Pittsylvania County schools start process to balance budget
CHATHAM — Pittsylvania County schools face a $4.5 million budget shortfall and the school division’s superintendent has requested the budget committee to come up with possible ways to cut costs by its next meeting Jan. 28.
The committee met in Chatham on Thursday night, where Pittsylvania County Schools Superintendent James McDaniel reminded everyone of Pittsylvania County Schools’ accomplishments over the years despite fiscal challenges — 100 percent of its schools fully accredited, the entire school division meeting Annual Yearly Progress benchmarks four times out of the last six years, 82 percent of high-school graduates continuing postsecondary education, half of graduates receiving advanced diplomas and a 43 percent drop in the suspension rate since 2002, among other accomplishments.
However, school officials will not be able to make reductions on budget items that were cut to meet last year’s $3.1 million shortfall, McDaniel said.
“We can’t look back at those areas this year to help balance this budget,” McDaniel said.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has proposed a $56.2 million budget for Pittsylvania County Schools in 2010-11, which is a $4.3 million reduction in state revenues compared to last year.
McDaniel asked the committee to come up with “potentials,” or possible ideas to save costs. McDaniel emphasized the word so members of the public would know that whatever is proposed will be considered but not a certainty.
However, Committee Member Charles Miller said job cuts will have to be considered to save money.
“It’s highly unlikely we’ll be able to escape (a) reduction in force,” Miller said.
McDaniel said the committee will have to look at creative ways to balance the budget without eliminating positions.
Board Chairman Neal Oakes said he will push to avoid layoffs.
“I do not want to see teachers laid off in Pittsylvania County,” Oakes said.
McDaniel said school officials will go to the Board of Supervisors during its meeting next week to request use of about $6 million in funds leftover from the $70 million high school renovation bond voters passed in 2007. In addition, the school division faces the possibility of losing 38 of its 1,529 employees through attrition. However, elimination of all of those positions will not happen, McDaniel said, because some of those positions are critical, he said.
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Concerned, if you have ever been in either of the high schools before last year you would know that they needed major repairs. I’m not sure what the maintenance people do, but they sure don’t fix things. Chatham High had a broken water fountain the whole 4 years my son was there. If the county maintained their schools like the city does there would have been no need to practically rebuild them. The schools are older but so are the city schools and look how well they are maintained.
And no more Vice Principle! If it’s important than let the Principle handle it!
If they hadn’t wasted 10 million dollars on a drafting firm, and paying 70 million dollars to repair 4 high schools, YOU WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY!! The waste factor lies within the PCSB. The cuts need to start there, including Mr. MacDaddy.
The budget language authorizes your local school board to offer a transitional severance benefit if you are separated from employment due to causes other than job performance or misconduct (RIF/reduction-in-force). This includes payment of between four and thirty-six weeks of salary depending of the length of service. A year of health insurance coverage can be included as well. If the RIFed employee is over 55, the local school board can purchase additional retirement credit for the employee. It is very important to advocate for these benefits for RIFed employees at the local school board level.
So you want the 6 million from the bonds to cover a 4.5 million deficit?? Maybe you could cut out some of the vehicles that employees have. No one pays me to drive back and forth to work. That 6 million that was left over could be used to fix up the athletic fields at the schools. And why does everyone assume cut backs mean laying off teachers? There are plenty of other positions in the schools besides teachers. Maybe they could cut salaries like many companies have done instead of laying off anyone. They need to live on a budget like everyone else!
Maybe you could make a cut in the maintenance/custodian department.Some schools have a Porter[morning person],Head custodian,and two or three custodians.You really don’t need a porter and head.One job lost is bad,but 5 or more is terrible.
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