Schools: We’ll cope with cuts

Charlottesville schools will be able to cope with the governor’s proposed funding cuts, but next year could bring more bad news, the School Board heard Thursday.

“We’re going to do everything in our power so that what happens at the state level does not affect what happens in the classroom,” board member Juandiego Wade said.

The schools are expected to lose $325,258 in budget cuts proposed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and another $135,173 because of reduced attendance numbers.

School funding is bestowed on a per-pupil basis, so fewer students mean fewer dollars.

The reductions will reduce the state’s total net contribution to the city schools from just more than $15 million to about $14.6 million.

The blow will be softened by moves such as the governor’s decision to reduce the amount the schools must contribute to the state employee retirement system for a quarter.

But the shifts and stopgaps that will make this year OK could cause bigger problems in the next fiscal year, schools staffers worry.

Board Chairman Ned Michie was unenthusiastic but quiet about the budget situation.

“It is what it is,” he said.

In other news, the board decided to decide at its Oct. 15 meeting whether to proceed with fundraising for new artificial turf athletics fields.

An artificial field already has been installed at Monticello High School, with the help of an anonymous donor who has also offered to help the county’s other two high schools, and Charlottesville High School, install artificial turf fields. The donor has offered $325,000 to each school, but the schools must raise hundreds of thousands of dollars more.

Opponents have raised environmental and health concerns.

Proponents concede that grass fields in top shape are ideal, but argue wear, tear and weather routinely make city schools’ fields subpar. Artificial turf provides a consistent play surface, they argue, and an expansion would also allow more teams to practice at once on the fields.

Michie said that, for him, the only reason that would be a good justification for the new fields would be to allow more students to use the fields.

“The whole purpose of doing this is increased use,” he said.

A city committee for sustainability has already come out against the fields.

Board members said they’d rather vote on the matter, which has been under discussion for years, than attend an extra joint meeting with the City Council to discuss it again.

“I think we have a plethora of information, and we need to read it again if we need to read it again, and make a decision,” said the board’s vice chairwoman, Leah Pur-year.

Board member Llezelle Dugger voiced similar concerns. “I don’t think dragging our feet to a vote is going to resolve anything that we can’t resolve in our minds before the next meeting,” she said.