Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
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Sunday, March 7, 2010
By PAUL COLLINS - Bulletin Staff Writer
The more the Henry County Schools learn about their possible state budget cuts, the worse the numbers get.
School Superintendent Anthony Jackson told the Henry County School Board on Thursday that the system could lose could lose up to 185 positions (before attrition) in the fiscal year that will start July 1 because of a possible loss of up to $9.8 million in state revenues under the House budget.
Under the Senate budget, the system would lose an estimated $7.5 million, and Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposed cuts would cost the system $8.1 million, school officials have said. Former governor Tim Kaine’s budget plan would have cost the system $5.4 million.
However, Jackson said, “The budget is a moving target,” and he doesn’t expect a decision on the state budget until after the General Assembly adjourns Saturday.
Between now and then, legislators are negotiating differences between the budget plans.
The school division had expected 41 licensed employees, such as teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators, to resign or retire based on letters of intent, but Jackson said Thursday that to date there were a total of only 15 retirements and resignations of licensed personnel.
He said he anticipates reductions in central office staff, teachers, support/clerical staff, paraprofessionals, custodians and bus drivers.
Jackson said he is considering a variety of other measures to deal with the budget shortfall, including program budget reductions; contracted services; cuts to athletic programs; increased class size; elimination of under-enrolled courses; and salary reductions.
They are in addition to his proposal to close Irisburg Elementary School and send its students to Axton Elementary School, effective July 1, which the school board approved Thursday night. Also, on March 18 the school board will take up Jackson’s proposal to close the division’s south Martinsville site and move the departments housed there to other locations.
In addition, county funding to the school division is not known, he added.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, Alpha Davis spoke on behalf of school custodians regarding contract custodial services.
“What can we do to keep our jobs? What can we give back to keep our jobs?” he asked.
One idea he mentioned was pay cuts. He didn’t know about others, he said, but “I could stand $100 a month.”
Other ideas he mentioned included custodians paying some insurance costs, custodians purchasing and maintaining their uniforms, and having custodians mow lawns. He also mentioned that custodians could be responsible for washing mops instead of the division leasing mops. And he mentioned waxing floors less often.
He encouraged division officials to come to the schools and talk with custodians, who “have a lot of good ideas.”
“Work together and find solutions,” he said.
Also at the meeting, Dorothy Carter, president of the Henry County Education Association (HCEA), read a statement. She said there is a distressing “social cancer” spreading in the state. It “affects educators and students. It is a cancer that expects the state to balance the budget at the expense of its youth.”
“Is it good for kids when the number of students in a classroom promises to be 28-30 pupils/class next year? Is it good for kids when the teacher’s duties will increase along with that number, which is about one-third higher than the 2008-2009 school year? Is it good for kids when the teacher will have to spend one-third more time on discipline, grading and parent contact and one-third less time on individual attention — not because he/she wants to but because class time is not increasing in proportion to class size?” she stated.
“The constitution of Virginia promises all students a quality education. It does not say we can pull back during periods of recession,” she stated.
“Some of us are old enough to know that recession periods run in cycles. During those times, we have the obligation to pursue the proposed budget and cut projects that can wait until better finances return. But we cannot and should not cut resources from our students and teachers. We need to remember — what is good for teachers is good for kids,” she stated.
“HCEA expects the state of Virginia and our local government to Keep the Promise,” she stated. Keep the Promise is a slogan used by the Virginia Education Association as it advocates for school funding.
Some division officials have projected class sizes will not be as great as Carter estimated or said potential class sizes are unknown at this point.
The board also heard a reminder of upcoming dates, including: March 18, presentation of superintendent’s proposed fiscal year 2010-2011 budget (FY 2011), 9 a.m. in the school board meeting room in the Henry County Administration Building; March 29, potential date for a budget work session; March 30, secretary of education to visit schools; April 1, regular school board meeting with a closed session at 9 a.m. and regular session to follow (not before 10 a.m.), school board meeting room in the Henry County Administration Building; April 19, public hearing on the school and county budgets, 7 p.m., board meeting room in the county administration building.
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