School Board keeps Ag and engineering teachers for now

The final school budget meeting went on for well over an hour as 4 school board members present and the administration staff hashed out the final form. Both John Busher the school superintendent and John Alderson of the Fincastle District were absent.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Janet Womack officiated over the meeting.

In a nutshell, Ex Offici0 from the Board of Supervisors Dick Bailey indicated that the County was looking at adding $400,000 to the budget over run of $620,000. That left $220, 000 still needing to be cut.

After much discussion about the third Ag teacher and an Engineering teacher, the Board decided to send 500,000 instead. Last week an impassioned group of community members made a case for keeping the Ag teacher at the regular school board meeting.

Numerous cuts were made in CSIP which funds schools and their supply needs, conferences and tuition assistance to teachers. The additional cuts amounted to $254,000 plus a 1% decrease to the health insurance proposed rate. The two teachers added in made the additional ask after the reflected cuts $500,000.

Board members Michelle Crook and Michael Beahm were very adamant about keeping the third Ag teacher. There are numerous other classes including the lack of an Auto Body Teacher, and Engineering and Computer Technology classes that have long waiting lists. This while the Ag classes have been loosing students for several years according to CTE Coordinator Mike Ketron.

Changes and tweaks will come through the perusal of the school superintendent when he returns to work. The final budget is scheduled to be on the BCPS website sometime on March 26 and will go to the Public Hearing on March 28.

Story and Photo by Cathy Benson