How should Norfolk schools spend money for the next year? You can weigh in tonight.
Anyone with suggestions for what Norfolk Public Schools should spend money on over the next year can speak out Wednesday during a school board public hearing.
Just before hearing from the public over Zoom, the board will also receive Superintendent Sharon Byrdsong’s proposed budget, which calls for raises for all staff as well as additional stipends and bonuses for employees with additional responsibilities as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Some details of the budget proposal won’t be made public until after Byrdsong’s presentation, giving residents just minutes if they want to read and digest them before speaking to the board.
Byrdsong’s proposed $350 million operating budget is roughly what Norfolk budgeted this year before the coronavirus pandemic hit and city and state funding was cut. Many of the budget items proposed now were approved last year but ultimately cut from the amended budget.
Beyond that expected restoration of funding — city and state budgets are not yet finalized — the biggest change to next year’s budget is an additional $50 million in federal CARES Act funding on top of the operating budget, compared to $18 million this year.
Only an overview of the budget was made publicly available in advance of Wednesday’s meeting, common in Norfolk but in contrast to other area school districts. Board members and the public will receive the “budget book” with the complete proposal during Wednesday’s meeting.
Among Byrdsong’s proposals:
Increasing teachers’ starting pay from $44,220 to $47,000 — initially proposed last year and cut from the budget when state funding fell;
A step increase for all other teachers resulting in an average 5.1% pay bump;
Additional pay for teachers who handle in-person and virtual students concurrently, as well as bonus pay for custodians, bus drivers and school nutrition employees; Kenita Matthews, a district spokeswoman, said Wednesday morning that the amounts hadn’t been determined yet but might be by the meeting;
Stipends for staff who coach or lead extracurricular activities — cut from this year’s budget;
Five additional specialists to assist students with behavioral needs — cut from this year’s budget;
Nine staff to help students with attendance issues and chronic absenteeism — five new positions were proposed and cut from this year’s budget;
Five additional security officers to be “roving” security for the district’s elementary schools — Norfolk planned to add security officers to every elementary school this year but the new positions were cut from the budget.
For capital improvements, which are budgeted separately from the operating fund, Byrdsong is asking the city council for $16 million, though she wrote in a letter to the School Board that the need is greater and $42 million would be more “reasonable,” given the age of the district’s buildings and what neighboring districts spend.
The $16 million would go toward roof replacements at Booker T. Washington High and Oceanair and Ingleside elementary schools. It would also pay for HVAC work at Jacox Elementary School and door and window replacements at six other elementary schools.
The public hearing is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Those who want can give comments via Zoom can do so by registering at https://tinyurl.com/npspublichearing by 4:30 p.m. You can also email comments to the clerk at schoolboard@nps.k12.va.us.
The board is expected to vote on the budget at its next meeting March 17.
The district is midway through its budget process. Norfolk typically holds two public hearings, one in December before administrators develop the budget so that residents can weigh in early. After Byrdsong presents her proposal, the school board will make any changes it wants.
The district must send its budget to the city April 1. Once the city approves its budget — which includes the school district’s funding — the budget will come back to the board to make any adjustments that are necessary as a result of changes to local or state funding projections.
Sara Gregory, 757-469-7484, sara.gregory@pilotonline.com
