School Board Questions Proposed Budget

Superintendent Edgar B. Hatrick presented his fiscal 2013 proposed budget to the Loudoun County School Board on Wednesday. Hatrick's proposal calls for an $831.6 million operating budget, an increase of 11.5 percent over the current fiscal year.

Leesburg Today reported yesterday that the proposed budget included $22.6 million for the cost of adding an estimated 2,502 students this fall, plus staffing two new schools.

Several new members of the School Board asked Hatrick pointed questions about his choices in spending. Board member Debbie Rose (Algonkian) said a video about the budget posted on the schools' website was "a way to spin the parents."

Hatrick's proposed budget also includes:

• $17.9 million for staff to handle an increase of 2,052 students.
• $2.1 million for staff at two new schools opening in 2012, and staff in preparation for opening two more schools in 2013.
• $17 million for all school employees to receive a 3 percent raise.
• $7 million for instruction technology.
• $36.1 million to cover the governor's expected Virginia Retirement System rate increase
• $12.5 million for an expected 8 percent rise in health care costs.