WJC BUDGET UPDATE

February 27, 2007

Dear School Supporters,

WJC Superintendent Dr. Mathews has released his proposed budget to the School Board.

He also proposed "additional needs" that could be added to his budget, including important items such preschool expansion for at-risk children, replacement buses, and needed equipment.
These documents, taken together, constitute WJC Schools' "budget of need."

In addition, the division has recently learned it will need to add another $600,000 into the budget for the Virginia Retirement System.

Therefore, at this point based on the total budget of need and revenue estimates provided by the state, the county and the city, there is a $2.7 million shortfall in the operating budget.

A new staffing model is being used this year at the middle and high school levels. The good news is that the overall staff to student ratios are nearly the same as they are now. Four reserve positions are included in the budget, should more students arrive than expected.

To save money and reduce the need for bus drivers, a three-tiered bus schedule is proposed--saving $600,000--otherwise the shortfall would be $3.3 million. The School Board is now looking at 6 options for the three-tiered system. (Options 1-2-3, Options A-B-C). Each of the options gets away from having schools at each level (elementary, middle and high school) opening and closing at the same time. Some options have middle and high schools students beginning class later in the morning rather than earlier.

To save money and due to the fact that Eastern State can no longer house the alternative education program--called the "Center for Educational Opportunities" (CEO)--for students with discipline problems or serious problems succeeding academically in their middle or high schools, a proposal to restructure CEO has been presented which would save $1 million. Otherwise, the shortfall would have been $4.3 million.

The restructuring plan for CEO, however, has some serious drawbacks. The main one being that the CEO program currently runs from 9:30am - 4:15pm. The new plan would house the program in trailers at Jamestown High School from 3:00pm - 6:30pm (or 4:00 - 7:30pm if the high schoolers go to school last). What will this shortened program mean to these students, all of whom need much additional attention? And what will these students, some of whom have been suspended or expelled, be doing during the day? To continue the daytime CEO program, a new site would need to be found quickly.

The School Board will need to look closely at the Superintendent's budget, look for additional savings elsewhere, decide about tiered busing, decide whether and how to save the daytime CEO program, and then justify what they request to the county and city.

Ultimately it will up to the county and city to CLOSE THE SHORTFALL GAP by providing the additional funds necessary to open and staff the two new schools, provide salary and benefit increases for staff, and meet all the other needs.

Contact the School Board with your thoughts on the budget:
schoolboardmembers@wjcc.k12.va.us Ask them to adopt a real budget of need and to do everything in their power to retain the daytime CEO program.

Also, if you have not already, please encourage the County Supervisors and City Council members to provide funding to meet the schools' needs which, as you see above, will very likely significantly exceed the funds currently estimated to be provided for schools:council@williamsburgva.gov and jccboard@james-city.va.us

Thank you for supporting our schools!

Mike Ludwick