State of Virginia has further reduced its funding to localities, and fuel costs have increased significantly.  So, there is a very real probability our MLS LITERACY SPECIALIST will NOT be funded, as well as the above benefits.

     

    Please take a moment to contact the School Board members in support of these bullet items.  The LITERACY SPECIALIST is of special concern, as it is a School Board recommendation that all Elementary Schools have a LITERACY SPECIALIST AT .50, and MLS is 1 of 2 Elementary schools in the county WITHOUT this Board recommended staffing.

     

    Now the School Board must allocate the funding provided by the BOS.  And the School Board will decide this Thursday, April 24th its final budget.

     

    All School Board members may be contacted by ONE email to:

     

    schoolboard at k12albemarle.org

    School Board Office contact information:

    Jennifer Johnston, Clerk

    401 McIntire Road , Room 345

    Charlottesville , VA   22902

    phone 434-296-5893

    fax 434-296-5869

     

    Thank you for your continued action and support on behalf of our MLS students.

     

    "Mary Huffard" Kegley Scott

    MLS Parent and

    President, ACPS Parent Council

    maryhuffard at yahoo.com


       
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