Resolution of temporary support staff funding cap still months away

Board of Education members are months from telling lawmakers whether they think the state should permanently cap funding for thousands of school support-staff positions.

But one board member yesterday indicated that she would favor not limiting the funding, and board President Mark E. Emblidge said he would like to implement a ratio for support employee positions, no matter what the panel decides on the cap.

This year, legislators agreed with Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's plan for a funding cap in 2010 of one support position per 4.03 instructional positions funded through the Standards of Quality, which outline the basic requirements for a public education in Virginia.

That cap saved about $340.9 million in salaries and benefits, beginning in fiscal 2010. The General Assembly asked the board to consider whether a cap should be made permanent.

Emblidge said at yesterday's meeting that he is waiting for more information before making a decision on the funding cap, but that he supports adding to the standards a ratio for support staff.

"It would make the SOQs consistent," he said.

The standards define minimum staffing for instructional personnel, but there is no such ratio for assistant superintendents, department directors, secretaries, attendance clerks, custodians, maintenance workers and curriculum specialists.

Over the years, the increase in the number of support staff has outpaced the increase in instructional personnel.

A temporary infusion of federal stimulus cash helped some school systems avoid major layoffs in the wake of the 2010 funding cap, but districts would have to find other ways to pay for the positions if the cap remains.

Some school divisions in Virginia already appear to pay for additional instructional staff with support-staff funding, according to preliminary findings from a consultant the Department of Education hired to evaluate the appropriateness of the current staffing levels.

That's allowed, but it further illustrates the challenges that districts could face if the cap is made permanent.

Keeping the limit rather than funding all support positions would save the state $376 million in fiscal 2011. The difference would grow to $378 million in fiscal 2012, for a two-year total of $754 million, according to preliminary estimates from Kent C. Dickey, assistant superintendent of finance at the Department of Education.

The state funnels between $5.5 billion and $6 billion to schools under the standards.

Board Vice-President Ella P. Ward said yesterday that the cap is not something she would support "if possible."

"Knowing how much our schools need the support of that staff, I'm not really in support of that," she said.

The board is expected to make its recommendation by Nov. 1.

Also yesterday, the board approved a first review of proposed changes to regulations regarding which fees schools can ask students to pay. They head next to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's office before a public comment period.

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .