York Schools OK Budget, Supes Agree to Extra $600K

By Amber Lester Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The York County School Board unanimously approved its budget for fiscal year 2010 at a special meeting on Monday night.

In a seven-minute meeting, the board members (except Linda Meadows, who missed the meeting due to illness) praised the administration, faculty and community for its work and support to prepare the $115 million operating budget.

“When times get tough, you need to unite somehow,” said member Page Minter as he thanked his fellow board members for their work. “This was a real positive experience in a difficult time.”

The approved budget included $600,000 the board requested from the Board of Supervisors at a joint work session on March 24. The $600,000 in additional funding saves 10 teaching positions and six para-educators. The board requested the funding in an effort to keep class sizes low; if the $600,000 were not received, class sizes could increase by four to five students in the affected grade levels.

The York Board of Supervisors hasn’t approved its budget yet, but the board moved to honor the request at its Saturday budget retreat. During the March 24 work session, Board of Supervisors Chair Donald Wiggins indicated the board would do what it could to help the school system. “We didn’t realize how critical the situation is,” he said, adding that the county would have to trim funding for nonprofits to accommodate the request. The county budget adoption is set for an April 6 meeting.

Even with an additional $600,000, the schools’ budget is down about $6 million from last year’s budget. The budget cuts 24 positions (no layoffs), 10 of which are currently unfilled teaching jobs. Outside the classroom, the budget cuts included reduced bus driver hours, tuition reimbursement, field trips, athletic equipment funding, textbook funding, payment for some Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests and more.

The approved budget will be available here on Tuesday.