Lynchburg School Board to vote on budget

Lynchburg City School Board likely will approve the division’s 2009-2010 budget Tuesday, which could include the elimination of more than 80 positions.

Among the possible reductions are 31 teaching jobs and 18 teacher assistants. The cuts, which were recommended to the board by Superintendent Paul McKendrick at last week’s meeting, are necessary to close an expected $5 million funding gap.

Other proposals to make up the deficit include a one-day furlough and elimination of tuition reimbursements for teachers who go back to school. It also called for a 10 percent across-the-board budget reduction for the central administration office.

Tuesday, the board is scheduled to further discuss budget proposals before adopting its budget. The finance information will then be sent to City Council, which is responsible for appropriating about a third of the division’s more than $80 million budget.

Personnel costs make up the largest portion of the Lynchburg City Schools budget; about 80 percent is spent on educator salaries and benefits. During several budget meetings, teachers and staff have asked officials to protect their jobs and salaries. McKendrick said because so much of the budget is devoted to salaries, cuts are unavoidable.

The division’s reduction in force policy states layoff decisions will be based on seniority. If the school system begins hiring again in the future, all previously laid off employees are to be first in line for the new jobs.

The elimination of 31 teachers is expected to save around $1.5 million. Officials hope most of those jobs can be reduced through attrition and retirement. Currently, the General Assembly is considering legislation to allow school boards to begin offering early-retirement incentives.

In addition to cutting teaching positions, city officials have also proposed cutting 42 classified positions, such as teacher assistants, bus assistants, custodians, clerks and employees in transportation and maintenance. The plan also calls for eliminating 10.5 administrative jobs. Overall, possibly cutting 83.5 positions will amount to a total savings of about $3.2 million.

Other measures such as unpaid furloughs would save an estimated $354,078, and cutting the library budget by a third would save about $51,500.

While the board likely will OK a budget today, that document still will be subject to change based on final appropriations from the federal, state and local government.

IF YOU'RE GOING
What: Lynchburg School Board meeting
Where: School administration building, 915 Court St.
When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
More info: www.lynchburg.org

PROPOSED CUTS
Lynchburg City Schools is considering making the following cuts for next fiscal year in order to close an expected shortfall of $5 million:

$3.2 million: Elimination of 83.5 employee positions
$668,844: 10 percent cut in central office budget
$354,078: One-day furlough
$180,000: Building security
$138,000: Delay in purchase of new textbooks
$116,000: Elimination of tuition reimbursement for teachers
$66,597: Reduction in supply allotments to schools
$51,500: Reduction in library allotments to schools
$39,755: Reduction in capital allotments to schools
$30,000: Reduction in drug testing
$28,500: Drop EAP
$27,500: Reduction in teaching extra periods
$26,311: Reduction in instructional allotment to schools
$12,818: Reduction in enrichment allotment to schools
$10,500: Reduction in work compensation fee
$7,000: Relocation of parent center
$5,000: Elimination of paid lunch duty
$4,600: Elimination of student activity directors
— Lynchburg City Schools