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was optional. The new mission of the school system is compulsory attendance and compulsory learning.
In order to meet these requirements we need to look at several dimensions of our task.
An emphasis on curriculum is necessary. This requires a broad approach to our program from the entering kindergartener to the graduating senior. Switching teaching paradigms will mean increased work loads for already overworked teachers. Organizational structure is required to institute a curriculum plan, track its progress, evaluate the results and provide process improvement.
We are currently gathering information from teaching staff and administrators that would be the foundation of the curriculum plan. The state wants us to make our students academically successful. This is a noble goal we share, however, they have not changed their accounting system to pay for the increased requirements placed on our school system.
Funding to support these initiatives is required. Virginia provides 43.1% of our annual funding, other states provide 49.9%. The funding for our school system is based on what the state calls prevailing costs', which are approximately ten percent less than our actual burden and are calculated on salaries at least two years old.
For example, a state determined teacher's salary of $37,347 is considered by the state as a prevailing salary of $32,800. Localities, and thus local taxes, carry the brunt of the burden for financing education. We carry this burden through increased property taxes. Our instructional personnel carry this by
94.9%