CC school budget attracts few

Only a handful of county residents showed up to speak on Charles City schools’ $14 million budget for next year, and the few who spoke had no comment on the overall proposal. Instead, they expressed concern over items that are not included.

Only a half-dozen people attended last Thursday’s School Board public hearing on the draft budget that had been formally introduced to board members just two nights earlier.

No one questioned proposed spending increases for next year nor did they voice opinions pro or con on a 4.5 percent pay hike for teachers and all school employees. Topics, instead, were elementary school playground equipment and after school activity buses.

Marian Christian, representing the Charles City Civic League, asked if money to replace the elementary school’s aging playground equipment is in the proposed budget. Almeda Tyler, meanwhile, requested that the budget include money to reinstate buses used to transport students home following after school activities.

In both instances, no money is available, school officials said.

“It is also essential that we get quality teachers to teach our children so we become accredited and stay accredited,” board chairman Barbara Crawley told the speakers.

The federal government is cutting next year’s contribution to Charles City while state money is hold its own, she said.

“Charles City only has so much and they tell us how much we get to work with. Then we work to the best of our ability to make sure children get what they need,” she said.

“I’d love to have a windfall so we can have the highest teachers salaries in the region or the state and can help fix our playground equipment,” she added.

But she noted that if the board includes the estimated $132,000 it will cost to replace the equipment, cuts would have to be made in instruction, transportation, and other areas in the budget proposal.

“We have to have all those things,” she said. “We’d have to decide where to rob Peter to pay Paul.”

But Crawley added that if school officials can find a way to squeeze in money for the playground and activity buses, “We’ll definitely put it in,” she said.

Board members held their final work session last night (Tuesday) to refine the budget proposal. School officials are scheduled to present the budget to the county’s Board of Supervisors on March 5.