School Board continues work on budget

While Culpeper County Public School officials work to balance next year’s operating budget that has a deficit between $5.9 million and $7.5 million, a group of teachers made a statement of their own Thursday.

Jeff Walker, Culpeper County Education Association president, suggested the organization’s 500 members don black clothing to express mourning over potential job losses based on the school division’s declining budget.

The group’s theme “Operation: Fashion Statement” was a day CCEA members wore black as a symbol of the “bleak budget situation.”

“We were hoping that a quiet fashion statement would get noticed and perhaps even bring about some questions from those outside the school,” said Walker, who is also a theater arts teacher at Eastern View High School. “We are not aiming our protest at any specific person or body. The superintendent and school board members are trying to do the best with what they’ve been dealt. But the situation Culpeper schools, and really all public schools in Virginia, are facing is grim.”

Meanwhile, the Culpeper County School Board decided to hold an additional budget work session tonight following the 6 p.m. closed session at Central Office, 450 Radio Lane, before adopting the fiscal year 2011 operating budget.

The board plans on finalizing its budget on March 15 at 7 p.m. at the County Administration building, 302 N. Main St. Two days later, the board will officially present its budget to the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors.

“We continue to get revised information from the state that we need to consider before we finalize the budget,” wrote School Board Chairman George Dasher via e-mail on Sunday. “There are also several action items we had asked the staff to research. We will discuss those items as well.

According to the school division’s deputy clerk, the board will receive public delegations at both meetings in an effort to gain further input on the budget.

“We don’t usually include delegation time in our work sessions, but will this time to allow the public an opportunity to share thoughts about the budget,” Dasher added.

CCPS currently operates on a $72.6 million budget. During several recent budget work sessions, school officials have struggled with how to close the budget shortfall that stems from the sour economy.

Superintendent Bobbi Johnson has recommended cutting 83 positions, eliminating middle school sports, and reducing employees from 12-month to 11-month and 11-month to 10-month positions as ways to reduce costs.

During last month’s budget work session, CCPS officials suggested implementing an early retirement cash incentive program for employees age 50 plus with 25 years of service.

If 161 eligible employees participate, the school division will save $380,600, according to CCPS finance personnel.

As part of tonight’s action items, the board plans to vote on whether to approve early retirement eligibility and criteria; personnel recommendations; and payroll and payment of bills.

Want to go?
What: Culpeper County School Board budget work session
Where: Central Office, 450 Radio Lane
When: Tonight following the 6 p.m. closed session