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By Gerald Ochs
Rappahannock News Writer
After several School Board budget work sessions following the original release of the Superintendent’s draft budget, it appears as though no significant downward changes were effected, though possible reductions in the projected County contribution increase may yet be possible. As it stands, the budget released at Tuesday’s School Board meeting and budget public hearing shows total expenditures approaching $9.7 M, an increase of 15.16 percent over last year. The County’s contribution was shown as $6,481,979.04, which is more than $1.3 M or 25.52 percent greater than last year. This number may be reduced by an increase in State funds over that projected, and by possible reductions in expenditures in the areas of teacher salary increases (from 9.11 to 6 percent) and in capital expenditures (by moving $433,500 from the school budget to County surplus funding). The County contribution increase wall, at a minimum, still be on the order of three-quarters of a million dollars and could be in excess of $1.2 M. This will equate to an increase in the property tax rate somewhere between 10 and 20 cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation, should the penny rate remain close to what is was last year.
The 2001-2002 schools budget was introduced by School Board chairman John Wesley Mills. Mr. Mills discussed School Board budget priorities that include: high priority funding for the International Baccalaureate Program, a curriculum coordinator, and a reading specialist for RCES; addition of a technology teacher; reduction of the teacher salary increase to 6 percent and the non-teacher staff salary increase to 3.2 percent; increasing lunch prices to make the cafeteria selfsupporting; and making the athletic director position full-time.
Superintendent Dr. David Gangel reviewed the major budget increases that include: $365,000 for increases in teacher salaries and benefits (based upon the 9.11 percent increase-but would fall by approximately $86,000 if the increase is reduced to 6 percent); $214,000 for increases in salaries and benefits for non-teacher staff; $56,000 for the curriculum coordinator position; $43,000 each for a technology teacher and a reading specialist; $26,000 for athletic program improvements; and $25,000 for the International Baccalaureate Program. Budget public comments
Ten Rappahannock residents spoke and one letter was read during the public comments portion of the budget hearing. Seven of the eleven comments specifically supported additional funding for athletics and making the athletic director a full-time position; six of the eleven comments specifically endorsed
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