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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-08April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 1) 000:!.'70 A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on April 8, 1998, at 7:00 p.m., in the Auditorium, County Office Building, McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. PRESENT: Mr. David P. Bowerman, Ms. Charlotte Y. Humphris, Mr. Forrest R. Marshall, Jr., Mr. Charles S. Martin, Mr. Walter F. Perkins and Ms. Sally H. Thomas. ABSENT: None. OFFICERS PRESENT: County Executive, Robert W. Tucker, Jr., County Attorney, Larry W. Davis, and Assistant County Attorney, Mark Trank. Agenda Item No. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m., by the Chairman, Mr. Marshall. Agenda Item No. 2. Pledge of Allegiance. Agenda Item No. 3. Moment of Silence. Before proceeding with the next item on the agenda, Mr. Marshall said there would not be any demonstrations. Several persons from the public were holding signs. He said these implements are not allowed. He asked that the signs be removed. He also indicated that no one would be allowed to speak until the signs were removed. After seeing that no one proceeded to remove the signs, Mr. Marshall called a ten minute recess. The Board reconvened at 7:15 p.m. Mr. Marshall then read the guidelines for addressing comments to the Board. Agenda Item No. 4. Other Matters Not Listed on the Agenda from the Public. Ms. Patricia Pullen said they had removed their buzzards out of defer- ence to the teachers, as she is a retired teacher herself and supportive of the teachers. While the Board says that the residents' demonstrations are dangerous, she feels that the landfill itself is what is dangerous. They do not feel assured or comfortable concerning the monitoring of the landfill during expansion, in view of how the landfill has been run previously. While there are rigid rules for landfills, waivers are available for municipal landfills. A commercial landfill would be closed down if it did not follow the rules, but the municipal landfill is allowed to continue operating. She is appalled that the Board is thinking about continuing to contaminate the area by expanding the landfill. As long as there is composting going on, the buzzards will remain. The residents appeal to the Board to reconsider their decision. Following some applause, Mr. Marshall asked the audience to please hold their applause, as the rules of the meeting required. Mr. Howard Hoffner, a Troy resident, said that he is constantly bothered that people buy property near the landfill then suddenly expect the Board to make changes. He feels that that is inappropriate. They knew what they were getting when they bought the property and while the problems are being controlled as best as they can be, the rest of the County should not be made to suffer. No one forced them to buy property near a landfill. Mr. Dale Copeland said he lives next to the landfill. He disagrees that those who buy property near a landfill have no right to complain. There have been many promises to close the landfill, which were relied upon by the purchasers. More importantly, the landfill is contaminated and no one in the County has the right to poison their neighborhood. What most upsets him is that the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RSWA) has approximately $10.0 million waiting to be used for remediation to clean up the landfill. He asked what RSWA are doing right now to clean up the landfill. The Board was told several years ago that the contaminants from 20 years ago would seep out, and indeed, just a few months ago, they were shown to be right. In terms of the resi- dents' health, it is important that preventive action be taken now to prevent any more seepage and use the money that is there to clean up the landfill. If it has been decided that the County will not reconsider the construction April 8, 1998 (Resular Nisht M~e~i~i 0001Ti (Page 2) demolition debris (CDD) cells for two years, then at the least, get proactive on this issue. He asked what the Board was actively doing to protect the health of the citizens from the contaminants from the landfill. Agenda Item No. 5. Consent Agenda. Motion was offered by Ms. Humphris, seconded by Mr. Martin, to approve Items 5.1 through 5.3a, and to accept the remaining items as information. R°ll was called and the motion carried on the following recorded vote: AYES: Mr. Martin, Mr. Perkins, Ms. Thomas, Mr. Bowerman, Ms. Humphris and Mr. Marshall. NAYS: None. Item No. 5.1. Appropriation: School Division, $12,300 (Form #97052). At its meeting on March 9, 1998, the School Board approved the appropri- ation of $8,300 from the Henley Middle School Parent/Teacher Support Organiza- tion and $4,000.00 from the Virginia Odyssey of the Mind. Henley Middle School received a donation in the amount of $8,300 from the Henley Middle School Parent/Teacher Support Organization. This donation is for the purchase of cafeteria tables and chairs for Henley Middle School. The Virginia Odyssey of the Mind (OM) State Board created a new OM region to serve our county and surrounding school districts. Region 14 (Thomas Jefferson Region) now includes the Albemarle, Augusta, Bath, Fluvanna, Highland, Nelson, Rockbridge, Waynesboro, Greene, Madison, Orange, Charlottes- ville, Lexington and Staunton school districts. Region 14 is responsible for providing a regional level OM competition which will serve these students. Our regional tournament was held on March 21 at Western Albemarle High School. About 60 to 70 teams of students participated; 40 to 45 of these teams were from Albemarle County. Fees will be collected from students to purchase tournament T-shirts for this tournament. Staff recommends the Board approve the appropriations totaling $12,300 as detailed on Form 97052. By the above shown vote, the Board adopted the following Resolution of Appropriation: APPROPRIATION REQUEST FISCAL YEAR: 1997/98 NUMBER: 97052 FUND: SCHOOL PLrRPOSE OF APPROPRIATION: HENLEY PTO DONATION AND VIRGINIA ODYSSEY OF THE MIND. EXPENDITURE COST CTR/CATEGORY DESCRIPTION AMOUNT 1 2252 61101 800200 FURNITURE/FIXTURES $8,300.00 1 3129 61104 601300 ED/REC SUPPLIES 4,000.00 TOTAL $12,300.00 REVENUE DESCRIPTION AMOUNT 2 2000 18100 181109 DONATION-HENLEY SCHOOL $8,300.00 2 3129 18000 189918 ODYSSEY OF THE MIND TOURNAMENT 4,000.00 TOTAL $12,300.00 Item No. 5.2. Appropriation: Church Arson Prevention Grant, $2,905.11 (Form #97053). The Church Arson Prevention Grant Program was authorized under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act. The purpose of the program is to prevent further attacks on houses of worship and end racial and religious intolerance in America. The proceeds of the grant will be used to purchase (Page 3) hardware for distribution to churches within the County of Albemarle. A fund balance of $2,905.11 remains from the 1996/97 fiscal year. The hardware purchases will be purchased from fund balance. There is no local match. Staff recommends approval of appropriation 97053 in the amount of $2,905.11. By the above shown vote, the Board adopted the following Resolution of Appropriation: APPROPRIATION REQUEST FISCAL YEAR: 1997/98 NUMBER: 97053 FUND: GRANT PURPOSE OF APPROPRIATION: CHURCH ARSON GRANT REAPPROPRIATION. EXPENDITURE COST CTR/CATEGORY DESCRIPTION AMOUNT 1 1534 31010 601000 POLICE SUPPLIES $2,905.11 TOTAL $2,905.11 REVENUE DESCRIPTION AMOUNT 2 1534 51000 510100 FUND BALANCE $2.905.11 TOTAL $2,905.11 Item No. 5.3. Resolution in support of closing of portion of Rio Road for safety improvements and guardrail installation (Project #0631-002-566, M501). In a letter dated March 24, 1998, from Mr. Gerald G. Utz, Contract Administrator, Department of Transportation, he indicated that VDOT will hold a location and design public hearing on proposed improvements to Route 631 (Rio Road) as described above. The hearing will be held at the Charlottes- ville High School Cafeteria, located at 1400 Melbourne Road, on April 21, 1998 between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The purpose of this proposed project is to install guardrail on the southeast side of Rio Road between Brookway Drive and Stonehenge Road. In order to install the guardrail, five feet of additional roadway will be needed. We propose to widen the cut area on the northwest side of Rio Road to accommodate the installation of the guardrail at the top of the existing fill area. Rio Road will be closed to through traffic during the construction under the proposed plan. Access will be provided to all properties during this construction. VDOT will have engineers available at the hearing to answer questions you may have concerning this proposed project. Copies of the plans can be seen at the Charlottesville Residency Office located at 701, VDOT Way (Route 250 East) or at the Culpeper District Office at 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, Virginia. By the above shown vote, the Board adopted the following Resolution: RESOLUTION W~EREAS, the Albemarle Board of County Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, held its regular meeting on April 8, 1998, in the Auditorium, on the Second Floor of the County Office Building; and W~EREAS, the following Board of Supervisors' members were present: David P. Bowerman Charlotte Y. Humphris Forrest R. Marshall, Jr. Charles S. Martin Walter F. Perkins Sally H. Thomas April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meetlhg) (Page 4) WHEREAS, the following project (#0631-002-566,M501) has been approved by FHWA as part of the Hazard Elimination Safety Improve- ment Program for Federal Fiscal Year 1998 thru FY 2003: Route 631 (Rio Road) - Albemarle County From: Route 768 (Pen Park Road) To: Charlottesville City line Widen shoulders, improve horizontal alignment, construct turn lanes and install guardrail NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Albemarle Board of County Supervisors hereby endorses the project as proposed and supports the closing a section of this road, tentatively scheduled from June 1, 1999 through August 15, 1999, as a safety measure given the assurance that adequate detour provisions and access to all properties are available. Item No. 5.3a. Proclamation proclaiming the week of April 12 through April 18, 1998, as National Telecommunicators' Week. By the above shown vote, the Board adopted the following Proclamation: PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, the Public Safety Telecommunicators of the Charlottes- ville/University of Virginia/ Albemarle County Emer- gency Communications Center serve the citizens by answering emergency and non-emergency calls for ser- vice and by dispatching the appropriate assistance expeditiously; and WHEREAS, the Public Safety Telecommunicators of the Charlottes- ville/University of Virginia/ Albemarle County Emer- gency Communications Center perform critical functions in conjunction with federal, state and local govern- ment agencies; and WHEREAS, the Public Safety Telecommunicators of the Charlottes- ville/University of Virginia/ Albemarle County Emer- gency Communications Center constantly strive to improve the emergency response system within this community and to provide excellent customer service through quality leadership and continuous training; and WHEREAS, the week of APRIL 12 THROUGH APRIL 18 has been set aside in this community to recognize our Public