At the Goochland County School Board Workshop held on Nov. 25, Superintendent Linda Underwood presented a preliminary plan for the FY 2009-2010 budget.

“Difficult times require difficult decisions,” said Underwood, acknowledging an economy that has created challenges such as state budget shortfalls and county flat-funding. “We must continue to move forward with essential instruction.”

“The bottom line,” she added, “is that we are in for a rough year, but we can’t put our heads in a hole and hope it goes away.”

What is the proposed budget for the 2009-10 school year?
The goal is for a 0 percent increase in this year’s budget. The 2008-2009 budget was approved at $27,389,117, with local funding not to exceed about $20 million. Right now costs are at $27,665,131.

What is the estimated revenue for 2009-10?
Underwood said that estimated revenue is $27,000,000, so that the school system will be $665,000 over a balanced budget.

How much does Goochland County spend per pupil, and how does this compare to neighboring districts?
According to the Superintendent’s Annual Report for Virginia, in 2006-07 Goochland County spent $9,901 per pupil, which School Board Chair Andrew A. Meng III noted was below the state average of $10,584. “I don’t think we get the credit we deserve for doing such a great job for such a little amount of money,” he said, adding, “We’re cutting into the quality of education, and affecting the quality we’re able to give our students.”

School Board Vice-Chairperson Raymond A. Miller agreed. “The real measure is the quality of instruction. Our schools, our SOLS, are consistently about the state average.”

In neighboring districts, in 2006-07, Hanover spent $8,601 per pupil, Henrico spent $8,349, Powhatan spent $9,351,Chesterfield spent $8,626, Louisa spent $9,800 and Richmond spent $13,119.

What are the critical budget issues?

Reduced revenues
These include flat-funded county revenue, a potential 20 percent decrease in state aid and a decrease in sales tax commensurate with state economic conditions.

Increased fixed costs
These include electricity, fuel and health insurance costs. Underwood explained that, for example, an 18% increase in electricity rates Dominion Power that went into effect in July created unanticipated costs.

Unfunded mandates
These include programs that the school system is legally compelled, by federal or state mandates, to provide, such as No Child Left Behind, special education, English as a second language, and Standards of Quality.

Quality instruction for all students
Underwood said the school system plans to continue effective instructional programs while placing a moratorium on all non-mandated initiatives, such as literacy programs and new technologies.

Compensation
After planning a 3 percent salary increase for all employees, to match the raise Underwood said that other county employees would receive, an increase of 2 percent or less is now anticipated.

Staffing and growth funding
The school system has experienced slow growth, and Underwood said that there is currently an adequate teacher-to-pupil ratio. No layoffs are expected, and there are no growth teachers in the budget. The school will look at lowering its staff through attrition. “If there is a resignation or retirement,” said Underwood, “we’re going to collectively look at that position and say we need this here, or over there, or can’t fill right now. So there will be no breathing space.”

How to balance the budget.
When choosing where to reduce expenditures, Underwood said that the following criteria were considered:

Impact on instructional programs
Number of students affected
Avoiding shifting the financial burden to families
Deferring purchases when possible, or seeking alternative funding
Remaining consistent with School Board priorities

“What would we let go,” asked Underwood when explaining the challenges faced this budget year. Earlier in the meeting she noted that once a program is dismantled, “chances are we are never going to get it back.”

Underwood said that the schools are looking at capping tuition reimbursements for teachers, eliminating multiple bus stops in subdivisions, halting the purchase of vehicles, and reducing travel unless required by VA Department of Education confines, as well as looking closely at costs related to printing, dues and memberships, textbooks, repair and maintenance contracts, internships and gifted study programs, and non-mandated programs and services.

Explaining the lengths schools may be forced to consider, Underwood said, “We could stop transporting everyone except special education students.”

One imperiled program includes funded slots at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies. Currently 15 Goochland students attend the school, at a total cost of $123,000. At last week’s meeting five parents protested the potential cut.

“I don’t have a child who has any interest in attending Maggie Walker,” said Carolyn Elliott, “but I saw that with great concern. A great school system meets the needs of every one of its students, whether the student is a great athlete or a great mathematician. I think GCPS does a phenomenal job in meeting the needs of every kid, and to remove this program… I think it would be a crime to do it.”

“As a community, the first things that should be cut are expenditures that are unnecessary,” she added, “and the last are cutting programs for any kids.”

Meng said that he appreciated these comments and reminded everyone that the evening’s meeting was not the last word on the budget.

What is the next step in the budget process?

The School Board will hold a public hearing inviting citizen participation on the proposed budget Dec. 9, at 7:00 p.m., during the regular monthly board meeting.
The School Board also encouraged citizens to contact members of the Board of Supervisors.

“We would certainly support the public contacting supervisors in supporting education,” he said. “We’re getting to the point in this county that we’re cutting into the meat and muscle of this program so much, we’re taking the quality out of the programs now. It’s been this way a good number of years I’ve been on this board, with the funding in this county… public education is not important to certain sectors, certain people of this county.”

But, he added, public education is “a benefit to the county overall.”