Change, consolidation part of Charles City superintendent’s $10.1 million proposed budget

Charles City superintendent of schools David Gaston presented his first proposed budget for fiscal year 2015-16 during Tuesday night’s regular school board meeting. Needless to say, recommendations by Gaston will have a major impact on education in the county.

As part of a $10,160,996 proposed budget, the superintendent suggested major overhauls and changes in a number of areas. Among the most eye-catching changes is consolidating schools to reduce administrative staff.

The proposal calls for sixth grade students to be educated in the current elementary school. Grades 7-12 would be deemed all high school students, with grades 7-9 housed in the current middle school facility.

“With student enrollments in the schools declining and the overall system that is not aligned with the strategic plan and mission of this division, this budget will seek to realign positions and resources for greater efficiency and effectiveness,” the superintendent said.

The proposed realignment suggests one principal and assistant principal at the two buildings, thus eliminating one administrative position. Gaston said in talks with Virginia’s Department of Education, standards of quality recommended the changes due to a projected enrollment of 680 students for next year. A guidance counselor position at the secondary level will be replaced with a school social worker as part of the realignment.

Of the projected $10.1 million budget, approximately $8,943,194 is designated for the schools’ regular fund. Of that amount, Gaston is requesting a local contribution of $4,751,568 from county leaders, an increase of $292,954 from this year’s $4.4 million. An estimated $5,857,483 will be dedicated to instruction, approximately 65.5% of the regular fund.

If granted, the superintendent’s list of priorities for revenue application will go to new expenditures that he deemed necessary for the school system. Topping the list is a two-percent salary raise ($116,592), something school board members asked Gaston to implement in his budget.

“School employees have received only one significant raise in the last eight years,” Gaston said. “In order for us to keep staff here, it’s imperative that we remain competitive with surrounding jurisdictions.”

Another major change requested is the addition of 12 instructional days ($20,181) for students, bringing the total number of classroom days to 180. Interim finance director Ray Watson said at the November meeting that the only additional cost incurred would be transportation for students and additional pay for bus drivers and cafeteria workers. Currently, all teachers are under a 200-day contract.

Other new expenditures include the hiring of a second school nurse ($55,624) that had been eliminated in 2014-15, additional instruction and testing materials ($75,000), changing a part-time secretary position to full time at the central office ($17,872), and department materials for human resources, travel, and purchased services ($15,000).

“I’m asking the county for a modest increase,” Gaston said. “I’m hopeful they will see that this is to stabilize our division.”

Gaston’s budgetary plan also consists of reorganizing positions at the central office. While no significant additional costs will be required, Gaston wants to emphasize the importance of departments working with each other.

“Right now you have employees working two different jobs that have nothing in common,” he commented. “The purpose of the central office administration is to provide vital and key support services to our schools in fulfillment of the school board’s vision.

“Without focus in key areas such as curriculum, instruction, human resources, student services and operations, the current challenge that the school division faces is how to best provide superior service to teachers, students, administration and families when departments do not align with the services, training, or skills that they are intended to provide,” Gaston added.

Front office overhaul will reorganize positions of Director of Human Resources, Director of Teaching, Learning and Accountability, and Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT), and create a Director of Student Services and Federal Programs.

Money not included in the regular school fund is the self-sustaining fund ($813,254), food service fund ($340,081), and textbook fund ($64,467). Gaston indicated to board members that a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) will be presented at the January regular meeting.

Gaston and Watson addressed the proposed budget in detail, mentioning the difficulty of the process.

“We had to look at balance and efficiency in what we needed to do to have a healthy school administration,” Gaston said when asked about consolidation of the grade levels. “We looked at several ideas and had numerous conversations with DOE.”

“While we couldn’t get all the kids into one building facility-wise, we looked at projected school enrollment and configuration,” Watson chimed in. “There is ample space at the current elementary school to house sixth graders.”

Gaston, however, said the consolidation will reap benefits for all students and open up a number of opportunities.

“Currently, the sixth graders are still working on a schedule similar to elementary school students,” the superintendent continued. “Even though they’ll be in the sixth grade, we will be able to bring a number of exploratory programs to the elementary school that includes band and foreign language. By doing that, we also open up the opportunity for fifth grade students to explore those options as well.

“The seventh through 12th graders will have the opportunity for more course offerings,” continued Gaston. “We don’t have middle school sports anymore, so eighth graders will be focusing on JV athletics. Overall, I believe this will bring Charles City schools back to its mission to provide educational opportunities in a safe, inviting and student-centered environment where students are prepared to be lifelong learners, responsible citizens, and productive contributors in a global society.”

School board members reserved comments on the proposed budget. They will have a work session on Jan. 12, 6 p.m. in the Government and School Board Building to discuss the budget, as well as more input at its regular Jan. 20 meeting. Public input will be received on the superintendent’s proposed budget, consolidation of schools, and school’s CIP (to be presented at the Jan. 20 meeting) during a public hearing on Feb. 3, 7 p.m.