Safety Telecommunicators and the essential work they perform for our citizens; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Supervi- sors of Albemarle County, Virginia, does hereby pro- claim the week of APRIL 12 THROUGH APRIL 18, 1998 as NATIONAL TELECOM~JNICATORS WEEK in this community in honor and recognition of our Public Safety Telecommunicators who work in the com- bined Charlottesville/University of Virginia/Albemarle County Emergency Communications Center. Signed and Sealed this 8th day of April, 1998 Item No. 5.4. Copy of Supts. Memo No. 1, dated March 19, 1998, re: Final 1998-2000 Budget passed by the General Assembly, was received for information. April 8, 1998 (Regular Night ~eti~g) (Page 5) Item No. 5.5. Copy of notice received from the Division of Motor Vehicles of an application for an Executive Sedan Carrier Certificate by Robert Greenlee, was received for information. Agenda Item No. 6. Public Hearing to receive comments on Recommended Operating Budget for FY 1998-99. (Advertised in the Daily Progress on March 30, 1998.) Mr. Marshall began the public hearing with a reading of the guidelines for addressing the Board. He would read the speakers' names, three at a time. The speakers were asked to come to the front of the room, to be ready to speak when those before them were finished. They would be given three minutes to speak. No one is allowed to give a portion of their time to anyone else. Please address all comments to the Board, and there will be no debate. Please hold all applause. At this time, Mr. Tucker presented the Board of Supervisors' budget, reflecting the changes made after the work sessions. The total budget amounts to $134,923,570. The majority of the revenues are from property taxes, approximately 47 percent of the total budget, followed by state revenues at 23 percent, other local taxes at twenty-two percent and federal taxes at three percent. The total County expenditures break down into 57 percent for school operations. If you include self-sustaining funds in the schools and debt service, this grows to approximately 68 percent of the total budget. General government expenditures account for approximately 26 percent of the budget, revenue sharing for four percent and the capital improvements program for two percent of the budget. During work sessions, the Board made some additions to the County Executive's recommended budget. The Board started with a reserve of $388,971. The Board reduced the employee salary pool from three percent to 2.75 percent, saving approximately $40,000, as well as reducing some other expenses totaling around $120,000. The state also reimbursed the County for some Constitutional Officers, in the amount of around $11,000. These changes made the net reserve $562,471. The Board then considered and added several programs after the work session, fire and rescue education training specialist, an engineering inspector for soil erosion, increasing the Albemarle Housing Initiative trust fund and Piedmont Housing Alliance funds, a transfer to the School Division of $150,000 and additional funding for School debt service of approximately $113,000. This left the net reserve at $189,711. The School Division started with a reserve of $270,422 and ended with a net available reserve of just over $1.0 million. Their shortfall amounted to approximately $880,000, so their net ending reserve was $154,199. Mr. Tucker stated that at the last public hearing, there were a lot of public comments focused on growth management issues. As far as population growth, by the year 2010, the County is anticipating a population of over 104,000 people, which is an average annual growth rate of 2.0 to 2.5 percent. The school enrollment growth is almost identical to the population growth rate, by the year 2002, an increase to 12,729 students. An excerpt in the Richmond Times-Dispatch mentions the consequences of growth, more families mean more schools, more roads, parks and amenities and higher taxes. In the last 25 years, the County has adopted many growth management initiatives. The first Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1971, and in the following years, adopted zoning and Subdivision regulations, proffered zoning, the Capital Improvements Programs, the Open Space and Critical Resources Plan and the Water Resources Protection Ordinance. Initiatives under consideration include the Mountain Protection Ordinance, the Historic Preservation Ordinance, the Purchase of Development Rights Program, the Biodiversity Plan and the Design of Urban Infill Strategies. Mr. Tucker added that in 1968, Albemarle County had no Comprehensive Plan and few or no zoning or subdivision regulation or land use regulations, leading to haphazard land development with no plan or vision. The first Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1971, in order to direct the areas of growth. He then presented a map showing where growth has taken place in the last three decades. He stated that state law requires revision and review of the Comprehensive Plan every five years. Under the current Plan, growth has slowed considerably; the County is now dealing with more manageable growth. The growth plan and management effort is working. Today, about 70 percent of all growth and development occurs in the designated growth areas, where our April 8, 1998 (Regular Night M~et~hg) (page 6) 000:1.75 infrastructure presently is, so that we can preserve and protect the rural areas. Mr. Tucker noted that several capital budget initiatives have taken place over the last ten years: several new elementary schools, a new middle school and high school, major school expansions, a debt service increase, a new Health Department wing, an expansion to the Regional Jail, major road improvements and park and recreational facilities. Over the next five years, you can expect several new elementary schools and expansions of existing schools, a major Jail expansion, a new juvenile detention facility, improve- ments to the public safety communication system, major roadway and walkway improvements as well as parks and recreation enhancements. Mr. Tucker noted that, at the last public hearing, many people mentioned some growth management tools that are not permitted by state law, such as impact fees, transfer development rights, adequate public facilities ordi- nances or general building moratoriums. Virginia does not give its communi- ties the same powers that Florida does, such as an exemption tax for homestead exemption. The residents are encouraged to help the County get the additional tools with which to handle the growth, by talking to their delegates and senator. At this time, Mr. Marshall opened the public hearing. Mr. Peter Way stated that the Conservative Coalition is proud of its role in the last six weeks in educating the public about the contents of the budget and evoking a spirited debate. He stands by the numbers and figures compiled by their budget committee and challenges budget myths which have been shown to be untrue. The first myth is that County teachers are underpaid. While he does not feel they are overpaid or undeserving of raises, they are clearly not underpaid. The second myth is that the teachers will leave the system because of the low pay. This is not true, as most are not leaving and for those who are leaving, there is a long line of qualified applicants seeking their job. Another myth is that the state contributions to the schools are decreasing because the schools are level-funded. This is not true; there has been a continual increase in the flow of state money flowing into Albemarle County. If the state rate has decreased, then it is because of the steady raise in Albemarle's budget each year, well above the rate of inflation and growth. He regrets that the Board is constantly willing to accept an unbalanced budget from the School Board. The Coalition still has a number of questions about the budget that have gone unanswered. They will continue to research and return next year better informed, and their almost 400 members will be vastly increased. The Coalition request that the budget be carefully considered. They firmly believe that the budget is excessive and that a decrease in the tax rate is reasonable and possible. They know that at next year's assessment, taxes will increase and that there is a considerable constituency that cannot continue to keep up with these spending patterns. He then asked for those who supported him to stand, at which point approximately 30 people stood. Mr. John Carter stated that it is frustrating to see Thomas Jefferson's concept of a wise and frugal government go down the drain in the very county he loved so much. Government should restrain men from injuring one another. Albemarle County has become a battle for portions of an ever-increasing amount of money, with it becoming plain that if the money is not there for those who want it, it is expected that taxes will be raised. The taxpayers see a policy of spending every nickel that is available. We have reached a state where even questioning the propriety of an expenditures brings vilification and character assassination instead of a reason and justification for the expendi- ture being sought. He wondered whatever happened to representative democracy where elected officials considered the true needs of all rather than the demands of a few. We have deteriorated into an entitlement society where satisfying someone's wants at the expense of his neighbor is a common prac- tice. All that the Conservative Coalition seeks is a wise and frugal govern- ment. Mr. Ed Robb said that on March 11 he made a presentation to the Board regarding possible abuses of public property and he has not heard anything about what had been done to address his concerns. He provided both the Board and the media with a copy of his speech at that meeting. Additionally, he noted that the schools and education have been the focal point of much of the contention because they require the major share of funding. While he does not wish to decrease funding for teachers' salaries or classroom materials, the April 8, 1998 (Regular Night ~eet~ng) (Page 7) problem is that Albemarle is top heavy with administrators. He is disap- pointed with the Board for not holding the line, for spending every cent available. He wished that the Board had stood up for the special interest groups and returned some money to the people or saved it for a rainy day. The entire public hearing was a farce since the Board members' minds were already made up. On page 37 of the general staffing summary, between a nine year period, there had been an increase of 25 percent of personnel, while popula- tion has only risen by 17 percent. He also asked why County legal services, information services, police, fire administration, engineering, housing, zoning have all been increasing. This page does not mention school personnel, nor the costs of these full time employees. Mr. K. O. Lee stated that, aside from the compensation issues, he does not know of any employee who gets eight weeks vacation from the time they get hired. He worked for Sperry and it took him 20 years to get four weeks, 25 years before he got five weeks. During the budget work sessions, he sent the Board a four page list of questions with regard to items and suggestions in the School budget. He doesn't understand how the School costs could increase so greatly when they include