No layoffs, but 92 positions lost, in Roanoke County school budget
At their March 25 meeting, the Roanoke County School Board approved a budget of $128,821,750 for the 2010-2011 school year, a reduction of seven-percent from the 2009-2010 budget.
State funding to Roanoke County Public Schools was reduced by $12.2 million (including $2.1 million of stimulus funding). However, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors helped to offset the funding shortfall by $3 million thanks to a revenue sharing agreement between the school board and board of supervisors.
Additionally, more than 90 employees elected to retire. Many of the positions left vacant by retirees were eliminated. School leaders also used a new method for scheduling classes that helped to keep class sizes small, while reducing the number of teachers needed.
Most importantly, the approved budget will not result in layoffs for full-time contracted employees.
Here is a summary of key budget items:
* No layoffs for full-time contracted employees
* About 92 retirees (many vacated positions will be eliminated)
* No employee raises
* No employee increase in the health premiums (the required increase will be paid from the health reserves for 2010-11)
* No charge to employees for the Va. Retirement System
* Reduction in the emergency contingency fund
* Closure of Bent Mountain Elementary – students will be moved to Back Creek Elementary
* Elimination of the Central Middle School program
* Elimination of eleven central office positions (in addition to 13 in last year’s budget)
* Combination of driver’s education and health curriculum
* Elimination of four bus routes
* Elimination of nutrition subsidy
* Elimination of Stanford 10 funding (test will be funded with another source)
* Elimination of 6th grade intramurals
* Reduction in debt service due to competitive construction bids this year
* Reduction in elementary assistant principals contracts from 260 to 230 days to equalize all elementary assistant principal positions
* Reduction in Governor’s School tuition of 20%
* Reduction in preschool spending (but increase in slots available to state standards)
* Increase in preschool tuition for the LEAP program
“Thanks to the support of our friends on the Board of Supervisors, a large number of retirements, and a new staffing method, we were able to reduce positions without resorting to layoffs,” said School Board Chairman Mike Stovall. “I want to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Lange and her entire staff and all our teachers for their dedication and commitment to providing outstanding education in Roanoke County,” Stovall added.
“I’m thankful that we were able to avoid layoffs,” said Roanoke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lorraine Lange. “Some employees may be moving to different jobs in different locations, but we won’t see layoffs for full-time contracted employees,” Lange said.
The school board approved budget must now be approved by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the school system budget April 13.
