DINWIDDIE—Even with federal stimulus money included in a proposed budget for 2009-2010, as many as 44 positions in the Dinwiddie County school system could be eliminated. School Superintendent Charles Maranzano Jr. said of those job cuts, 17 teaching positions would be eliminated through “attrition, retirement and the non-renewal process. . . . We don’t have to dismiss anyone to accomplish that.“

The Chesterfield County School Board last night gave the go-ahead for the school system to request that the state conduct an efficiency review of its non-instructional operations. The School Board voted to request participation in the School Efficiency Review Program run by the Virginia Department of Budget and Planning. The department hires an independent consultant to look at possible efficiencies in various operations, including human resources, finance, special education, facilities and technology management, transportation and food services. The goal is for recommended savings to be used for instruction.

Hanover County school officials will use $6.3 million in federal stimulus money to spread job cuts over two years and stabilize health-care costs. The board had decided to cut 117 positions and delay purchases of buses and computer equipment to make up for a $15 million revenue shortfall for 2009-2010. It approved a $205.6 million budget in January.

Trammell Some members of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors feel frustrated by what they see as a lack of cooperation and ineffective communication with the school administration and School Board in this year’s budget process. They expressed their concerns in a county budget meeting last week. “There has not yet been a serious effort to itemize what they do or what it costs to run the services they provide,“ said Midlothian District Supervisor Daniel A. Gecker.

The Chesterfield County School Board has postponed tonight’s meeting to approve its $551.4 million budget until next Tuesday. A work session before the meeting has been canceled. The board decided to defer its vote on the budget to wait for the General Assembly’s action on the state budget this week. Last week, Superintendent Marcus J. Newsome announced that he would be restoring 150 positions into his proposed budget by reshuffling some funds from other areas. Employees, parents, students and community members have encouraged county and school officials not to lay off teachers and support staff members.

Members of the Powhatan County School Board say although they want to avoid salary cuts, the economic situation means the possibility must be considered. Board members said during a workshop Friday that they would rather make an across-the-board salary reduction than cut jobs. The system has about 4,500 students and 745 employees. School officials continue to struggle to slice $3.3 million from the $43.1 million budget being developed for next year. They have already outlined $2.3 million in cuts and now have about $1 million more to trim.

A recently formed coalition of parents has called for restoration of 100 percent of extra funding for five high-poverty schools and additional departmental cuts and furlough days for staff to save some teaching jobs. “There are opportunities for the board to consider in the coming weeks,“ said Don Hall, a member of Chesterfield Citizens for Excellence in Education, “opportunities that our group will explore and make recommendations on, also.“

Chesterfield residents plan community meetings on proposed school budget cuts

Chesterfield school superintendent Marcus J. Newsome plans to announce the restoration of some funds and jobs to the budget proposal.

The Hanover County School Board approved a $205.5 million budget last night for the next school year that includes 117 fewer positions. School Superintendent Stewart D. Roberson’s financial plan holds off on purchases such as new buses and computers, reduces the central office and all school budgets by 12.5 percent, and halts any new programs or initiatives that already have been funded. Existing programs—including an elementary stringed-instrument program that parents asked the board to keep in the budget—also will be cut. Class sizes will increase at all levels by one student, and classes with fewer than 10 students will be eliminated or collapsed into other classes.

Chesterfield County School Superintendent Marcus J. Newsome today will offer specific proposed cuts to make up for a $52 million budget shortfall in the next fiscal year. Newsome, who will present his 2009-10 budget to the School Board, has painted a grim picture for funding in next school year’s budget cycle. He has repeatedly said that everything that is not required—including personnel—is on the chopping block.

Richmond school administrators are putting together their financial plans for the 2009-10 school year, but they don’t want to go it alone in a year when cuts are likely to top curriculum as the top issue. With more than $260 million in taxpayer money at stake, the system’s interim superintendent is asking the community what it wants and expects from its schools.