Amherst County School Board already talking budget

The Amherst County School Board is already preparing to figure out the district’s next budget, setting a series of workshops and also planning to meet with legislators and county supervisors next month.

The budget likely will be tough to configure because of state budget problems. Federal stimulus funds still are available. Stimulus funds saved the district from eliminating dozens of positions last year.

But billions of dollars have been trimmed from the state budget, and slower revenues might force Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell to trim more after he takes office next year.

Such cuts inevitably will trickle down to Amherst County, which is a key reason why the school board is starting now in planning the next fiscal budget.

“I think we’re smart in starting the budget early,” said school board Chairman Jones Stanley at a Nov. 12 board meeting. “We can budget, have an option and have another option if necessary.”

The board has one more scheduled meeting this year on Dec. 10. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is scheduled to present the state budget on Dec. 18, and the General Assembly convenes Jan. 13.

The board then has three regularly scheduled meetings, including a public hearing on the next budget at 6 p.m. Jan. 28.

The board then has a retreat on Feb. 19, then two budget work sessions at 5 p.m. on March 4 and March 18.

In other business last week, Julie Rogers, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment, along with Superintendent Brian Ratliff, briefed the board on changes to regulations that establish standards for accrediting public schools in Virginia, also known simply as SOA.

The state Board of Education approved changes to the SOA in February, which have been in effect since July and have implications for first-time ninth-graders in the 2010-11 school year. Among some of the highlights of the changes:

- Two new diplomas have been added, standard technical and advanced technical.

- A course in economics and personal finance is now required for all standard and advanced diplomas.

- The advanced diplomas will require 26 credits instead of 24.

When the standards of accreditation were changed, the list of approved math courses also was revised. Beginning with first-time ninth-graders in 2010, students will no longer be permitted to earn two math credits for Algebra 1, Part 1, and Algebra 1, Part 2.

Further, middle and high school students must have an accreditation score of 75 or higher (as in the elementary schools, and up from 70). Amherst County secondary schools already have exceeded the new requirement.

The board recognized Pleasant View and Temperance elementary schools, and their principal, Kelly Holmes, for being chosen as Virginia Naturally Schools, and Temperance also for being named a 2008-09 Title I Distinguished School for educational achievement.

The Virginia Naturally Schools award recognizes schools for efforts to increase environmental awareness and stewardship, and both schools were noted for recycling efforts by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.