VB school budget approved unanimously

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - The Virginia Beach School Board voted 10-0 to approve the operating budget for the next two school years, a budget that demanded millions in cost cuts from this year.  The budget for 2010-2011 totals $628 million.

By tapping into school savings, increasing class sizes in fourth and fifth grades, and more, the school system cut $37 million from spending. The budget doesn't include any layoffs, instead relying on attrition.

But the board hasn't ruled out layoffs if necessary. So far, the school has avoided terminating any programs or closing any schools, although the board did close a school last year in anticipation of tough times ahead.

In preparing the budget, the school system planned on a worst-case scenario, getting the least amount of money from the state and the city. But until the two approve a final budget, the school board must be ready to adjust their own spending. 

Because the board used the most conservative numbers available, they may be able to add items back into the budget if they get more money than expected.

"It's a whole lot easier to give something back than to take something away you thought you had in the budget," said School Board Chair Daniel Edwards.

The operating budget for the 2011-2012 school year increases class sizes in all other grades.