School funding

The $14.1 million was described by the superintendent as both “unsustainable” and one that will negatively impact the quality of education. As a result of cost cutting measures, Cunningham and Columbia Elementary will be closed, 33 positions will be eliminated in addition to the 54 positions which have already been eliminated over the last three years, and class sizes at Central Elementary could increase to 26 or 27 children per classroom. Even though the school board is displeased with this budget’s impact on the schools, it determined it’s their only option given the supervisors refusal to understand and adequately fund the most basic district needs.
It now appears the basic funding approved by the school board is at risk. It appears the supervisors have no plans to approve the $14.1 million approved by the school board. It appears the supervisors will only allocate ~$13.5m. So in addition to the negative implications outlined above, an additional $600,000 cut will likely be catastrophic to the schools.
Focus on Fluvanna’s Future created a petition to the BOS to approve the SB’s approved $14.1m budget and currently has over 450 signatures. The online petition can be found at https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/fluvanna-bos-please-listen-to-the-sb-and-allocate-at-least-the-14m-to-meet-the-basic-school-needs. Please support our schools and future.