NEWPORT NEWS -- Like other school divisions, Newport News Public Schools faces a huge deficit in its budget for the coming year. Anticipating at least a $20 million cut in funding, positions with the division will be eliminated, class sizes will increase, and the superintendent recommends closing South Morrison Elementary School. Cost-cutting measures are the same as they are in other school divisions, but there are some difference in the city.
"In Newport News, we've done a great job in managing our budgets," explains school board member Dee Johnston, "and, so, we're not recommending any reductions in salaries for anyone in our school division."
NNPS employees also will find no changes to their benefits. The school division believes it better positioned itself to address cuts in its budget than other districts in a couple of ways. First, it tried to trim costs last year. Included in that effort was reducing the workforce when possible. NNPS also used stimulus money it received differently than other school divisions, applying it to tangible items such as equipment and supplies rather than salaries.
The move to close South Morrison and shift students to other locations is expected to save NNPS more than $1 million.
"Many of those people," says Johnston, referring to faculty and staff, "will be following the students that they have now going to the schools where they're being rezoned to."
Superintendent Ashby Kilgore, Ed.D. recommends eliminating 183 positions. Currently, 103 spots are vacant, which means the school division has to slash only 80. NNPS is confident a large number of retiring employees will make it so that few people actually have to lose their jobs.
Other changes that parents may "feel" included added costs. Advanced Placement Exam fees, for example, traditionally have been covered by NNPS. Families now would have to pick up the cost, although some might be exempt.
While the proposed budget addresses a $20 million cut in funding, Newport News Public Schools recognizes it may need to cut millions more depending on what final decision comes out of the General Assembly.
People can give input about the budget during the school board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 16.
