Alexandria City Public Schools

Home » News Releases » 2008-2009 » February 6, 2009

School Board Adopts FY 2010 Operating Budget

On Thursday, Feb. 5, the Alexandria City School Board voted unanimously to adopt the Superintendent's proposed FY 2010 operating budget with amendments. The budget totals $196,803,191, a decrease of more than two million dollars over the current year. The requested City appropriation is $165,484,829, a 1.5 percent decrease.

"As a result of hard work and countless hours spent analyzing programs and creatively reallocating resources, this budget continues to move us forward toward our goals while being responsive to the current economic situation," said School Board Chairman Yvonne Folkerts. "This budget says that increasing enrollment and declining dollars will not be a barrier to advancing student achievement."

The cost of increased enrollment, the highest percentage increase in the State, and changing student needs accounts for more than five million dollars. In order to maintain small class sizes, improve instruction for English language learners, expand planning and collaboration time for elementary teachers, enhance science instruction and more, employees will share the impact of constrained revenues. There are contract length reductions of 5 to 25 days for over 70 employees, increases in co-payments for health insurance plans, and decreases in long-term disability benefits. Central office positions were reduced by over 6 percent. A step increase for eligible employees will be granted half-way through the contract year, along with a longevity increase for eligible employees who have been at the top of the scale for two years. There is no market rate adjustment (formerly known as a COLA) included in this budget. The cost per student is down almost $2,000, about 10 percent.

The Superintendent's Proposed FY 2010 Operating Budget and a detailed list of School Board amendments included in the Motion to Adopt the FY 2010 Approved Budget can be viewed online at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/budgets/. Some of the amendments include:

  • Eliminating the original custodial cost savings proposal by restoring 57 positions and reducing custodial work hours from 8 to 7.5 per day
  • Eliminating the original Library Media Assistant proposal by restoring 3.1 positions and reducing the contract length to 192 days
  • Funding existing exemplary programs at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science, and Technology by providing an additional classroom math teacher
  • Realigning secondary elective teachers based on enrollment by restoring positions in Latin, German, art, and instrumental music; eliminating 5 elective teacher positions, subject areas to be determined based on course enrollment.
  • Adding one elementary science teacher

The contingent reserve was reduced by $123,528 to balance the cost of additions.

There will be a joint School Board/City Council budget work session in March. The City Council is scheduled to adopt the budget for the City on April 27.

For more information, contact the ACPS Office of Information and Outreach at 703-824-6635.

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