story2

School board ponders job and program cuts

By Nancy Lindsey

"The situation is so fluid it's a moving target," said Dr. Roger Morris, division superintendent of schools, referring to the status of the state budget and state funding for Patrick schools. "I've never seen it like this."

Dr. Morris and members of the Patrick County School Board held a closed session Thursday, Feb. 25, to discuss personnel changes and a possible "reduction in force."

After the closed session, they explained their dilemma: they won't know exactly how much the local school system is losing in state funds until the General Assembly reconciles three different state budgets--the one presented by Gov. Bob McDonnell and the two passed by the Senate and the House of Delegates.

School officials' best guess is that state funds will be almost $3 million less in 2010-11 than in 2009-10.

All board members attended the meeting with Mayo River District representative Bobby Rorrer and Smith River District representative Bobby Mangrum, members of the budget committee.

"We all came into this meeting expecting gloom and doom," said Rorrer, board chairman. "It's not quite as bad as we thought." He said the board had been getting good ideas from the staff.

"We don't know the numbers yet, but people have been putting a lot of thought to trying to save as many jobs as possible," Rorrer said. "We're hoping when word comes down from the General Assembly it won't be as bad as feared."

Morris said he had met with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner's aide, who told him there is a possibility of some federal stimulus funds to help the local school system. Additional funds are also expected in the areas of technology and Title I, he said.

Morris said the school board was essentially looking at its priorities and "making sure the classroom is preserved as much as possible."

He said if Gov. McDonnell's budget prevails, there will have to be some readjustments, changes in assignments, reassignment of duties, and not filling vacated positions, which would mean job losses by attrition. The school board is also looking at consolidating programs, Morris said.

Mangrum said the most important thing is maintaining the quality of education in Patrick County.

"To keep a high level of education you've got to have teachers," Rorrer said. "Bigger class sizes put a burden on the teacher and the learning capacity of the child." A teacher has limited time for giving attention to every child, he said, and the challenge is even harder when there are 32 students in a classroom.

Morris said the board does not plan to consolidate classes, but hopes to keep class sizes about the same as they are now.

The school board members said they are not considering closing schools or going to a four-day school week, two options mentioned earlier in an "everything's on the table" discussion.

"But there will be some stringent belt-tightening," Morris said. "It's not good but it could be worse."


		Front Page

	School board ponders job and program cuts By Nancy Lindsey "The situation is so fluid it's a moving target," said Dr. Roger Morris, division superintendent of schools, referring to the status of the state budget and state funding for Patrick schools. "I've never seen it like this." Dr. Morris and members of the Patrick County School Board held a closed session Thursday, Feb. 25, to discuss personnel changes and a possible "reduction in force." After the closed session, they explained their dilemma: they won't know exactly how much the local school system is losing in state funds until the General Assembly reconciles three different state budgets--the one presented by Gov. Bob McDonnell and the two passed by the Senate and the House of Delegates. School officials' best guess is that state funds will be almost $3 million less in 2010-11 than in 2009-10. All board members attended the meeting with Mayo River District representative Bobby Rorrer and Smith River District representative Bobby Mangrum, members of the budget committee. "We all came into this meeting expecting gloom and doom," said Rorrer, board chairman. "It's not quite as bad as we thought." He said the board had been getting good ideas from the staff. "We don't know the numbers yet, but people have been putting a lot of thought to trying to save as many jobs as possible," Rorrer said. "We're hoping when word comes down from the General Assembly it won't be as bad as feared." Morris said he had met with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner's aide, who told him there is a possibility of some federal stimulus funds to help the local school system. Additional funds are also expected in the areas of technology and Title I, he said. Morris said the school board was essentially looking at its priorities and "making sure the classroom is preserved as much as possible." He said if Gov. McDonnell's budget prevails, there will have to be some readjustments, changes in assignments, reassignment of duties, and not filling vacated positions, which would mean job losses by attrition. The school board is also looking at consolidating programs, Morris said. Mangrum said the most important thing is maintaining the quality of education in Patrick County. "To keep a high level of education you've got to have teachers," Rorrer said. "Bigger class sizes put a burden on the teacher and the learning capacity of the child." A teacher has limited time for giving attention to every child, he said, and the challenge is even harder when there are 32 students in a classroom. Morris said the board does not plan to consolidate classes, but hopes to keep class sizes about the same as they are now. The school board members said they are not considering closing schools or going to a four-day school week, two options mentioned earlier in an "everything's on the table" discussion. "But there will be some stringent belt-tightening," Morris said. "It's not good but it could be worse."