Editorial: More bad school news

Valley localities share lots of qualities, but it appears lately that one of those commonalities is one that no one wants: school funding woes.

Discussion of the situation in Augusta County, which may have to consider closing Craigsville Elementary or the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School, has appeared in this space recently.

Likewise, Staunton’s schools administration, already rocked by the controversial exit of a superintendent, may have to eliminate jobs.

And the Waynesboro School Board on Tuesday night was presented with details of its financial situation.

Superintendent Robin Crowder unveiled a proposed budget of more than $31.3 million for 2012-13, but the city would face a shortfall of more than $300,000 under that spending plan — even if the School Board made nearly a million bucks in cuts.

Those include eliminating more than eight professional positions, slicing substitute pay by 20 percent and getting rid of after-school transportation.

To describe the potential pain in even clearer terms: That would mean an art teacher, a band teacher, a physical education teacher, an instructional coach and a literacy extension teacher all would have to go.

As in Augusta County, Waynesboro faces a sizable increase in Virginia Retirement System costs — $1.1 million — assuming the pension part of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s state budget is approved.

What to do, then?

Crowder indicated Tuesday night that additional education funding could come from City Council, but solving the problem that way would only create another, this time for taxpayers, if that meant a tax increase.

However, the loss of teachers and reductions in programs isn’t exactly palatable, either.

There’s the rub, of course.

The most recent state-reported figures, for 2009-10, had Waynesboro in the middle of the three local jurisdictions in terms of per-pupil spending.

At that time, the city was spending $10,354 per student, while Augusta County was at $9,446 and Staunton at $10,549.

However, Waynesboro this year is spending $9,702 per pupil.

So the city is actually spending less per child now. Let’s hope that’s simply because of efficiencies and smart budgeting, and not due to less of an investment in the classroom.

Indeed, residents in each locality must demand that: the squeezing of every possible nickel. That might not even be enough to ensure that the children in our community get the schooling they need, and that they deserve. But it’s where the money machinations have to start.