Superintendents talk budget cuts

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Doing more with less -- it's a lesson many are still learning and those entrusted with your child's education are taking a crash course.

The economic slump is putting state budgets in the red, and it's a color that's bleeding over to local schools. Thursday, we spoke with three local school superintendents working with slashed budgets in tough times.

"The analogy I would use is we're dealing with a tsunami rolling through our school divisions right now," said Portsmouth Superintendent Dr. David Stuckwisch.

We heard an urgent tone from all three school superintendents who faced 10 On Your Side cameras Thursday morning. Fiscal challenges outlined by chief executives of Portsmouth

"I've been a superintendent for 19 years in the state of Virginia, and nothing of this magnitude has ever happened in the Commonwealth," Stuckwisch said.

Dr. Randolph Nichols, superintendent for Chesapeake schools, agreed.

"Yes, I think it's going to have an impact for a number of years upon all of us," he said.

"The economy right now is a challenge, but there is a lack of political will to generate new revenue," added Dr. Ben Kiser, superintendent for Gloucester schools.

They articulate textbook examples of trying to do more with less.

A picture of the Portsmouth budget reveals 340 fewer positions over the last five years. At-risk children may get up to $400 less from the state, per student.

"As we move forward, our number one strategy is to try to do everything by attrition," said Stuckwisch, "whether we end up there I do not know."

But the attrition method may help Chesapeake this year. This year's proposed budget cuts in that district are $43 million, and the elimination of 90 positions, with no layoffs. But Nichols says that it's students will pay a price.

"We've taken pride in our school division of attempting to reduce of years, and I see that being reversed," Nichols said.

And the fiscal picture in Gloucester reveals more than numbers. Kiser has even floated the idea of a four-day school week, and found parents willing to pay higher taxes to avoid cuts. He says he would like to see that same attitude elsewhere.

"It's frustrating to see, in my view, a very limited effort to look long term at out children and I'm afraid we're going to have to hit that brick wall as a Commonwealth before we say 'time out,'" said Kiser.

But budgets everywhere are tight. Unemployment rates are at their highest in decades and tax revenues down. Virginia has $4 billion less to spend.

"Folks have asked me, 'What is this going to look like?' and I answer I don't know," Stuckwisch said. "I've never experienced this."

We asked them: What else can we do to preserve public education in Hampton Roads?

"We are in the process--really in the infancy--of virtual learning, that's going to help, but it's not here yet," said Stuckwisch.

Virtual learning, or online classrooms, are one of Gov. McDonnell's priorities for the future of education. But these men will tell you they are in the people business.

"Whenever you're talking about a 10 to 15 percent reduction in resources you can't continue the services at the level most of us are comfortable with," Kiser said.

"We can't continue just indefinitely just cutting," Nichols added.