Bedford schools' budget hearing could draw crowd

A large crowd is expected to flood the Bedford County School Board’s public hearing Thursday to protest the prospect of closing two elementary schools and cutting more than 120 employees.

Those options are included in Superintendent Douglas Schuch’s budget proposal for the 2010-2011 school year that is projecting a reduction in state funding of about $7 million. Schuch said Wednesday that number could go up or down depending on final figures from state lawmakers still being discussed in Richmond.

If tonight’s hearing in Bedford resembles a community meeting held last week at Thaxton Elementary School, the turnout may be heavy. Residents packed that school’s gym to speak out against the proposed consolidation of schools in Thaxton and Body Camp that Schuch said would result in a savings of $1 million.

School board members met Wednesday and discussed increasing class sizes, charging fees for extracurricular activities and reducing costs of programs. Schuch said he hopes to have the budget approved and submitted to county supervisors by March 25 and he could make amendments to his proposal if necessary.

The proposed budget’s projected total for operations is currently $94.3 million, a decrease of more than $5 million from the current year. Board members agreed Wednesday they would not support a 10.7 percent pay reduction for employees to make up the bulk of the shortfall but are exploring the possibility of less drastic pay cuts.

A 1.6 percent pay reduction for all employees would have to be absorbed to equal the amount in savings if the two schools weren’t closed, school officials said.

At the board’s direction, the division Wednesday launched an anonymous survey to all of its 1,700 employees to determine where they stand on pay reductions of 1 to 4 percent in an effort to reduce layoffs.

The deadline is Friday, and the board will discuss the results of the survey next week.

Schuch’s proposal already includes a 1 percent “across the board” pay cut. Increasing the number of students in classrooms is more burdensome for smaller schools like Body Camp and Thaxton because of low enrollment, he said.

School officials also hope a voluntary retirement incentive program that offers one-time payments to eligible employees could minimize layoffs, though it is not yet clear by how much. The deadline for participation is March 9.

Tim Parker, director of human resources, said Wednesday he has received 43 forms from employees indicating interest in the program and another 22 notifications of employees’ intentions to relocate but he hasn’t yet received any official resignations.

In addressing Bedford City Council on Tuesday, board member Mickey VanDerwerker said the board is trying to maintain the quality of education to its best ability despite financial pressures that she said would still linger next year.
“Even if things turn around, it will take a while to regain our footing,” she said.

Thursday's hearing will take place at 7 p.m. at the Bedford Science & Technology Center at 600 Edmund St. in the city of Bedford. To view a budget summary and a presentation of Schuch’s proposal, visit www.bedford.k12.va.us.