By Amber Lester
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Parents and citizens advised the Williamsburg-James City County School Board to make prudent budget decisions in a public hearing on Tuesday.
The WJCC school division has not yet revealed its proposed budget for fiscal year 2010-11, but speakers made recommendations of how the board could cut from the budget or better allocate funds. Some pleaded for their jobs, while others asked the board to help at-risk students and retain funding for support specialists and coaching stipends.
Lois Hornsby, an education advocate for whom the division’s newest middle school was named, recommended the board prepare a lean budget without cutting what’s needed. She added that the citizens of Gloucester have decided to pay more for their education system and the citizens of James City County “may not be far behind.”
Hornsby’s fellow education advocate Jennifer Taylor told the board she didn’t envy their positions. “I would be terrified to be you, but I also think you should not be afraid,” she said. “I hope you would choose to help the most vulnerable children in our division.” Taylor said she thought the community would support the board in its decision if it helped students who didn’t have educational resources at home.
Karen Armstead, president of the Williamsburg-James City County Education Association, asked the board to preserve teachers’ jobs. She asked the board to consider what kind of classroom environment they want and if it’s possible to achieve it with 30 students to a classroom. Without teacher assistants, she asked, who would work alongside struggling learners? “Please support our teachers and teaching staff,” she said, receiving applause from the audience.
A former educator at Rawls Byrd Elementary School asked the board and administration to reconsider the budget process. “You have a constitutional, legal responsibility to lay out a budget of what it takes to make for a good division,” said Philip Forgit.
He suggested that instead of unveiling a budget after cuts, the administration start with a budget that contains only the necessary costs. Forgit also reminded those listening that the area doesn’t need any more people without jobs or money to spend.
Jamestown High School reading specialist Kathy Barber was moved to tears as she described how educators change students’ lives. “I implore you not to forget students labeled at-risk,” she said, saying that many at-risk students get off the bus every day hoping someone noticed their efforts to improve. She shared how Jamestown principal Chuck Wagner once reached out to a teen girl who didn’t care about school, adding that the girl is now married and a nurse. The girl was her daughter.
“Kids deserve the very best every one of us teachers have to give,” she said.
Superintendent Gary Mathews is scheduled to present a Superintendent’s proposed budget at a meeting set for Wednesday, March 10, at 5:30 p.m. in the Warhill High School auditorium.
Other meetings on the schedule include:
- March 16: at 9 a.m. the board will meet with city and county officials, including chief financial officers, to go over the budget. Later that day, at 7 p.m., the school board will conduct a work session at the county complex.
- March 23: at 5:30 p.m. the school board will hold a special meeting on the budget in council chambers at the Stryker Building. Immediately after the special meeting the board is expected to vote on the budget.
Add comment
Comments
Plus who is to say that the price of land, steel and concrete will not be lower in the next 2-5 years. The school system does not know that either. They are betting with the tax payers money. Financing a project we could not afford in this economy.
No offense, but the last time I checked, the head of finance was doubling as an HR director. Or maybe I got that backwards.
Land hasn't decreased in price. Either has material. Labor, I will give you that one...maybe. However, labor is usually about 1/3 of the price of a construction project. But hey, you can justify and purchase if you try hard enough.
See you in the poor house!
George, you're just not correct on any of your points. Your opinion earns an "F" for faulty conclusions and a lack of supporting details.
Let's see if you are a math teacher. If I am broke and lost my source of revenue and I go out and build a $800,000 home but it only cost me $500,000 to build. Am I still broke?
For the record, I am a parent of a WJC student and my wife is a WJC teacher.