Stafford County School Superintendent David Sawyer didn't recommend layoffs last night in his proposed 2010-11 budget, but he said the division would need to eliminate 31.5 positions through attrition.
"It will in fact be impossible not to touch schools and classrooms to balance this budget," Sawyer said.
The school system is facing a $25.6 million deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1, he said.
In addition to positions, Sawyer is proposing to cut spending on technology, textbooks, substitutes, hourly teachers, video projection systems and buses.
The division this year paid for the positions on the chopping block with federal stimulus money.
The school system won't receive those dollars in 2010-11.
Next year's budget also includes required increases, including $2.6 million for the division's share of life insurance and retiree health insurance and $1.8 million for health insurance.
And Sawyer's proposed spending plan budgets $3.7 million for 2.5 percent average step increases, which reward employees for years of service.
Those increases, approved by the School Board late last year, are scheduled to take effect April 1.
However, Sawyer recommended that the School Board postpone the step increases until it has more information on the budget.
Vice Chairwoman Patricia Healy called the proposed budget "quite sobering."
"I will caution the board, however, that this is a long way from being over, as you are aware," Sawyer said.
He hopes the Board of Supervisors will provide the same amount of money to the division next fiscal year as it did this year.
In other business, the School Board unanimously voted to use the Gari Melchers Complex--formerly Gayle Middle School--for Early Head Start.
The program lets teen parents drop off their infants and toddlers before heading to class themselves.
Administrators originally planned to place it in Stafford Middle School.
They put those plans on hold after some residents complained that Early Head Start would set the wrong example for middle-schoolers.
Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com
$2.3 million for 31.5 positions
$1.4 million for substitutes, hourly and part-time clerical staff
$1.3 million for technology replacements
$1 million for video projection systems
$625,000 for contractors
$816,000, mostly for new buses
$800,000 for textbooks