Heads Above Water Only

Heads Above Water Only

“At the present time, no one has a part-time position projected for next year,” Bloomer cautioned. In answer to a question from Nichols, the superintendent explained that “we’ve been able to keep our head above water only” on testing procedures with an experienced ipart-time psychologist. He also noted that the psychologist had received help from the educational diagnostician—a position that won’t be funded next year. If the position is only part-time and if the current person filling the position doesn’t return next year, said Bloomer, “I don’t see how we can do it...We’re having a difficult, time now meeting the state’s 45-day deadline for processing.”

The vote was four to one with Nichols opposed to go with the basic budget and a part-time psychologist.

Moving to the operational costs for transportation, Masterson asked why there’d been a drop in the budget items for repairs, tires, parts, supplies and gasoline, oil and lubricants.

The amount requested is lower, Bloomer said, because last year’s figure included transportation costs for summer school. If Rappahannock has a summer school this year, he continued, it will be funded primarily with Title I money with the balance paid by last year’s left-over summer school funds.

Stokes asked if the extra bus driver for the handicapped included in the recommended budget would transport only five or six children.

Assistant superintendent Rob McDaniel answered that the handicapped driver would transport that many for therapy plus additional Children who come in to the school for speech therapy. The driver would be paid at an hourly rate, he added.

Stokes asked if a van could be modified to transport handicapped youngsters.

“I don’t think it’s possible,” McDaniel said. He explained that the vehicle must be capable of holding a wheel chair and must have a' hydraulic life to pick up the