Suffolk Schools face more budget cuts

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - State budget cuts are hitting close to home and could soon affect education through Virginia, especially in Hampton Roads.

In the midst of this still recovering economy, local school systems are now forced to make some difficult decisions in order to cope with the Commonwealth's need to scale back.

Suffolk Public Schools officials have just released their proposed budget for the next school year. Friday, they plan to meet with the media to discuss the budget in more detail.

WAVY.com went through the nearly 150-page budget for the 2011-2012 school year. In it, Suffolk Public Schools' Superintendent Daren Whitney lays out a $5.2 Million dollar shortfall.

In a meeting with reporters Friday, Whitney said there are $3.1 million in anticipated state cuts, and $2.1 million in anticipated additional costs.

Officials plan to shut down two separate schools: Florence Bowser Elementary and Mount Zion Elementary.

Seven year old Madison Galloway can list the many things she loves about the life-time of learning she has had at Mt. Zion. "You get to learn a bunch of stuff about Egyptians, Indians, a lot of stuff about history," she told WAVY.com.

Whitney said closing Mt. Zion could save $500,000.

Madison's father Joey Galloway said, "[I'm] a little upset to hear that. I was hoping that she would remain here until she finished here. We enjoyed having her here at Mt. Zion because of the small classrooms."

There are also small classrooms at Florence Bowser Elementary, where closing could save $400,000, according to Whitney.

Parent Sarah Hobbs said, "It's only pre-k, kindergarten and first grade. So you know when they're just starting school, it's a nice little school for them to get used to."

"To have a school that's preschool to first grade and it's so intimate. The staff is so wonderful, I'm really sad about it," parent Lisa Gordon said.

Her husband Tony Gordon recalled closing discussions last year, "The good battle was fought, and they survived for another year and we hope they can do the same for the coming years."

Whitney said if the proposed budget becomes final, students from Florence Bowser would likely move to Driver Elementary School. He said no decisions have been made yet about where Mt. Zion students would go next year.

According to Whitney, the hope is that the 22 staff members from those schools can be relocated to other vacant spots, but the goal is to eliminate a total of 33 positions. The remaining would come from ten positions that will not be filled.

Another result of the scaling back, is that teachers will once again not get raises. That means they will receive the same salary as they have since July 1st of 2008. This will be the third straight year of no raises.

There is an opportunity for parents and Suffolk residents to voice their thoughts. That will be held next Thursday, February 17th at King's Fork High School. It will begin at 6 p.m. This budget is not definite, it still needs to be approved by City Council.

The Commonwealth mandates that the budget must be passed by May 15, however, the school district hopes to have it passed in the early part of May.

On the web --

Proposed budget for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013
Suffolk Public Schools
Suffolk Public Schools Finance Department