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Bv Gkrald Ochs
Rappahannock News Writer
With probable severe State budget cuts as a backdrop, a seemingly austere school budget had its first public hearing at the School Board’s regular March meeting on Tuesday night. Superintendent Dr. David Gangel introduced the budget by providing some statistics on school system growth over the past fifteen years? as well as the budget's development rationale and fundamental elements.
Dr. Gangel made some comparisons between Rappahannock County Public Schools (RCPS) in 1986-87 and in 2001-02 to illustrate long-term development successes. He noted that in 86-87 RCPS was near the bottom in teacher minimum and maximum salaries but in 2001-02 jumped to 80 of 133 and 38 of 132. respectively. He also said that teacher/student ratios had improved to 1711.5 from 1/13.3 during that period.
Dr. Gangel quantified costs associated with the implementation of School, Board’s goals and staff recommendations. School Board goals, he illustrated, added nearly $235,000 to the budget for items including: additional teachers required to achieve full accreditation and to implement the International Baccalaureate program; preparation to accommodate Virginia High School League requirements; and increased remediation whose fundamental element is a fifteen minute increase in the school day that will cost approximately $107,000 for a 3.5 percent increase in teacher and teacher aide pay.
He listed some $314,000 in additional costs resulting from staff recommendations that included: a 1.5 percent increase for employees other that teachers; more than $150,000 to cover anticipated increases in health insurance; and a RCPS-Headwaters jointly funded grant writer. Total program cost increases amount to $548,936, Dr. Gangel said.
On the revenue side. Dr. Gangel showed that State fund receipts were projected to decrease by slightly more than $100,000 but said that the decrease may be $36,000 greater than that. He noted an anticipated Federal funds increase of some $59,000, but said that these increases were tied to
See BOARD, Page A8
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