Letter from Brian Wheeler to

The Daily Progress on 2000-2001 Budget

Published February 12, 2000

January 30, 2000

 To: The Daily Progress, Editorial Staff

I am the parent of a second grader in Albemarle Schools and I am concerned about this year’s school budget proposal.  I don’t believe the items recommended for funding do enough to address large class sizes and many other important educational needs for our children.  It is very frustrating when each member of the Board of Supervisors I speak with urges me to lobby the School Board to submit a budget that reflects what our schools need, while every School Board member I talk to tells me to lobby the Supervisors for more money for the schools.  In the midst of this finger pointing, where is the leadership that is going to stop this train wreck from happening?

This year Superintendent Castner was asked to present a needs-based budget to the School Board.  Unfortunately, the Supervisors are not likely to see many of those needs recommended for funding.  We need to pay teachers enough to attract and retain them.  I agree with the Superintendent’s top budget priority which is improving teacher compensation.  If his compensation proposal is not adopted by the School Board, it will be a reckless action.  Of course, we also need to ensure we budget for a growing population of students, but only after challenging the Board of Supervisors to make more funding available and after examining the needs of our existing students to ensure they are adequately being met.  Yes we need to address all of these priorities and we should not have to choose between them.

I am also in favor of a tax increase to help pay for excellent schools.  This year, the difference between a budget that addresses our true needs and the one our School Board is likely to recommend is measured in millions of dollars. Growth and inflation have all caught up with Albemarle County and we need to act if we are to have a public education system worthy of our Jeffersonian surroundings.

You can learn more about the budget process by visiting the following independent website which seeks to improve communications about our schools: http://www.albemarlematters.com.

Brian Wheeler