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Culpeper latest school system to consider cuts to athletics in attempt to close budget gap Date published: 1/28/2010
BY DONNIE JOHNSTON
When school systems want to get the public's attention during lean budget years, they always seem to come up with the most potent threat of all: cutting athletics. Usually this is little more than a political ploy, but this year area systems insist that the threat is real. Culpeper County is no exception. Faced with a $3.6 million deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1, Superintendent Bobbi Johnson proposed an initial budget that, like those of other area school districts, takes a whack at organized school sports. Johnson's $69 million budget doesn't threaten to eliminate all sports, just those in Culpeper's two middle schools--at a savings of $78,671. Johnson would save another $50,380 by eliminating an unspecified number of varsity assistant coaches. While possible cuts to athletics are causing the biggest stir, cuts that loom in the academic area could be much more dramatic. In order to balance Culpeper's budget, Johnson and the School Board are looking at the possibility of eliminating 79 positions, including 13 teachers and 35 para-educators. But those cuts could be just a drop in the bucket if federal and state stimulus funds--which total $4.4 million in the current budget--don't come through as expected next year. That stimulus money prevented Culpeper from cutting about 15 positions in this school year's $72.6 million budget and allowed the system to rehire 14 employees last fall. Those Culpeper teachers who remain next year may well be covering classes during their normal planning periods when colleagues are out sick. Johnson proposes eliminating 13 permanent substitute teachers across the county. Two administrative-position cuts, most likely from retirements, are anticipated at this point. Seven maintenance and five technology positions also are on the chopping block. In addition, several 12- and 11-month employees may be cut back to 11 and 10 months. County Administrator Frank Bossio has warned the School Board to expect about $1.3 million less in local funds next year, and state revenues are forecast to drop by $2.35 million. Superintendent Johnson thinks that even those numbers may be optimistic. "I believe the reality is that the preliminary projected revenue cuts of $3,504,000 will increase as we get further into the process," Johnson told the School Board. Further dimming the economic outlook is the fact that federal stimulus funds, while likely to be available for a second year, are not guaranteed. Meanwhile, Culpeper's student enrollment is expected to increase from 7,481 to 7,597. The School Board has scheduled several budget work sessions next month and will submit a final proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors in March. The supervisors will adopt an overall budget for the next fiscal year in late April. Donnie Johnston:
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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