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Goochland schools take another hit from the state

Goochland schools were hit with another financial blow last week, when state officials slashed nearly $200,000 from this year's budget.

"They've eliminated all of the textbook funding," said Dr. Linda Underwood, superintendent of schools, as she addressed the school board on Dec. 22. "Which is ironic, because we just had a textbook adoption approved [on Dec. 15]."

Underwood added that she was working with staff to see if the school would be able to purchase the books that were recently adopted.

"[Eliminating the textbooks] was a complete surprise," said Lynne Venter, director of finance and operations for Goochland County Public Schools. "No one anticipated that because most [school divisions] have already spent their textbook money."

State officials recommended that Goochland use the $300,000 in savings it received from the Virginia Retirement System, but the division has already allocated that money to cover this year's local revenue shortfall.

"It's very common when the governor's budget comes out in December to adjust the current year's budget," Venter said. "However, it is unusual to see the kinds of reductions we did see in the caboose budget."

The division's textbook fund was $58,378 before the state cut it to zero. State funding for textbooks was reduced by $79.6 million across the commonwealth.
Venter added that sales tax revenues were down nearly $130,000 through October.

"We did prepare for that," Venter told the school board, noting that the school division's budget projected sales tax revenues to decrease by $100,000 this year.

Underwood added that a large portion of state funding comes from lottery sales, which are unpredictable.

"If we're going to include [lottery funds] in our revenue," Underwood said, "we're going to be extremely cautious about being confident that that money's actually going to come."

Lottery-funded programs that were hit with budget reductions include at-risk programs and the Virginia Preschool Initiative-a program which is slated for elimination from the school division's budget next year.

Goochland schools are scheduled to receive an additional $50,000 from lottery sales this year, but that money is tied to the construction fund.

Other state cuts came to direct-aid and career and technical programs, Venter said. State officials also removed all inflationary figures from its budget, something which Venter added is uncommon.

2010-2011 Budget
Next year's school budget was also affected by the new state revenue projections, which decreased the division's proposed budget by nearly $80,000. The state also eliminated its funding for technology hardware replacement to Goochland schools, leaving no money for new routers, switches and equipment upgrades.

The school board has met six times during the past two months, trying to accommodate the $2.9 million budget reduction request by the county administration.

At the Dec. 15 public hearing, the school board decided to cut $750,000 from next year's budget. A revised version presented on Dec. 22 would cut $946,000.

"We still have a ways to go," Underwood said, noting that nearly $2 million was left to reach the county's benchmark.

"I have to recommend to you that you go back into the kinds of things that we've talked about for reductions," Underwood told the school board, "and consider making additional reductions."

Originally, Underwood had recommended cutting $1.5 million,  but the school board chose to keep programs such as the center-based gifted program and participation with Maggie L. Walker Governor's School. The school board also rejected the staggered-start school day.

Although the superintendent had originally recommended eliminating 10 teaching positions, the school board chose to cut three through attrition.

But everything is back on the table, and Underwood has also proposed cutting an additional clerical position and increasing next year's furlough days from two to five for full-time employees, which would equal a 2.5 percent salary reduction.

Underwood added that the school division saves roughly $50,000 per furlough day.
"My perception is we will have to have additional cuts," said Chairman Raymond Miller, District 2 school board member. "My personal preference is liberal use of the furlough provision."

Other school board members agreed with Miller's suggestion.

"We've got to maintain instruction," said Jim Haskell (District 1). "How we do that and keep all our teachers, I don't know."
Insurance costs

Underwood also proposed that the school division look at alternative insurance programs as a means to save money.

"What we've been asked to look at," Underwood said, "is, would we reduce, county-wide, our health insurance costs, if the county and schools went back together again."

For years, the county and the school division shared health insurance. Three years ago, the schools separated and were able to save $500,000, Underwood said.

This year, the division switched to United Health Care, after its former provider indicated a cost increase of 39 percent. The switch enabled the division to save nearly $300,000.

Given public outcry concerning the budget and insurance costs, Underwood recommended the school board consider "some of those more non-traditional kinds of health insurance options that are becoming more available."

The school board has only one more meeting before voting on its proposed budget on Jan. 26.

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