The Alexandria City Public School Board passed a $134,594,265 operating budget for FY 2003.
The budget represents a 2.3 percent increase over this year’s operating budget.
“Every effort was made to prepare a budget that is fiscally responsible in light of the current economics, but that also allows ACPS to continue to improve the quality of education for its diverse and growing population,” said Rebecca L. Perry, Superintendent of Schools.
The budget includes funding for the primary initiative program in grades K—2; differentiated resources; remedial summer school; ESL instruction; dual language or Spanish emersion programs; middle school programs and the interim education program.
New budget initiatives include a step increase for eligible employees (approximately $2.7 million); improved technology including mobile laptop computer labs, wireless network access and software support at Patrick Henry Elementary ($312,000); transportation for students who are enrolled in the John Adams Elementary School dual language program and the Interim Education Program ($202,000); increase in the school contribution toward teachers’ health insurance premiums ($193,500) and toward the retiree health plan ($15,000); more financial support for teachers pursuing national board certification )$65,000); expansion of remedial summer school ($149,000) and additional ESL teachers ($279,000) and special education staff ($350,000).
The Board also approved adding $150,000 to the differentiated resources category for elementary schools with 30 percent or more students residing in public housing. The school system will also have funds for purchasing some new musical instruments for use throughout the system.
“I am pleased with this budget because it is fiscally responsible,” said V. Rodger Digilio, a member of the School Board. “We still do not know exactly how much of a cut there will be in state revenue so we will be monitoring that carefully.”