The Montgomery County League of Women Voters (LWV) hosted an open meeting with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) board members on Wed., Feb. 18 at Bogen’s in Blacksburg. All board members (except the Shawsville district representative) were present, as well as Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Anderson.
Notices of the league’s forums and its regular newsletter are sent out to all local elected officials, including the county government and towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Blacksburg council member Don Langrehr also attended, as did Blacksburg Planning Commission member Mary Holliman. League President Mary Houska facilitated the dialog.
Dr. Anderson responded to a question about the board’s 2009-2010 budget, as impacted by reductions in state funding. Because MCPS provides for a higher number of instructional positions than state funding guidelines, which translates to a lower pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) in classroom, state reductions impacted 105 full time positions. Budget cuts, however, will not affect personnel or the number of jobs.
Both the superintendent and board member Wat Hopkins stressed there are no planned lay-offs or staff reductions, and reiterated that many services such as special education receive funding through federal sources or grants and are therefore not impacted by state reductions. The MCPS PTR is projected to shift from 1:18 to 1:19 in the proposed fiscal year. Cuts are expected relative to services, not staff, in order to remain student focused.
Board member Phyllis Albritton stated she was dismayed summer school needed to be cut, as this especially impacted students who needed reading remediation. She indicated the state uses third grade literacy metrics as a guide for determining future prison construction. All board members were cautiously optimistic the federal stimulus package could provide some assistance, but any specific one-time relief remained uncertain at this point and no budget assumptions were being made.
There was much discussion about budget impacts increasing class sizes and reducing field trips, but at the same time breaking ground for new school buildings. It was reported that those capital projects are the result of plans put into place nearly 10 years ago, and have completely different sources tied to construction funding already in place and unaffected by the state's present budget reductions. Current budget impacts are relative to the operating budget instead of one-time funding.
Board Chairman Wendell Jones reminded everyone school construction projects equate to job generation and local sales tax receipts, noting they were hopeful property had been secured for a new Prices Fork Elementary School. Once that is finalized, the board could declare the old Blacksburg Middle School building surplus, clearing the way for the Board of Supervisors to dispose of the property. Any proceeds from such a transaction would be returned to the school system. Board member Jamie Bond said she realized it was difficult for some people to understand the need for new buildings, yet noted many of the older buildings could not be modified to accommodate the technology or science needs today’s students required.
When asked about the possibility of redistricting, board members concurred this might become an issue at some future point yet was not anticipated as being necessary now. Board member Penny Franklin talked about her district, indicating neither Christiansburg or Auburn schools had space for shifting students from one school to another. It was noted the newer Falling Branch Elementary already had seven portable classrooms in place.
“What people don’t realize is that a new development in the town might only add five students, but that’s enough to require hiring another teacher, depending on the grade level and current enrollment,” Franklin said. Board members were sensitive to issues related to changing school district lines, and that this subject was a point of concern for many parents and students. It was noted that residential growth in Christiansburg alone was expected to increase another 1,000 homes over the next several years.
The schools always encourage volunteerism, and have many established relationships with area churches, civic organizations and local universities. Examples of several of these types of parternships were detailed.
Councilman Langrehr noted about 80% of the evening's discussion touched on land use issues, but that state planning and zoning criteria for residential developments doesn’t provide for consideration of school enrollment or construction needs. Board member Albritton suggested it may be time to review taxing authority for public schools or that reconsideration of being the “City of Montgomery” may provide better means for generating needed revenues while combining some functions. “Whether you live in Blacksburg or Christiansburg, you’re still paying twice for some overlapping services,” she stated.
Growth creates jobs yet also places additional demands on the county's school system. When local governments discussed impact fees, instituting these would require each taxing authority to agree. That regional consensus wasn’t present, with Christiansburg reportedly opposing such fees. The meeting wrapped up with a discussion of the MCPS drop-out rate, and how these figures were historically tracked with variables in reporting methods excluding special education and GED graduates. “MCPS counts every student, every child. When you include all groups of students,” Dr. Anderson said, “we have a 93% graduation rate in our county.” Impacts from low literacy rates and poverty were considered key risk factors for individual students and their communities.
President Houska concluded the meeting by thanking the elected MCPS board members and the superintendent for their time, insights and service to the students and families of Montgomery County. The LWV is planning its annual breakfast meeting with Blacksburg Town Council in the near future, and met in January with the county supervisors.