Comments from Brian Wheeler to

Albemarle County School Board on 2000-2001 Budget

November 22, 1999

My name is Brian Wheeler. I the parent of a second grader at Murray Elementary.  I want to raise several concerns with the Board about the budget.  

First, class size. Based on last year's class size figures, Murray Elementary had the largest average class size among ALL elementary schools in the County (23 students).  That average remains the same this year and my daughter is in an even larger class of 27 students.  I want to know if the Board will make reducing class sizes a priority in the 2000-2001 budget?  I would also like to know what the baseline class sizes will be for budgeting purposes, and if they will be more than 18 students (the US Dept of Education goal), then why?

I also am concerned that budgets based upon the "differentiated staffing" formula will mean my daughter is trapped in a large class each of her next 3 years.  We need a budget allocation for Murray that gives our principal enough resources to add a new third grade teacher next year, without having to sacrifice other important programs.   When schools have classes that deviate this far from your size baselines, I believe you should be intervening, even right now, to make contingency funds available for additional staff.

Second, I am concerned about teacher salaries.  I am aware the Board has retained a consultant to review compensation issues.  I think it is appalling that Albemarle County ranks 70th in the state in new teacher compensation.  In this region alone, Goochland, Louisa, Buckingham, Nelson, the City of Charlottesville and Fluvanna all pay better. 

In summary, I would like to see some of the new funds the school system is receiving from the County and other sources next year applied to both better salaries and more teachers to reduce class sizes.