Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 8 · column 2 of 5 · from the scan, no model involved
Board
From Page A1
scheduled for March 16.
Budget presentation
Earlier in Tuesday’s School Board session Superintendent David Gangel presented his proposed budget to a packed gallery. He explained that a budget was the “translation of the school’s needs and programs into money” and that this year’s budget proposal was a “focus on the fact that the heart and soul of education is the relationship between the child and teacher in the classroom.” The big challenge, he continued, was to> “become and remain competitive in attracting and retaining qualified teachers.”
Dr. Gangel went on to note that this year’s budget looks first at teacher salaries and benefits. “Rappahannock is seven percent below the state average,” he said, and explained that the proposed budget attempts to make Rappahannock County teacher salaries competitive by increasing them 4.75 percent per year for two years. Salary and benefits alone, plus the cost of two new vocational teachers, accounts for $351,668 of the budget increase.
Another major elements of the budget increase is a projected $140,837 for health insurance. This increase of 25 percent is based upon the assumption that the school can find an alternative to the 46 percent increase demanded by the system’s current health insurance carrier. In addition, the budget includes a nearly $35,000 increase for group life insurance, an increase attributable to the fact that the state offered a “premium holiday” last year, but has not continued it for the upcoming year. In addition, the budget includes increases of $69,000 for new high school addition start-up (one time) costs, nearly $22,000 for additional athletic expenses, some $14,000 for a RCHS reception aide to enhance school security and safety, and $6500 for after school remediation programs.
In total, the superintendent’s budget reflects an increase of $601,851.80 or 7.72 percent over last year. More importantly, it represents an increase in the county contribution of nearly $609,000, or 13.18 percent over last year. Due to reassessments and new construction, it is estimated that this budget increase, if approved, would result in a tax rate increase of three to four cents.
The public reacts
Public reaction to the superintendent’s budget proposal was polarized, though there appeared to be general accord for teacher salary increases. Dave Gillis focused upon health insurance costs (which total $491,000) and suggested that the school system investigate a “cafeteria style” instead of the full service
96.4%