Pleas to Preserve Funding at York Schools' Budget Hearing

By Amber Lester Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Concerns about school budgets dominated Monday’s York County School Board meeting, where parents, board members and a teacher spoke out against proposed cuts.

In the past two weeks, different budget proposals have been released by Superintendent Eric Williams, Gov. Bob McDonnell, the House of Delegates and the state Senate. Each presents a different, but dire, picture of what schools could be missing for the next two years as the state tries to make up a $2 billion gap in the budget.

During the meeting, York Schools Chief Financial Officer Dennis Jarrett shared estimates of how the budget could be affected by each proposal from the state. If the governor’s proposals were all passed, York schools could lose another $4.3 million (on top of the existing $5 million shortfall from former Gov. Tim Kaine’s proposal). If the House budget were passed, York would lose an additional $3 million. Finally, the Senate bill, if passed, would cost York another $1.2 million in state funding.

Jarrett reiterated that little is clear at this time and more detailed information is forthcoming from the Virginia Department of Education. The House and Senate will vote on their respective budgets Thursday and, at that point, will appoint a conference committee that will merge the two budgets. The conference committee will attempt to have the joint budget proposal ready by March 13.

Several parents and education advocates spoke during a public hearing about the importance of preserving York County’s education system. All of them recommended fellow residents lobby the Board of Supervisors and state representatives to avoid as many cuts to education as possible.

Grafton High School teacher and volleyball coach Dena Montini made her case with a PowerPoint presentation that showed her resume, along with those of several colleagues, to demonstrate the experience level of York County’s teachers. Montini, who teaches AP Psychology along with special ed, said she couldn’t do her job without paraeducators. Williams’ budget cuts funds for paraeducators, who assist teachers in the classroom.

In addition, Montini said her class size already grew this year from 27 to 31 students. Because she is an active user of the county’s online information-sharing program, Edline, she spends hours adding class notes, games, assignments and more to the site for each class.

Joy Cipriano, president of the York County Parent-Teacher Association Council, told the board she and her husband moved to the county for one reason: the schools. She said she could go without things, but children cannot. “I have a 10-year-old car … I’d love to get rid of that, but that’s going to wait. Today at work I found out we’re going to have no pay increase for a third year. That can wait,” she said. “What can’t wait is our children. They can’t wait to grow up.”

Kim Voska, president of the York Education Association, admitted cuts were inevitable, but reminded her fellow residents not to get upset with the board, but rather the legislators. She also invited people to join her on the Capitol steps in Richmond this Saturday for an education rally and at the March 18 Board of Supervisors meeting.

“Education cuts do not heal,” she said.

The board members echoed the concerns of the citizens. Member Linda Meadows said the board had tried to lobby the legislators already, meeting with them in Richmond in recent weeks. “Somebody somewhere is going to wake up and realize that if we shortchange our children an education, it doesn’t just hurt our children,” she said. “It hurts our community, state and the country. It will take us years to recover from this.”