VB school supporters protest council

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - "Save our Schools! Save our schools!" chanted a hundred irate school supporters outside Virginia Beach City Hall Tuesday evening.

They were protesting the city council's decision to take $8.8 million from the School Board Reserve Fund to build a new recreation center and a new animal shelter.

"There are things that they have to buy with that money," said parent and protestor Karen Mallard. "They have to buy school buses...several teachers have gotten their slips that their contracts won't be renewed next year"

Beach Mayor Will Sessoms leads the opposition, citing that the council is in charge of all the money--even money the school saves independently.

"It's all one pot of money ladies and gentlemen. That's what it is," he said. "The budget that was asked for by the school board for next year was funded 100 percent of their request."

The money in the budget is, in fact, part of a formula of 51.3 percent of seven revenue streams.

Sessoms said Superintendent Jim Merrill is making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Merrill, who was willing to talk with reporters last week, refused to make any comments Tuesday after a meeting Monday night with council and board members. But school board members disagree with Sessoms.

"I'm very disappointed, because I do think money that's earmarked for educational purposes should be used for educational purposes," said board member Carolyn Weems.

Weems is so upset with what Sessoms and the council are doing she is seeking to change the law when the General Assembly meets in January.

"[We are going to work] with the General Assembly to change the state law, so that the 133 school districts will be able to keep their own savings," she said.

Weems also says the taking of surplus money could lead to a change in spending strategy.

"What are we saying? We spent wisely and now we don't have the money anyway?" Weems said. "I'd like to apologize for not spending money on the needy things we have like teacher salaries and compensation for all our employees."