Cuts to school agriculture program fuel concern

BEDFORD — Several members of Bedford’s farming community raised concerns to the Bedford County School Board on Thursday over looming cuts to Staunton River High School’s agricultural program.

The high school in Moneta stands to lose one of two agricultural teaching positions next year because of funding reductions that affected programs in each of the division’s schools, said Mac Duis, director of instruction.

Joy Powers, a Staunton River senior and member of Future Farmers of America, said the school’s chapter is among the most successful in the state and that cutting it “doesn’t make sense.”

“Our program continues to grow year after year,” she said, adding that it teaches vital life lessons for students and leadership. “If you’re in FFA, you know what respect is.”

The potential blow to the program is a threat to a big part of the county’s industry, Powers said. Her father, Jeff Powers, is chairman of an agricultural economic development advisory board formed by county officials in 2007 to maintain a close connection with the local farming community.

Jeff Powers told school officials Thursday the advisory board feels education is key to keeping the agriculture industry viable. Agriculture and forestry accounts for $79 billion of the state’s annual economy, he wrote in a letter to the board.

“Agriculture is not just cows and plows these days,” Powers said, describing the industry as “dynamic and ever-changing.”

Agricultural programs in the schools should be expanded rather than reduced, he wrote in the letter.

Besides Staunton River’s program, Liberty High School has one agricultural teacher and Jefferson Forest High School has none, Duis said. Duis described the program cuts as “tough calls” in a tough budget year.

The budget was $7 million less than the 2009-10 budget due in large part to state and federal reductions in funding. School officials expect to face a shortfall of more than $4 million next year.

“We have struggled and continue to struggle,” Chairwoman Debbie Hoback said of budget cutbacks. “All of the schools have been affected in way or the other, especially at the high schools. It’s very disappointing to see this happen. It’s tragic when it comes to this at budget time.”

Board member Joy Wright said the agricultural program “has been the glue that kept Staunton River together” and urged the parents to help boost enrollment in its courses.

W.P. Johnson, a Farm Bureau member and chairman of the Bedford County Young Farmers, said the teaching position means a lot to the community and “is not just a shop class.”

Amy McGee, a Staunton River parent, said she has lived in Bedford County for 30 years and has watched many farmers age. The school and its teachers “ignite interest in youth” with farming matters, she said.

Her daughter, Rebekah McGee, said students should never be turned away from learning the importance of agriculture.

“The students today are the workforce tomorrow,” she said.

Also Thursday, the board voted to recall an elementary teaching position that had been cut in the 2010-11 budget. The rehire was because of a resignation. To date, five positions have been recalled out of 19 layoffs the board approved in April.