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$12,063,799, or $33,135 less than the budget approved by the Board of Supervisors last year.
Or it could have been that the board teamed with county officials and successfully pushed through legislation that would allow Rappahannock to seek additional state money.
If the school board aimed simply to keep constituents happy, or at least happy enough not to complain, they did a good job.
The rub, though, is that things aren't all that much better, and those up in arms about rising taxes as well as those pushing for education could still face disappointment.
Next year, enrollment is expected to drop, costing Rappahannock state money in per-pupii funds. And Rappahannock’s “local composite index" <LC1>. which the state uses to assess a county’s wealth and determine how much it can put toward education, will increase.
The school board’s requested budget reflects the larger problem. State funding is down and county spending is up, and overall, the schools will receive less money than they did last year.
But there is hope that Rnppahnnnock schools will find some way to acclimate to the new landscape.
Del. Gilbert’s funding bill that was signed into law earlier this month will cover barely half of the state funding that Rappahannock will lose next year - and that’s if Superintendent Chappell jumps through the prerequisite hcsips and the General Assembly chooses to appropriate the money. However, the legislation will probably bring some money to the schools and will also maybe serve ns a foot in the door for Rappahannock officials to seek more money in the future.
The schools also may be able to attract more out-of-county students with the board's proposed reduced tuition rate, which could bring more money into the school system
And Chappell’* $358,000 in cost savings in the board’s budget potentially could lie managed with out any layoffs and without compromising students’ education.
These are steps forward, and if the schisil Ismrd keeps them up. education in Rappahannock may stay on its feet
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