Superintendent of Schools Steven Walts proposed his operating budget fiscal 2014 to the Prince William County School Board Tuesday night.
The $893.6 million budget includes funding for existing programs, a two percent raise for school division employees and money for construction of new schools and facilities; however, due to budget constraints, class sizes will not be reduced.
Walts prefaced his budget presentation, quoting Chairman At-Large Milt Johns, when he said, “this was going to be a challenging budget year.”
Existing programs Walts recommends the School Board support includes specialty programs including Cambridge, International Baccalaureate (IB), A.P. Scholars Program, biotech, world language and art programs. They will also continue to fund Governors Schools.
Walts noted the success of these various programs as one reason Prince William County was listed as one of the Nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People.
In keeping with the trend towards funding STEM programs, Walts also included in his plan additional funding for robotics teams.
Employees would also fare well under the Superintendent’s new proposal. Staff members with Prince William County Schools would receive a two percent pay increase across the board, regardless of years of service. On top of this, they would receive the state mandated one percent increase to directly fund their retirement through the Virginia Retirement System.
Walts said that the pay raises were necessary as the “cost of competing” in a competitive area.
The superintendent would also like funds to also be allocated for the addition of 2,089 new students into the county. To accommodate those students, the school board will need to fund bonds for the construction of new schools, including Nokesville K-8 School, which is already under construction, and one new elementary school in Haymarket.
They are also setting aside funding for the twelfth high school in mid county. Although it would open in 2016, it would be necessary to begin the process next year. In addition, the proposal includes funding needed for hiring of new staff for Nokesville as well as the keeping of 90 existing mobile classrooms.
Existing schools on the east end of the county are also up for renovation, according to Walt’s proposal. These include the auditoriums at Gar-field and Woodbridge high schools. Elementary schools on the east side of the county will also receive renovations, according to the plan.
Walts admitted that his plan does not decrease class sizes even though Prince William County Schools has the highest class-sizes in the state.
The cost per pupil at $10,399 is also lower than any district in the region except Spotylvania and Stafford. Arlington spends the most in Northern Virginia at $18,675 per student.
Walts defended the per pupil cost, acknowledging that PWCS has been recognized as having the best “return on investment” in Northern Virginia. He also demonstrated how increasing cost per pupil would increase the budget exponentially. However, the slides presented demonstrated that when adjusted for inflation, cost per student has essentially not changed since 2005.
Of the operating fund, 43.6 percent comes from Prince William County funds, 40.4 percent from Virginia state aid 8.5 percent sales tax, 3.4 percent from federal aid and .4 percent from other sources. Prince William Schools will also have a 3.7 percent beginning balance transferred from this year’s funds.
Of the expenditures, 82.5 percent fund salaries and benefits, 6.1 percent to ultilities, 5.2 to reserves, 4.6 to supplies and materials and 1.6 to capital improvements. This also breaks down to 77.5 percent towards instruction, 9.1 percent facilities management, 6.2 percent transportation, 6.1 percent central support and 1.1 percent general reserves.
Dave Cline, Associate Superintendent of Finance and Support Services, reported that the school system recently decided to save 3.7 percent of the budget each year because state aid and required mandates vary year to year.
School employees may be required this year to contribute an additional 5 percent to their health insurance. However, PWCS pointed out that while health care costs have soared across the country, they have remained relatively stable through Prince William Schools. The increase reflects changes to health care based upon the Affordable Health Care Act.
The School Board also demonstrated their “commitment to security,” outlining how they have continually created safer entrances, security, video and radio systems within the schools.
Dr. Walts reminded citizens that the School Board does not have taxing authority and has only to decide how to stretch the funds they receive.
The School Board will meet again on Monday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Kelly Leadership Center to present school funding.
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