School Board approves FY14 budget request

PALMYRA — The Fluvanna School Board approved a budget request to present to the Board of Supervisors.

The budget, approved by a 5-0 vote, is asking for a local contribution of $14,099,890.

The budget is the same that superintendent Gena Keller presented as her proposal last week. It includes what School Board members and Keller have tagged as restoring what was taken away last year.

The budget still will eliminate 33 positions which includes 15 people losing employment through the reduction in force policy. Those affected will be alerted this Friday by building level principals.

Keller noted since she became superintendent the district has removed 87 positions and most of those have been because of budget restrictions.

The public hearing for the budget only had Perry Johnson, co-chair of the Fluvanna Education Association, speak.

“We can’t expect community support later if we don’t have your support now,” said Johnson.

The School Board is preparing to regroup if the Board of Supervisors do not allocate the full amount when the supervisors meet on April 17 to adopt a budget.

“If we are not allocated the funds, we need to re-group sooner than May 8 (the next regular School Board meeting after the Board of Supervisors meeting),” chairwoman Camilla Washington (Columbia District) told the board.

The School Board will have Keller present the school budget request on March 20.