Two Bedford supervisors say they won't support school closures

BEDFORD — Two members of the Bedford County Board of Supervisors told Bedford Schools Superintendent Douglas Schuch on Monday that they would not support a budget request that involves consolidating two elementary schools.

Schuch earlier this month unveiled his 2010-2011 schools budget recommendation, which proposes eliminating 124 full-time jobs to generate $6.1 million in savings, and closing elementary schools in Body Camp and Thaxton. Those schools would be reconfigured as preschool centers in his plan that he shared Monday with all seven of the county’s supervisors.

“I will not support any budget you will bring that will have school closings in it,” said Annie Pollard, the supervisor who represents Thaxton. “I would tell you to take those schools off the table.”

Supervisor Dale Wheeler said the schools are part of those communities and he also does not support closing them against the wishes of affected parents and residents.

“I can’t tell the school board what to do,” Wheeler said to Schuch. “They are elected officials. All I can do is sign off on a budget. I will not support a budget request closing down neighborhood schools.”

Several parents of students at Body Camp and Thaxton schools addressed supervisors Monday night and urged them to visit the schools.

Candice Adkins, who has a child at Body Camp, said she has seen the devastating effects a school closure had on a community in her native West Virginia. She said the consolidation proposal is a “knee-jerk” solution.

“People really need to stop and think before they press these matters,” Adkins said. “We must exhaust all options before think of a solution as devastating as closing schools.”

Schuch said his recommendations, though painful, are necessary to trim costs in a very tough economic climate. Schuch is projecting significant reductions in funding from state, federal and local sources and additional expenses that total a $7 million shortfall, which could grow worse.

“We are looking under every nook and cranny to see where there can be savings,” Schuch said to supervisors.

He has said more than 75 percent of the budget is related to salaries and benefits, which means some combination of workforce reduction or salary cut must be implemented to make up the shortfall. The proposal already includes a 1 percent “across the board” cut that will affect employees’ take-home pay, he said.

School officials are hopeful a recently authorized voluntary retirement incentive program will minimize the number of involuntary layoffs.

Schuch said he has based his numbers on the premise that the county would contribute the same amount to the 2010-2011 budget as it did this year, though he acknowledges that could change due to budget issues at the local level.

Several supervisors said Monday the budget situation is dismal at the local level also and the county may have to consider its own workforce reduction or pay cuts.

“I’m trying to look at what’s least disruptive in the classroom,” said Supervisor John Sharp, who represents Forest. “That obviously should be our primary goal.”

The contribution to the school division is the largest line item in the county’s budget, which this year included an allocation of more than $36 million.

County Administrator Kathleen Guzi is expected to present supervisors a recommended 2010-2011 county budget soon.

She said Monday the county is projecting a $300,000 decrease in personal property tax collections and a “very small increase” overall in general property tax collections.

The county also projects a decrease of about $600,000 in its general fund, she said, which this year is $83.7 million.

The county’s total shortfall, including schools, is more than $10 million, based on Gov. Bob McDonnell’s state budget proposal, she said. Those figures are the latest available from the state and could change, she said.

“We will give you the tools to have a balanced budget,” she said of her approaching recommendations.

“Will it be painful? Yes.”

Supervisor Steve Arrington said budget challenges this year present “the perfect storm” for officials to navigate and said collaboration is necessary.

“It’s a time for the community to come together,” Arrington said. “We have a real battle ahead of us.”

The Bedford County School Board will host its next budget work session at 2 p.m. Wednesday and will hold a public hearing Thursday night at the Bedford Science & Technology Center at 600 Edmund St. in Bedford.

Supervisors will next discuss the county budget, which is targeted for adoption in April, on March 1.