Charles City school officials ask supervisors for money

Charles City’s School Board made its first budget request to county supervisors during supervisors’ quarterly work session on March 6.

School board chairwoman Barbara Crawley asked supervisors to assist in making up a $485,041 shortfall that schools are facing for fiscal 2013-14. That amount has been trimmed from the previous $987,702 deficit schools originally faced.

(School officials have since reduced the deficit to just over $155,000. See story on page 1.)

The amount requested by Crawley is to cover the county’s share of a two percent pay raise for teachers being offered by the state, textbook funding to help with mandated adoptions, and the cost of rising technology.

“Even if we don’t get all of it, we at least need funding for the textbooks and the two percent raise,” said Crawley.

Funding for the textbooks would cost the county $90,172 and cover the areas of math, science, English, and reading for grades K-12. For the two percent raise to be implemented, the local dollar amount to be contributed is $67,544, while the state would pay an additional $50,158, for a total of $117,702 for raises for teachers.

Crawley spoke on the detriment to the school system if they are not provided with additional help.

“Not receiving these funds will eliminate raises, reduce staff, eliminate programs essential to SOL (Standards of Learning) testing, eliminate slots for students wanting to attend the governor’s school, reduce transportation, and postpone textbook adoptions,” she said.

Crawley also brought up capital improvement needs for schools, which are separate from the school’s budget.

“We need the top three on our list to be addressed immediately,” said Crawley. “Those items are things that have to be taken care of.”

On that list are replacement of HVAC systems in the middle/high school cafeteria, vocational technical building, and the middle/high gymnasiums. Also on the list are replacing cooling towers and boilers at all three schools.

After the school board’s presentation, District 2 Supervisor Bill Coada expressed his dismay at a lack of information he has received from the school board.

“I like to complain a little bit,” said the supervisor. “Various times I’ve come into the school board office and asked for information on buses and drivers who occupy other positions within the school system.”

“When I ask for and want information, I am going to request it,” continued Coada. “I ask not only as a supervisor, but as a concerned citizen.”

Coada asked about the transportation issue regarding buses, saying that he still believes schools have twice as many buses as they need. David Papenfuse, interim finance director for the school board, said a study is being conducted and asked for patience during the process.

“We’re shorthanded,” said Papenfuse, speaking on the resignation of former director of administrative services Melvin Robertson. “I hope you do not hold the whole budget process hostage because of the information you asked for and you’re not receiving.”

As talks continued among the two entities, supervisors asked more questions and exchanged dialogue with school board members, Papenfuse, and superintendent of schools Janet Crawley.

Chairman and District 3 Supervisor Floyd Miles Sr. questioned enrollment numbers while District 1 Supervisor Gilbert Smith said there was a lot of very valuable information presented that he is going to have to digest.

“What happens if we don’t match our share of the two percent raise?” asked Miles.

“It reverts back to the [state] government,” responded Barbara Crawley.

“I do have a few concerns,” said Miles, referencing the transportation issue. “Sitting here as a member of the governing body that has to provide funding and make decisions soon, I have to look at all departments, not just the school board, when it comes to the budget.”

Coada addressed school board members on his trips to other school systems and encouraged them to go see their everyday actions. While Coada would not be specific on what he saw with school board members, District 3 school board member Martha Harris said they continue to stay in contact with other school systems.

“We might not be able to go school-to-school as you do, but we meet monthly,” she said, referencing several boards each school board member is designated to met with. “We meet monthly with representatives from different school districts.”

Coada rebutted, speaking of funding already provided by the county board compared to other localities.

“Look at the figures. We are the fifth highest in local funds spent per student among counties our size and the 15th highest overall in the state,” concluded Coada.

If supervisors elect to grant all requests from the school board, funding would be close to $900,000, with $491,000 designated for capital improvement projects.

“As we have our dialogue, there will be additional questions,” said Miles. “We will have them for Dr. [Janet] Crawley.”