Petersburg School Board passes draft budget

PETERSBURG -- The Petersburg School Board last night unanimously voted to approve a draft $50.4 million operating budget to submit to the City Council. The budget eliminates 22 teaching positions, the majority of which are vacant.

Before the board's vote, Petersburg schools Superintendent James M. Victory said, "Because this is a very fluid budgetary process, and [because] there are still several unknowns that may potentially impact final decisions, we reserve the right to continually adjust this draft document as necessary."

Those unknowns include the impact of money the school system will receive as part of the federal stimulus package.

Before the vote, board member Fred B. Wilson said he wanted to make sure it was clear that the board is submitting a budget draft to the council "with the understanding we may possibly have to make some revisions."

For the current school year, the system is operating under a $53.9 million budget.

When the budget process began, Petersburg was facing a revenue shortfall of $3.7 million. Balancing the budget meant cuts to programs and jobs.

The largest reduction, $2.4 million, came from cutting more than 40 positions. Of the teaching jobs to be cut, 16 are already vacant. Other staff positions cut include 2.5 administrative positions, 4.2 support positions, five paraprofessionals, four clerical positions, 2.5 custodian positions (two of which are vacant), one vacant maintenance position and one part-time transportation position.

The remaining $1.3 million in cuts came from non-personnel cost reductions, said Tracie Coleman, director of budget and finance. Those include reducing funds for travel, professional development and textbooks. The school system also will reduce the amount it pays to send Petersburg students to schools outside the district to such schools as the Maggie L. Walker and Appomattox Regional governor's schools.

The approved budget also calls for consolidating space at Blandford Academy, cutting transportation for after-school athletic practices, and reducing stipends for coaches and advisers at Petersburg High, Vernon Johns Junior High and Peabody Middle schools.

At the beginning of the meeting, the school system was presented with an $80,000 grant from the Cameron Foundation to be dispersed to the schools that are fully accredited next year. Currently, only one of the city's seven schools, Robert E. Lee Elementary, is fully accredited.

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .