Community Corner
School Board Holds Public Hearing to Discuss $35.7 Million Budget
The budget will affect the 2011-12 school year.
The Manassas Park City Schools School Board held a special meeting Monday evening to discuss the superintendent's proposed $35.7 million budget for the 2011-12 school year. At the beginning of the meeting, the board opened the floor to community members so they could voice their opinions about the budget.
Of the $35.7 million budget, $29.6 million would cover operating costs, $4.7 million debt services, $6 million to a medical trust for retirees who converted their unused sick leave and $1.3 million will cover food service costs.
If approved, the budget will remove furloughs, decrease class sizes and improve technology within the school system. It will also add five new teaching positions and three new school buses.
Find out what's happening in Manassas Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“I feel the education in our schools goes above and beyond other communities,” Manassas Park resident Heather Gunston said during the meeting.
She supported the budget because the, “school system needs to be maintained," she said. "Why else would anyone need to move here?” Gunston said.
Find out what's happening in Manassas Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
After the public hearing ended, the board decided that they would reconvene on March 14, to discuss the budget.
The board will approve the budget on March 21 and it will be presented to the Manassas Park City Council on April 5.
It will be approved by the Governing Body on April 30.
The School Board also talked about Parent Teacher Organizations. Starting this month, the board will open communications with PTOs in the community. School board member Ron Gill said he would like to hear about their activities and fundraising efforts so that the, “board can work in conjunction with them to [get a] better understanding of how their money is spent.”
Caroline Dumas, who is associated with the Manassas Park High School PTO, said that, “It is a challenge to get the community involved with [activities].”
Anything the board could do to help, “is greatly appreciated,” Dumas added.
School board chairman Michael Wine said that the board would do its best to publicize PTO activities at future meetings.