Budget Cuts and New Initiatives

Q. Several months ago Governor Kaine ordered a hiring freeze and warned of possible employee layoffs in state government due to reduced general fund revenue. Will the state’s budget impact local school divisions and their ability to meet the educational needs of our children?

A. Not only will school divisions be facing declining revenue projections at the state level, but these deficits are mirrored in the localities by declining local tax revenue. It is going to be a difficult budget planning year and every department within local government, including the school board office, which often accounts for the largest percentage of a local budget, will be expected to come up with cost savings or reduction in services as well. What we tend to see happen at the division-level during times of declining state and local revenues are reductions in summer and after-school offerings, increases in class size and flat teacher salaries. I am confident that you will have numerous opportunities to review and pro-vide input into your local division budget. Often budget hearings are not well attended by the community, but hopefully that will change this year as tough decisions have to be made for 2009-2010.

Q. I read an article that described a grant that Charlottesville received to improve pedestrian and bicycle crossings and sidewalks, signs, to provide students with enhanced opportunities to walk and bike to school. Are school divisions in central Virginia receiving funding through this grant opportunity?

A. With the current emphasis and discussion on child-hood fitness, it does seem like an opportune time to try and capture some of the statewide Safe Routes to School program funding. The program is designed to make bicycling and walking to school safer and more appealing for students in elementary and middle schools. The program is actually federally funded through the Federal Highway Administration and dispensed at the state level by the Department of Transportation. Chesterfield and Goochland County Schools are receiving funding through this year’s grant. Chesterfield will use the grant money to do a “walkability audit” at each elementary school. Based on the results of the audits and interests in the school community, the county will identify schools where the addition of infrastructure improvements like sidewalks and trails would encourage more students to walk or bike to school. The infrastructure needs at the selected schools would then serve as the basis for requesting additional funds.

Jo Lynne DeMary was superintendent of public instruction for Virginia and is currently director of the Center for School Improvement at VCU. She believes that parents empowered by knowledge are the best partners in their children’s education.