Goochland schools have announced category revisions in their adopted budget for next year.

These changes do not affect the bottom line, which is a $24 million plan that is almost seven percent less than the current year’s $26 million budget.

But they do affect how money in the budget is categorized.

The budget, which is funded by the Board of Supervisors according to category, now includes the following changes:

Instruction category funds have decreased by $387,126, including a transfer from this category of 5.66 full-time employees in the following fields: Psychology, nursing, human resources, communications and security.

The category of administration, attendance and health has increased by $330,615, including the addition to this category of 4.33 full-time positions in the following fields: Psychology, nursing, human resources and communications.

The transportation category has been reduced by $33,564, transferring out 1 full-time position considered clerical and operational.

Operations and maintenance funds have increased $81,075, adding 2.33 full-time positions in clerical, operational and security fields.

Stimulus funding is being used for the following positions: elementary and parent involvement specialist, student services specialist, elementary ITRT, alternative education teacher, early childhood special education teacher, two special education aides and a special education transition specialist.

No Child Left Behind funds are being used to fund 25 percent of the literacy specialist position, 75 percent of the teacher induction specialist position, two reading teachers, six special education teachers and 11 aides.

Mid-year reviews

At last week’s school board meeting, Superintendent Linda Underwood presented mid-year reviews, which are prepared by principals as an analysis of student achievement based on assessments conducted during the first and second marking periods.

Underwood referred to a 2008-2009 Standards of Learning (SOL) pass rates comparison, which shows that students in grades 3 – 8 consistently score above the state average.

However at the high school level, scores in Algebra 2, Chemistry and World History 2 are below the state average.

The mid-year reviews were presented to an instruction group consisting of central office instructional staff and principals. The group identified what is going well in Goochland schools, and what needs improvement.

In the elementary schools, the group identified the following as needing increased attention: Third grade at all schools, in academic, interpersonal and social-emotional areas; greater focus on black students and students with disabilities, who are not achieving at the same level as other groups in most areas; and transfer students who are not achieving at the same level as returning students.

To address these issues, schools will refocus intervention and enrichment time, will increase third grade tutoring and will increase adult mentoring.

At the secondary level, areas identified as needing attention include the following: Cooperative planning among teachers; active lessons in collaborative classrooms; test simulation activities and test-taking skills; increased consistency throughout grade level courses; and a focus on Math 7.

In response to these concerns, schools will pay special attention to minority and special education underachievement, department leader analysis, continuous assessment of pacing and content, increased parental involvement, intervention for math students and building level leadership among teachers.