By Charlie Spiering

By Charlie Spiering

Rappahannock News Staff Writer

The Rappahannock County School Board approved a list of budget cuts Tuesday that will be included in the working document for the public session that will be held next Tuesday.

The board’s proposed cuts add up to a total of $31,183, while the proposed state funding has risen by $6,413. The proposed budget now seeks a 6.2 percent increase of $494,968. Superintendent Robert Chappell’s original proposed increase stood at

During the public comment session, Next Step Advisor Miranda Hope pleaded with the school board asking them not to cut additional funds from the college and career access program.

“I would ask that the school system acknowledge the success of the program and continue to support it financially,” Hope said, referring to her original request of $15,000.

She stated that $15,000 was less than 20 percent of the program’s proposed budget, and additional funding was important to continue the program’s success.

Next Step was begun with a $90,000 two-year startup grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The grant expired in December of last year, and now the program is seeking a steady stream of income for its continued success.

The school board approved of a working proposal document for the upcoming public hearing which proposed to cut the increased funds by $5,000, allowing a total contribution of $10,000 for Next Step.

“The school has been very supportive of the program and we realize that their hands have been tied by tight budget constraints,” said Executive > Director of Headwaters Cole Johnson. Next Step is a branch of Headwaters, a successful Rappahannock educational foundation.

Since the program began, the school board has granted Next Step with a total of $5,000 in funding as well as office

1,564.

Next Step

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