Hanover School Board hears budget pleas

Hanover County's School Board heard from more than a dozen people last night at its pre-budget public hearing.

They ranged from a former homeless, single mother who supports funding Head Start, to kindergarten instructional assistants who say their influence on children affects the students for the rest of their lives.

School officials have warned the 2010-11 budget situation may be worse than the current year's. Another year of reductions of more than $10 million is likely.

Acknowledging the tough financial situation, parents, teachers and representatives from teachers' groups urged the board to remain focused on low pupil-teacher ratios, competitive salaries and benefits, and adequate staffing. A handful of parents encouraged the board to continue funding Head Start and the separate state preschool program for 4-year-olds.

Others were more specific.

Esther McDermott, a kindergarten teacher at Kersey Creek Elementary School, asked the board to reinstate seven kindergarten instructional assistant positions cut from the current school year and not to cut seven more during this next round of reductions.

She said the board should consider cutting other areas first, such as travel budgets for administrators or sports activities, textbooks or reimbursements given to students who complete dual-enrollment college courses.

Parent Tim Riley said nothing should be off the table when it comes to cuts.

"It's either cut things or raise taxes," he said. "Every area needs to be looked at."

Schools Superintendent Stewart D. Roberson said ideas from the public hearing will be passed on to the budget advisory committee for consideration.

Roberson said school officials still don't know how deep the cuts will be, but "it's not going to be pretty."

A final proposed budget will be available in January.

Contact Holly Prestidge at (804) 649-6945 or .