New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 29, 2024

Pupil increase plays significant part in New Kent schools’ budget that nears $30 million

By Andre Jones | February 6, 2017 10:53 pm

So, what’s it going to cost to educate an additional 100 students in New Kent County schools? About an additional $1.1 million dollars.

That figure was given to New Kent School Board members as part of superintendent of schools Dave Myers’ budget presentation on Feb. 6.

As part of the school’s general fund, Myers is proposing to operate schools at a cost of $29,992,697 for FY2017-18. By comparison, the schools are operating on a budget of $28,895,800 for the current cycle, meaning that $1,096,897 of new money is being requested for the next school year. With self-sustaining money from the textbook fund, grant fund, and school nutrition fund, the schools’ overall recommended budget comes in at $32,276,616, an increase of $1,276,471 from this year’s operations.

A reason for the request of additional funding is due to the school system’s considerable growth. With a current enrollment exceeding 3,000 and being labeled as one of the fastest growing school systems in Virginia, Myers and financial director Haynie Morgheim expects that enrollment to grow by 100 students for FY2017-18. That number has already been shared with the county’s board of supervisors, which is working with schools to expand the middle school’s student capacity by adding five classrooms before start of the 2018-19 school year through an addition to the building.

With the expected addition of more students, an influx of funds is expected to be received from the state. Of the nearly $30 million budget, approximately $15,774,402 is expected to be provided through state revenue, marking an increase of $931,897 from this year. Myers’ proposal also requests a contribution from the county of $14,004,595, an increase of $150,000 from this year’s figure. A $15,000 increase through local school revenue is also expected to be garnered, bringing that specific price tag to $213,700.

Retaining current employees and attracting new workers shaped the proposed figures according to Myers. A two-percent salary increase ($420,541) is among one of the top priorities, but a more focused factor by the superintendent revolves around increasing the starting teacher salary. Under current numbers, a new teacher with zero experience makes $39,592 in their first year. The proposed budget calls for that salary to climb to $42,000, something both Myers and the school board believe is needed.

“I am glad to see teachers’ salaries are being addressed here,” said District 3 representative Andrea Staskiel. “I’m still afraid we’re going to be last among starting salary [among surrounding localities.]”

Myers echoed Staskiel’s sentiments, saying the market for teachers and attracting them is very tight and every little dollar may make a difference.

“We not only want to retain the great staff we have now, but we also want to bring in people for positions that we may have open or that we are creating,” Myers said after the meeting. “If you look at it, New Kent is one of the lowest when it comes to starting salary.

“Our growth is playing a major factor for us as well,” the superintendent continued. “About 60 percent of our employees live outside of New Kent. If they can drive here to us, then they can drive somewhere else if they choose too. I believe our staff comes here because they love this area and they are dedicated to it and I hope that we can compensate them and show them that we appreciate all that they do.”

That growth has also led to Myers recommend additional staff for the upcoming cycle. New positions include a career/college/life readiness coach, a STEM teacher at the middle school, and two new bus drivers. Current positions that were recommended for conversion include a nurse’s aide position to a nurse, a technology teacher to a physical education teacher at the elementary level, and moving a middle school English teacher to the high school.

In total, approximately $840,057 would be allocated to salary adjustments (including $271,128 as part of an increase in the Virginia’s Retirement System). New positions carry a price tag of $228,714.

“We’re not taking this issue lightly,” Myers told school board members. “If you ask employees if they know they are the lowest paid, about one-third said they do.”

In conclusion, Myers said after the meeting that the influx of students have both positive and negative effects on the proposed budget.

“New Kent is the fourth fastest growing county in the Commonwealth and with that, it means more students and services provided to them,” the superintendent commented. “I know that we want to continue to provide the quality of education these students need and we can only do that with great teachers, great employees, and a great support staff.”