Charlottesville and Albemarle County schools may see further cuts to teaching staff for the 2010-2011 school year, if Governor Bob McDonnell’s call to unfreeze the compositie index passes the General Assembly. During a budget work session yesterday, the Charlottesville School Board considered cutting the positions of several instructional assistants as well as teachers at Walker Upper Elementary and Buford Middle School—a move that could save city schools $350,000, reports the Daily Progress. Superintendent Rosa Atkins’ proposed budget of $69.4 million for 2010-2011 is roughly $1 million lower than the current budget.
City schools weren’t alone yesterday in their budget struggles. The Albemarle County School Board held a public meeting for input on the school division’s budget request for next year—a request that already incorporates a reduction of 18 full-time positions, $500,000 in "learning resources" such as textbooks, and an 8-percent increase in health and dental care premiums. The Progress notes that audience members brought up ideas like redistricting school sports teams from AAA to AA, and increasing real-estate taxes. In Charlottesville, real estate is taxed at roughly $0.95 per $100, compared to $0.74 per $100 in Albemarle.
