Pittsylvania County schools request funding in wake of massive cuts

It was a packed house at the Pittsylvania County School Board meeting Tuesday night.

Don Johnson, the assistant superintendent for business, provided school board members with special requests from the schools for $6.7 million in the 2012-13 school year. This is after news of $3.7 million in budget cuts the school system faces in the governor’s budget proposal.

Johnson first explained the budget cuts. He said there was an increase of $1.4 million from the state, but the majority of it will go to fund the Virginia Retirement System. The rest is categorized to fund specific areas.

“We are getting an increase in state revenue, but they don’t tell you the other side of the story,” said Johnson. “We cannot spend this as we please.”

There is also $2.4 million in federal stimulus money that will not be in next year’s budget. Superintendent James McDaniel said he met with U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt, R-5th District, on Tuesday to discuss possible federal funding. While he said the meeting went well, he told school board members he was not confident extra funding would be there.

Officials asked for requests from schools on what to fund next year, which Johnson presented at the meeting. Those requests totaled $6.7 million including $4.5 million in buildings and site improvements, $1.8 million in pay increases, $185,000 in student transportation, $109,000 in additional staff and instructional support and $96,000 in operation and maintenance.

The requests included a 3 percent pay increase for all employees. Jessica Jones, the representative for the Pittsylvania County Education Association, said she understands the schools are about to enter a “crucial” time with the budget cuts, but she hopes they will be able to maintain staffing, programs and activities.

School board member Todd Sanders noted the major chunk of requests came for building improvements.

“We have put off some of it for several years,” said Sanders. “Sooner or later it is going to hit us.”

The school system will be working on the budget in the coming weeks.

The next budget meeting will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 26.