The Alexandria City School Board voted to approve a Combined Funds Budget of $286.1 million on Thursday night.
The Approved Combined Funds budget, which funds the operational costs of the school division, represents a 3.6 percent increase over the FY2017 final budget and a 4.6 percent increase over the City Appropriation for FY 2017. This is in line with the growth in projected enrollment for the coming year.
“I would like to thank the School Board for their efforts to support a budget that is fiscally responsible and allows us to continue moving forward in fulfilling our mission of being a high performing school division where every student succeeds. This budget reflects enrollment driven staffing increases, mandated contributions to the Virginia Retirement System, rising healthcare costs, funding of budget priorities aligned with our strategic plan, and need to stay competitive in the recruitment and retention of our workforce. There have been many cuts and many resources have been redirected in this budget to-date. While all efforts have been focused on protecting the classroom, any funding appropriation less than the requested additional $9.6m dollars will directly impact student instruction and delivery of support services across all schools,” said Superintendent Alvin L. Crawley.
Dr. Crawley said in a statement read by his designee, Dr. Terri Mozingo, Chief Academic Officer, at Thursday’s School Board meeting that continued support and advocacy would be necessary to move this process forward and see this budget fully funded.
“Let’s put our ACPS students first. Let’s give them and our awesome staff the resources needed to be successful. Now is the time for our funders to demonstrate a relentless commitment to public education by fully funding this budget at the requested level,” Dr. Crawley said.
His statement was signed “Proud Superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools.”
The final Combined Funds budget includes ten amendments adopted through the add/delete process. These include increasing the State revenue to include the anticipated receipt of funds for the K-3 class size initiative and adding three English Learner teachers at T.C. Williams to maintain staffing levels in relation to the numbers of students. These additions are off-set by a reduction in the funds for new textbooks due to a change in the State-approved timeline for the adoption of Algebra 1 textbooks, which will not be available until the following year.
Other staffing changes include adding a Communications Specialist to support community engagement around the modernization program and facilities projects, and restoring a benefits analyst position that had been eliminated in the initial proposed budget. The budget proposes eliminating an accounting manager position and reducing the general education teacher reserve fund by half a position.
The approved Combined Funds Budget also included the addition of funds to provide a one-time payment of 1 percent of the salary to any employee not eligible for a step increase.
“We are fully supportive of this budget and believe that it serves the purpose of continuing to move the school division forward in its mission of being a high performing school division. It is a responsible budget with reductions already included in response to the City’s fiscal environment. We look forward to supporting the Superintendent in ensuring necessary funding for our schools,” said School Board Ramee Gentry.
There are no proposed changes to the grants and special projects fund budget at this time, or any changes to the FY 2018 School Nutrition Services fund budget.
Read the Superintendent’s statement in full:
Members of the School Board, Alexandria community and elected officials,
I would like to thank you for your efforts to support a budget that is fiscally responsible and allows us to continue moving forward in fulfilling our mission of being a high performing school division where every student succeeds. This budget reflects enrollment driven staffing increases, mandated contributions to the Virginia Retirement System, rising healthcare costs, funding of budget priorities aligned with our strategic plan, and need to stay competitive in the recruitment and retention of our workforce. There have been many cuts and redirection of resources made to this budget to-date. While all efforts have been focused on protecting the classroom, any funding appropriation less than the requested additional 9.6 million dollars will directly impact student instruction and delivery of support services across all schools.
Your continued support and advocacy are needed as this process moves forward. Let’s put our ACPS students first. Let’s give them and our awesome staff the resources needed to be successful. Now is the time for our funders to demonstrate a relentless commitment to public education by fully funding this budget at the requested level.
My sincere thanks to the Budget team for their hard work since this process began last summer. Thanks to all of the members of the leadership team for the long hours put in to developing this budget.
Alvin L. Crawley,
Proud Superintendent of the Alexandria City Public Schools