Bath School Board Votes For Tough Budget Cuts Including Cutting Teachers

Warm Springs, VA – The bath county school board made tough decisions in cutting jobs on Thursday evening when it approved the 2010- 2011 budget. At the high school, the cuts include an administrative position, an aide, a secretary through retirement and a half time special education teacher. At Valley Elementary one aide will be cut. At Millboro Elementary a full time equivalent English teacher will be cut. A custodian will be cut and all aides will be moved to a 182 day contract.

A couple of cuts previously considered were returned to the budget. The first is the use of the activity bus for student transportation home after sports and activities. And dual enrollment tuition was also returned to the budget in a modified form. If other cuts can be found to cover the cost of dual enrollment tuition, students will pay tuition up front, then be reimbursed if they make an A or B in the class.

The board had also been considering eliminating a bus route. Transportation Director Ronnie Liptrap gave a presentation recommending no changes in routes. He said they don’t know yet where students in the fall will need to be picked up. And route elimination would have some buses overcrowded. It would also make other routes longer, which would require more students to board the bus before 7am which is difficult for younger children.

School Board Chair Eddie Ryder reminded everyone that this budget now goes to the board of supervisors for approval. If the supervisors are short on funding, the budget will be sent back to the school board for additional cuts.

Click on the link above to hear the full story including comments by School Board member Eddie Ryder.