Caroline schools must cut $2.4 M
22 teachers may be cut
By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@verizon.net
Facing millions in cutbacks and rising costs for retirement and staff insurance, superintendents in King George County and Spotsylvania County have proposed axing broad swathes of personnel and programs; but in Caroline, Dr. Greg Killough, superintendent, is formulating more surgical cuts.
"We're working very hard to provide the best educational program despite these cuts," he said on Friday.
"We're asking teachers to do more with less. I'm concerned about the well-being of the staff, which impacts students."
With $3.1 million in cuts needed in King George, Superintendent Candace Brown proposes to eliminate all athletics, and cut the Chesapeake Bay Governor's School, Head Start and Naval JROTC.
In Spotsylvania, where $14.7 must be trimmed, Superintendent Jerry Hill wants to cut 131 positions along with freshman and middle school sports.
In Caroline, $2.4 million needs to be cut.
Dr. Killough said he is beginning by cutting equipment purchases. Cut too are funds for new textbooks. "We'll replace them when the money comes back," he said.
Savings will also come by using less-efficient wireless Internet, and not fiber optics.
Class supplies will be cut 50 percent, with teachers and PTAs bridging the gaps where they can.
In personnel, 22 teachers and 8 teaching assistants will be cut, "preferably by attrition," said the superintendent, resulting in increased class sizes in 4th and 5th grades (a total of 24 to 28 per class), middle school (three or four students more per class) and larger classes at the high school. Numbers would not be increased in Head Start, and kindergarten through 3rd.
No nurses would be cut, but one clerical worker would.
Central Office would cut five support positions, "though not the workload," he said. In addition, some Central Office contract work would be cut. One school administrator would also be cut.
Twelve- and 11-month teaching stipends would be reduced to 10, and potentially two or three resource officers would be cut. However, Dr. Killough said he is hoping not to cut the D.A.R.E. officer.
Proposed too, parents would pay for Drivers Ed, and summer school would not be offered. The Governor's School would also possibly be cut. "We're still talking," Dr. Killough said.
Parents would pay a portion of dual-enrollment costs.
In sports, coaching staff would be reduced, and the number of competitions would be cut back. While no middle school or junior varsity sports would be cut, no new equipment would be purchased.
Two maintenance workers and two part-time custodians would also be cut, along with five part-time workers in transportation and maintenance. This will reduce the number of bus routes and cause them to be longer.
These cuts, he said, "will definitely have a negative impact" coming unfortunately just when Caroline has achieved an upswing in achievement, with all the county's six public schools attaining AYP last year, a feat only 25 school divisions accomplished throughout the state.
Also impacting Caroline schools, the $9.5 million in stimulus funds sought for upgrading the high school were not granted.
Fewer cuts however will be needed if legislation backed by Delegate Chris Peace (Republican) is passed, which will unfreeze the Composite Index in Caroline from 1.38 to 1.34, providing Caroline with about $500,000.
"I'm very appreciative he's considering that. We're hoping it goes through because it's a major impact on us," Dr. Killough said.
Gov. McDonnell, however, has said he will maintain the freeze.
The Composite Index is a calculation on a county's ability to pay for schools based on adjusted gross income, taxable retail sales, and true value of real property.
In regards to the cuts he must consider, Dr. Killough said, "I don't want to be cutting any of the programs. People may be losing jobs, and that concerns me."
The Caroline superintendent will present his budget for the School Board's approval at its special meeting Thursday, February 4 at Caroline Middle School, starting at 5:30. p.m.
