Superintendent Pamela Moran presented her Funding Request for the 2010-11 school year to the Albemarle County School Board during a special meeting on January 20, 2010. The request of $145.88 million is $3.1 million less than the 2009-10 adopted budget of $148.9 million, and for the second consecutive year, is a request of reductions, not of new initiatives.

The Superintendent was challenged to meet projected revenue shortfalls, including a projected $4 million reduction in local revenue for 2010-11. The Funding Request incorporates a projected $363,000 decline in state revenues, and assumes the state's Composite Index changes are delayed until 2011-12, per former Governor Kaine's proposed budget. It also assumes no additional reductions in state revenue are forthcoming from the budget finalized by the General Assembly and Governor McDonnell. Anticipated revenues for 2010-11 decrease by 2.7% from the appropriated 2009-10 School Division budget. 

The 2010-11 funding request attempts to meet the needs of our community's learners with the current real-estate tax rate of $0.742 for revenues available to the school division. The superintendent's funding request of $145.88 million is about $1 million shy of the revenue projections to the school division of $144.95 million.
 
The Superintendent's Funding Request calls for $5.3 million in reductions, including:
 

• No salary increases of any kind for any employees; the projected 8 percent increase in health care costs and increased Virginia Retirement System expenses are covered by the request so employees will not receive a direct reduction in compensation for 2010-11;
• Increases in class size by one student in grades 4 through 12, a net loss of ~17 full-time equivalent teaching positions, many of which will be absorbed by attrition;
• Ten percent cuts in eligible operational budgets across the board for all schools and departments;
• Places hold on technology replacement and improvements;
• Reduces Learning Resources (textbooks, online resources, consumable materials) by $500,000;
• Reduces the transportation department by nearly $400,000, as efficiencies in routing, compensation, and program delivery are implemented. There will be fewer bus routes, longer bus ride times, expanded walk zones, and fewer bus drivers.
• Reduces professional development reimbursement funds by 50 percent.
• Introduces for the first time a student activities fee for athletic programs and reduces the programs we offer:
• A student activity fee of $75 per student, per sport, with a cap of $425 per family will be enacted.
• Freshmen athletic teams at Monticello High and Western Albemarle High will be eliminated.
• Junior Varsity coaching assistants will be eliminated at all high schools.
• Cuts instructional support funds for intervention and enrichment, CATEC, elementary and middle school summer school;
• Makes, for the third consecutive year, additional position cuts in at the central office, and in support services, including leadership reductions.

The Superintendent's Funding Request is not balanced to current projected revenue. An additional $1 million in increased funds or further reductions must be made to meet current available revenue. The School Board will hold a series of budget work sessions in January, a Public Hearing on February 2, and another Telephone Town Hall on February 3 to hear feedback and concerns from the community. The Board may decide to revise the funding request before submitting it to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.

The School Board will begin its budget discussions at its work session on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the Albemarle County Office Building Lane Auditorium at 401 McIntire Road in Charlottesville.
 
The complete Superintendent's Funding Request and other information about the Albemarle County Public Schools budget development process is available online at www.k12albemarle.org/board/budget .

2010-11 Budget Meetings and Hearings
Please note the following times and locations for meetings and hearings related to the 2010-11 budgets for both Albemarle County Public Schools and Albemarle County.

Your attendance is welcome at any of these meetings or hearings and could have the most impact at the first Board of Supervisors Public Hearing, to be held on March 3rd.

The contact information for Albemarle County School Board members and members of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors is provided below. You have the opportunity to speak directly to any concerns you have about funding for the schools by making use of the public hearings, telephone calls, or written correspondence to your elected representatives.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 6:30 pm, Monticello HS Auditorium
ACPS School Board Public Hearing:
Proposed budget, FY 2010/11

Wednesday, February 3, 2010, Teletown Hall
The ACPS School Board will solicit public questions and comments on the proposed school budget.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010, time TBA, Lane Auditorium, ACOB
Board of Supervisors Public Hearing:
The County Executive’s recommended budget, Fiscal Year 2010/11
 
Wednesday, March 31, 2010, time TBA, Lane Auditorium, ACOB
Board of Supervisors Public Hearing:
The BOS’s proposed budget, FY 2010/11
2010 calendar year tax rate

Wednesday, April 7, 2010, time TBA, Lane Auditorium, ACOB
Board of Supervisors Public Hearing:
The BOS sets the 2010 calendar year tax rate
The BOS adopts its FY 2010/2011budget
(during ACPS Spring Break)

Contact Information — Albemarle County Public Schools Board
http://schoolcenter.k12albemarle.org/education/dept/dept.php?sectiondetailid=32966

Ronnie Price, Sr.    (Rivanna district)
Pamela Moynihan    (Rio district)
Diantha McKeel (Jouett district)
Barbara Massie Mouly  (White Hall)
Eric Strucko    (Samuel Miller)
Steve Koleszar    (Scottsville)
Brian Wheeler  (At-Large)

To email the entire School Board, write schoolboard@k12albemarle.org

Contact Information — Albemarle County Board of Supervisors
http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=bos&relpage=1944

Lindsay  G. Dorrier, Jr.   (Scottsville District)
Dennis S. Rooker   (Jack Jouett District)
Duane E. Snow   (Samuel Miller District)
Rodney Thomas   (Rio District)
Ann H. Mallek   (White Hall District)
Kenneth C. Boyd    (Rivanna District)

To email the entire Board of Supervisors, write bos@albemarle.org