PRINCE EDWARD — The jury is still out on the school budget for the coming year, but it seemed fairly certain the best-case scenario would be level local funding as the school board met in a budget work session last Wednesday.

Even that, however, would mean cuts for school board’s funding request; they had sought nearly $1 million more in additional local funds.

“We have more and more requirements that we’re putting on our teachers with less and less to do it with,” commented school board member Sherry Honeycutt at the session.

As a special board of supervisors finance committee was scheduled to meet Monday night (see related page one story) to deal with some of the unknowns involving the school, the school board ventured into funding darkness as several administration options were presented factoring level local funding, a $200,000 cut, or see a five percent reduction.

Among the possibilities:

*Eliminating four special education teaching positions division-wide.

*Eliminating two high school teaching positions.

*Eliminating two middle school teaching positions.

*Eliminating one eleven-month administrator position.

*Reducing site improvement funding from $150,000 to $100,000.

And changing the school’s health insurance options, which could net between $59,124-$145,350—potentially moving from a Key Advantage 250 and 500 plan offerings to the 500 and high deductible plans.

For all of the positions, they would look to attrition first.

As clocks go, it’s getting late in the budget season. Though the two chambers aren’t far apart, the General Assembly has yet to agree on a state budget and lock down anticipated state funds for localities. The County, wrestling with an eight-cent real estate tax increase to fund what was advertised including a hefty $1.4 million expenditure for the Piedmont Regional Jail, has gone back to the drawing board through the work of a committee.

School board members weighed in on what appeared to be a gloomy budget forecast and changing relationship with the board of supervisors. They also acknowledged the issue of perception of the quality of the schools. (The issue was hammered at the board of supervisors’ budget hearing.) There’s the perception that all schools are equal—private, Christian and public. However, School Board Vice-Chairwoman Susan Lawman who led Wednesday’s meeting offered that they are not. They’re held at a standard that others don’t have to meet (though they might meet them).

Honeycutt added that they have to have certified teachers, accountability from the state, teachers have to be certified in the field they are teaching.

And, Superintendent Dr. David Smith cited, public schools have to meet the needs of all students. Others cited are not obligated to educate handicapped or special needs students of any kind.

Lawman suggested to her fellow school board members that they talk to their board of supervisors’ representative.

Tough Choices

Even if the schools are level funded by the County, the school board is looking at $252,179 in projected revenues to make up. While state funds are projected to increase, federal funds are projected to fall $450,838. If the county reduces funding by $200,000, it would grow to $452,179. A five percent reduction would mean $417,340 less in local funds, and a collective difference of $669,519.

One of the key components of the proposed school budget is a two percent salary increase, an expense of $371,900 for the full budget year. Factoring the same three scenarios, the pay increase would mean reductions of $484,408 with level local funding, $684,408 with $200,000 less in county funds, and $901,748 with a five percent reduction.

(The governor has proposed a two percent increase, but that would only apply to state Standards of Quality funded positions and would start in April 1 and would bring Prince Edward $43,947. If the county does not give the pay increase, the funds would not come.)

And there were still other options to weigh. Rather than a two percent increase, the school board could also weigh a step increase in pay, and an option instead of a salary increase.

And no increase at all. (With no salary or step increase, the school board faces $156,455 in revenue shortfalls with level funding; $356,455 with a $200,000 reduction, and $573,795 with a five percent reduction.)

Dr. Smith assessed that it’s “clear” that there is going to have to be some loss of teaching and staff positions, but that he doesn’t think it’s fair to the children to say that they’re going to take it all out of personnel cuts. He assessed that there are some other operational cuts that they’re probably going to need to look at and should begin to cost out.

He suggested adding back the tuition charge for out-of-county students (suggesting $1,000 per student per year); some additional programs such as the program they run at YMCA (where second graders learn how to swim); activity and remedial buses, which are provided but not required; behind the wheel driver’s education (to consider cutting or at least increase the fees charged); funding for governor’s school; and how much dual enrollment and classwork and the associate degree track the school pays.

And though it didn’t gain traction, one board member cited the option of the pre-K program.

“…Everything you cut, it puts us that much further behind and it’s so much harder when you cut it to get it back,” Honeycutt commented.