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School
budget
for 2002-3
introduced
By Gerald Ochs
Rappahannock News Writer
Schools Superintendent Dr. David Gangel rolled out a budget for the next fiscal year that he said would not need to have any additional impact on local taxpayers. Despite an overall spending increase of nearly $200,000 over last year and anticipated revenue shortfalls from the state amounting to $105,000 the recommendations forwarded in his presentation before the School Board’s February meeting and in the budget “working document” show that the funding gap of $77,000 should be taken care of through a reduction-in-force and not through an increase in the local contribution.
Dr. Gangel made clear the fact that both state and federal revenue projections are not nearly concrete at this point, and final figures are highly dependent upon actions in the state legislature and by Governor Mark Warner. A new and significant source of funding, Dr. Gangel noted, is some $167,000 in social services monies identified by Nancy Allegretto, the new Coordinator of Special Education.
Dr. Gangel explained that this draft budget was crafted by focusing on the School Board’s goals, as well as building principals’ and his own targets. Those areas that had contributing and significant fiscal implications include costs associated with achieving full accreditation ($56,500), implementing the International Baccalaureate Program ($37,700), accommodating Virginia High School League requirements ($20,000), increasing remedial program offerings ($107,500), and covering increases in health insurance ($156,500).
The increases attributed to remedial program offerings consist of the costs of incorporating remediation into the school day. That change requires a new scheduling approach that would add fifteen minutes to the school day. The projected cost, slightly more than $107,500, is for a teacher and teacher aide pay increases amounting to 3.5 percent, and it is the only mention, in the proposed budget, of salary increases for teaching staff.
The draft budget presented by Superintendent Gangel is subject to School Board review and comment, public hearings, and fprther evaluation and modification by the administration before being presented to the Board of Supervisors later this spring. Budget work sessions will commence at the School Board’s second monthly meeting
See BOARD, Page A8
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