Augusta County Schools tiered cuts

Bridging the $3.4 million shortfall in next year’s Augusta County Schools budget is a complicated issue depending on multiple factors.

While county leaders are hoping for some relief from the Virginia General Assembly on Virginia Retirement System increased rates that are driving the shortfall, they are preparing for other solutions.

 “It doesn’t appear under any scenario we would be left as we are today,’’ said Augusta County Schools Superintendent Chuck Bishop.

School Board member David Shiflett said he is resigned to the fact  “that we will have to make some cuts. It won’t be status quo for next year.”

Augusta County Board of Supervisors Chairman Tracy Pyles said all angles must be approached to cover the shortfall.

He said if the Virginia General Assembly offers some relief on the currently projected $3.1 million increase in VRS and group life insurance costs, the next step would be to look at cutting costs.

Del. Steve Landes, who will meet with Augusta County Supervisors this week, was cautious about any change in the VRS costs.

Landes said Virginia has an obligation to all employees, and said local governments are part of the funding for VRS.

Landes said both the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees want to help localities with VRS funding.

But he said “if we are able to, we have to cut state government somewhere else.”

Landes said it could mean cutting spending for some of Gov. Robert F. McDonnell’s initiatives in transportation and health care.

Pyles has offered the prospect of closing Beverley Manor Middle School and coming up with a K-7 grade alignment for Riverheads, Beverley Manor, Craigsville, Churchville and part of North River elementary schools.

Under the Pyles plan, Buffalo Gap High and Riverheads High would become schools with grades 8-12.

Pyles has proposed the reconfiguration before, saying it would help save money on transportation and administrative costs.

Bishop said closing Beverley Manor Middle would save money on administration and offer other help, but said he has not heard school board support for the proposal.

Bishop said eliminating a middle school would also deprive the affected students of the same program opportunities students attending Stewart, Wilson and Stuarts Draft middle schools receive.

Shiflett echoed the sentiments of Bishop, saying, “my first concern is providing a consistent quality education.”

Pyles also wants to look at saving money on buses that are carrying few students.

Once the savings is calculated on reconfiguration and transportation, Pyles said other options could be considered to help close the budget gap.

Those other options would include a bridge loan to the school district to help it through the next couple of years, and a possible county tax increase that would raise more school funding.

Pyles sees the tax increase as a last resort.

“If we do a tax increase this year and a reassessment next year, there would be two years of tax increases. I don’t think that is what the board wants to do,’’ he said.

Bishop said a bridge loan is not an option he favors.

“When times get better we would still be faced with a deficit and would have to repay the loan,’’ he said. “I don’t want to mortgage the future to get through the next two, three and four years.”

During Thursday night’s school board meeting, Bishop offered three tiers of program and personnel changes that offer varying amounts of savings.

While Tier 1 is the first place Bishop would look to save funds, the items listed in the tiers are not prioritized.

Under Bishop’s plan, Tier 3 would offer the most savings to the Augusta County Schools -- $3.2 million.

But the items listed under Tier 3 include closing Craigsville Elementary, having employees contribute to their health insurance, an alternative school calendar of 174 days and elimination of the Governor’s School program.

Shiflett hopes the third tier cuts are not dealt with.

He does not want to cease participating in the Governor’s School program and  “I don’t want to close Craigsville.”

Two speakers at Thursday’s school board meeting requested that Craigsville Elementary remain open.

Bishop told the school board Thursday night that regardless of funding or cost changes, he must balance the budget by late next month.

Shiflett hopes the General Assembly will offer some relief on the increased VRS commitments.

“I hope the General Assembly will feel enough pressure from across the state,’’ he said.