King George County School Superintendent Candace Brown has proposed eliminating all athletic programs and cutting 21 positions in next year's budget.
During her presentation yesterday on the 2010-11 spending plan, Brown said the School Board would need to cut at least $3.1 million to balance the budget, based on current projections.
"I think it's pretty clear that some very severe cuts are going to have to be made," she told The Free Lance-Star after her presentation.
However, School Board Chairwoman Lynn Pardee said it's too early to know what will happen.
"This is Day One," she said during the budget work session. "I don't want anyone to panic yet."
She added: "We're going to take care of these children."
The school system finished the 2008-09 fiscal year with a $1.19 million surplus, which the Board of Supervisors put in a special fund for future school needs.
Brown said the School Board needs to decide when it wants to request that money. The division, she noted, is facing a $1.2 million shortfall--a reduction in state money--this year.
The superintendent presented the School Board with a list of potential cuts totaling $2.7 million. They include:
21 positions, including an elementary school assistant principal and a high school assistant principal.
Commonwealth Governor's School. Several parents and students asked the School Board to retain Governor's School during a recent public hearing on the budget.
Head Start, which is a program serving low-income preschoolers.
Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.
Other possibilities would be to make kindergarten a half-day program and reduce all 220-day contracts to 200 days.
The division would also save $120,000 by not replacing employees who have announced their retirements or resignations as of Jan. 15. Brown said all employees must notify the division of their intent to leave by Feb. 1, and she'll have a better idea of potential savings then.
Board member Renee Parker said the division's intention isn't to scare anyone but to "be honest and say these things are on the table."
Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com
$755,000 for 21 positions--a central office secretary; six cafeteria monitors; three elementary school media paraprofessionals; two in-school suspension monitors; an elementary school assistant principal; a high school assistant principal; an instructional technology liaison; a central office administrator; a social worker; an attendance officer; and three elementary school math lab specialists.
$328,635 for high school and middle school athletics.
$275,000 for making kindergarten half day.
$242,142 for new technology hardware.
$176,682 for Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.
$121,647 for Commonwealth Governor's School.
$96,668 for Head Start.