At last night’s School Board meeting Goochland Superintendent of Schools Linda Underwood outlined proposed additional cuts to the 2010-2011.

The Board of Supervisors approved the school budget April 6 but requested an additional $317,000 in cuts to bring next year’s budget to $22,953,545.

Declines in county revenues, caused primarily due to falling real estate assessments, have forced county administration to impose deep cuts both on the county’s and the school’s budget.

To achieve the required goal Underwood recommended the following changes:

• Cutting one additional elementary classroom teacher position
• Closing the elementary gifted center and shifting to a school-based system
• Zeroing out the facilities category by removing $65,000
• Reducing transportation costs by $13,000 by modifying bus routes
• Cutting $48,000 from operations and maintenance by reducing electricity use

Underwood also proposed leaving empty several positions now vacant due to resignations, retirement and leaves of absence.

Those positions include the following:

• The Director of Elementary Education and Title I – leave of absence
• The Human Resources Specialist - retirement
• The Research and Information Services position - resignation
• Procedural Due Process Specialist – position eliminated

Underwood explained that the duties of these positions were essential and would be assigned to other staff.

“This budget is as lean as it gets,” said Underwood. “We cut out things to preserve positions.”

“Now there is no more stuff to cut,” she added, warning that uncontrollable factors such as severe weather, fuel cost increases or unexpected building maintenance could further impact budget goals.

Goochland Education Parents Association (GEPA) secretary Kristin McNaron spoke during the second public comment period, criticizing the fact that Underwood’s PowerPoint presentation was not available in advance.

“I hope it gets published quickly,” she said. “I took copious notes and couldn’t get it all down.”

GEPA vice-chair Jane Christie asked how much money closing the gifted center would save and criticized the proportion of cuts between teaching and administrative positions.

“I understand 26 teaching positions have been eliminated but only four high-level administrative people have been cut. How is there any parity here?” she asked.

Christie also asked if the Director of Elementary Education position had been eliminated, or was just being left temporarily vacant.

The board also discussed the decades-long odor problems at Goochland Elementary School, and voted to solicit a proposal on the cost of determining what is causing the problem.

The School Board is scheduled to vote on the recommendations for additional budget cuts at its May 25 workshop meeting.