School Board budget finalization - what are your priorities?
The School Board will finalize its budget this Thursday, April 24th. Although the BOS voted in support of the $0.71 tax rate (an increase), the School Board will consider budget reductions due to additional losses in State revenues and increasing fuel costs. Many parents thought since the tax rate was increased, the School Board's proposed budget will be fully funded. However, this is probably not the case.
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:
- increasing LITERACY SPECIALIST time
- providing MATH SPECIALISTS
- increasing TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT to teachers
- professional development support for TEACHERS
- increasing intervention and prevention support
Please take a moment to contact the School Board members in support of these bullet items.
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@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