State budget cuts, higher gas prices prompt schools to ask for more money
The Rockbridge County school board has asked for about $850,000 in additional funding to bring county schools’ teacher salaries in line with those in Lexington schools.
During a public hearing Monday, the board discussed its recent request for a 7.2 percent increase in local money to make up for an estimated $200,000 loss in state funds. The county lost the money because of an increase in the composite index, which gauges a locality’s ability to support its school system.
The proposed operating budget of $27 million is about $1 million more than last year’s budget. State funding will supply about 48 percent of the budget, but Rockbridge County supervisors are being asked to supply $862,127 of the increase, bringing the local total to $12.72 million. The supervisors must approve the proposed school budget.
Superintendent John Reynolds pointed to an increase in the cost of health insurance and gasoline as well as proposed salary increases as the main reasons for the hike.
“We included in the budget $218,803 to cover the employer’s share of health insurance,” Reynolds said. “[The cost of health insurance has been] raised significantly over the past year, and the employer usually covers about 94 percent of that.”
Reynolds also touted the importance of adding one licensed practical nurse to the county staff.
“Not all of our schools have a full-time nurse,” he said. “They split days and go to different places on different days. We need to increase our students’ access to a school nurse.”
The board’s proposed budget also includes a 5 percent average salary increase for all teachers and support staff, who currently receive a lower salary than their state and Lexington counterparts. Some teachers have switched from Rockbridge County to Lexington schools for salary reasons. The board also suggested hiring an additional math teacher at Rockbridge Middle School.
Transportation needs make up a chunk of the budget growth because of rising fuel costs. Paying for gasoline will cost about $17,500, and the school board suggested increasing the mileage rate from 27 cents to 35 cents for employees who use their own vehicles for county business.
Community members were complacent about the budget, and many used the time during the public hearing to express other concerns.
Only one member of the community addressed the board about the budget. Frank “Pat” Patterson pointed out that Rockbridge County should take advantage of its low student-to-teacher ratio when considering the budget.
“If you just add one child to every classroom we could give all our teachers a significant raise,” he said. “It’s just one more student. It wouldn’t be a burden and the teachers deserve it.”
The Board of Supervisors is expected to consider the proposed budget increase on March 24.
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Phylissa
Mitchell
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Pamela Lucke
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd