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Gangel
revises
budget
by Gerald Ochs
Rappahannock News Special Writer
At last night’s meeting, Schools Superintendent David Gangel reported to the School Board on his reconciliation of the $128,000 cut made by the Board of Supervisors on May 3. Because of state matching fund requirements, he said, there was a chance that the county cut of $128,000 could result in the loss of the entire Lottery Hold Harmless revenue line item of $46,900 from the Commonwealth.
It was difficult to revise the budget, Gangel noted. The cuts could not come from nonteacher salaries, he said, because that would result in savings of only $59,000, and if the county budget reduction was applied to teacher pay raises, then the total cut, because of matching fund losses, would amount to $193,000. He added that teacher pay raise cuts would negatively affect teacher morale-a problem greater than the money.
Gangel said that “We looked at other instructional areas . . . most growth is in assessment programs . . . remove that, and we remove the focus.” Cuts in other areas, he said, such as transportation or athletics, would result in elimination of entire programs.
“It comes down to capital projects,” Gangel summarized, “I will therefore recommend roof repairs as the item for removal.” The budget reconciliation documents reflected the reduction of the $128,000: $5,000 was removed from the $15,000 allocated for engineering services for the “RCHS Second Half of Shop Roof’, a $110,000 reduction eliminated the entire capital improvement line item for the “RCHS Second Half of Shop Roof”, and two other capital improvement line items, replacement of interior double doors and replacement of a septic sand filter, were deleted for an additional savings of $13,000.
Despite the assertion of Supervisor Mike Massie and Robert Anderson at their budget hearing of May 3 that the RCHS roof repair is a top priority, the School Board was unanimous in their approval of Dr. Gangel’s reconciliation budget. Supporting Gangel’s choice of cutting capital costs in lieu of teacher pay or instructional programs, School Board member Ron Makela said, “Our business is educating children, and the capital budget is important. . . but it takes third place as far as I’m concerned.”
Board members agreed with Gangel’s alternative plan for roof repairs. He left $10,000 in the roof repair budget to continue the engineering phase and to prepare bid documents, and felt that there would be end-of-year funds of at least $40,000 to initiate contract work and acquire materials. All or some of the balance of the $70,000 required might be available from budget surpluses at the end of the year (June 30) and, if not, he said, the materials couxd be stored and the balance of the project included in next year’s budget.
The School Board unanimously agreed to forward this plan and information on the consequences of the budget cut to the Board of Supervisors. If the Supervisors do not approve the alternative RCHS roof repair funding approach, then at least $24,000, and perhaps all, of the $46,900 State Lottery Hold
See BOARD, Page A7
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