ACPS Superintendent Unveils Budget Request to Board

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman proposed a $216 million operating budget, an increase of 2.4% over fiscal year 2012, which includes cuts in school administrative staff.

“Given the increases in our Virginia Retirement System contribution and the rising costs of health insurance, we have made very difficult decisions that will keep our budget growth at a reasonable level,” Sherman said. The budget eliminates 21 positions at the Central Office and shifts 0.71% of the VRS group life rates to employees and increases their VRS contributions from 1 percent to 2 percent.

The budget also cuts two positions at the middle school level and four positions at high schools. It adds seven classroom teachers at the elementary level and also adds positions for art, music, physical education and support staff, reflecting enrollment increases in the district’s elementary schools.

Sherman also presented a combined funds budget of $236 million, which is a 1.8% increase over the FY12 budget. The combined funds budget includes $13.7 million in grants and $6.9 million in school nutrition funds as well as a request for a city appropriation of $180 million.

The FY13 budget reallocates $14.4 million “to even more sharply focus constrained existing resources on our core mission of educating K-12 students,” Sherman said.

The proposed budget reflects a slight decline from last fiscal year in appropriation per student, from $14,099 to $14,092. That’s a 6% decline since 2009. The changes are due to the continuing increase in student enrollment, a 14% increase since 2009. In October 2011, ACPS enrolled 12,395 students up from 11,999 in October 2010. The superintendent says he expects enrollment will be more than 14,000 in a few years.

ACPS has the most diverse student population and highest number of students eligible for free and reduced price meals – 56% - in Northern Virginia.

Sherman said the budget was constructed to maintain the school system’s small class sizes, support an expected 3,000 English Language Learners and about 1,500 special education students. Non-native English speakers account for about 25% of all ACPS students.

“We have the smallest class size, I believe, in the state of Virginia,” Sherman told the School Board Thursday night.

As , Sherman is proposing to restructure the intersession and summer school programs so that all schools can have extended learning opportunities and not just those on a modified school calendar.

The budget also is expected to reduce funding to outside contractors and establish high school satellite campuses.

“The budget is pretty much a continuation of what we have in place,” Sherman said at an afternoon press conference. “And we think that’s a good thing. We’re proud of being able to focus on this. It gives us a chance to catch our breath as a school division and focus on our kids.”

Still, Sherman noted, some ACPS students come from homes rich in literature and culture, while others need books at home and support systems. “We know we are developing almost a bi-modal student population in this school division, and we need to pay attention to both ends of the spectrum,” he said.