so much overhead which will not go up one bit because of the increased number of students. He noted that Ms. Thomas answered many of his questions, but he still has some he does not understand. Why is there $17,000 in the school budget for attorney fees? Why is there $74,000 set aside just for contingencies? It seems like there is a lot of fluff in the School Board budget. His other issue is the Social Services Department; every other place in the state where the View program have come, there has been a significant reduction in caseload. The County should not be hiring people where it will later have to let go. Mr. George Hardy stated that after observing the budget processes for the last six weeks, he found it quite surreal, with public statements quite often at odds with private presentations. The Superintendent of Schools wants money to increase the school day from six to seven periods, which will just add fluff, reduce the number of minutes the teachers teach core subjects and add 15 percent more teachers. It is all about employment, not education. Raises should be for improvements in productivity, increased efficiency and merit, not just because they're nice people. Mr. Jim Morris requested that in the future, the Board consider restat- ing the budget in certain ways. One way would be, when salaries are increased by five percent, say that it is a five percent increase, not three percent. If his house were in Greene County, it would be worth $100,000; in Albemarle, it is worth $140,000 to $160,000. The tax rate could be stated in tax dollars per citizen so they do not feel deceived. Also, each tax dollar increase comes from a family, reducing their ability to function and forcing them to work more hours. We need to keep the resources with the parents so they can do a better job. In striving for fully funded government, we have created underfunded parents. The problem with children is the home; schools are doing an outstanding job, but the underfunded homes causes parents to work longer hours. The five percent increase in compensation will be tough on the family who lives on social security and will only receive a 2.2 percent increase. Mr. Charles Abbey said that throughout the whole budget process he hears many different numbers. Perhaps the Board could improve how the information is getting out, by picking a few citizens throughout the year to look at different aspects of County government and come back to report to the Board. This would give the perception that the citizens' viewpoint of how money can be saved is being heard. The County budget costs $12 for a copy, with the School budget costing $30. The budgets should be available earlier and more widely disseminated, so that as much correct information can be given to the citizens as early as possible. Part of the problem is that not everyone is talking the same language. Mr. Keith Drake, an engineer, said he thought that building a county budget should follow a bottom-up model, defining the requirements and then designing the budget to meet the identified needs. Instead, a top down approach is used, which is based on how much money is available, not how much is needed and seems determined to spend every cent possible. He doubted that anyone could tell him how much is actually needed to run the County. When the Conservative Coalition attempts to define requirements for the County, they are chastised as whiners and told that they do not understand. He will gladly pay his taxes, but he just wants to know why when he is asked to pay more. Ms. Martha Trimble stated that she considers this a wonderful community April 8, 1998 (Regular Night ~eetlng) (Page 8) 000177 to raise children. Her son is about to graduate from Western Albemarle High School (WAHS) and while he has received an excellent education there, she is concerned about students who are at risk and have special needs. She has volunteered with the Book Buddies Program, a reading program in the City schools. The program has gained national prominence, but the County is unable to afford it. She also volunteered in WAHS and that gave her insight into why minority test scores are so low. Those children need special help so they can succeed like everyone else. She wants Albemarle County to reverse the trend of stretching the educational dollars thinner. She urged the Board to fund the entire budget as requested. Ms. Susan Dell, a homeowner in Woodbrook Subdivision, has substitute- taught at the middle and high school level for several years. She has no children currently in the School system. She wants the Board to consider the human consequences when setting a price to the daily dedication of the Albemarle School teachers. Be ~pound wise" to weigh the larger long-term issues and consider the effect quality education has on lessening later anti- social behavior in children. Remember the children who deserve the best education we can give them. She considers herself a conservative who wants to preserve a safe and sound state of affairs by conserving teacher morale, quality education and children's futures by making sure that teachers are appreciated and well-paid. She wants to restore the full raise for teacher salaries. She does not feel she is overtaxed. Mr. Charlie Hess said that he is the parent of two children and feels that the solution to this proposed unbalanced School budget is better manage- ment of the schools and the funds. He has to question the value of a gifted program, since this program competes and conflicts with other classes by putting labels on these children. A more effective and efficient way of teaching students is to group each according to their performance in critical subject areas, with each teacher in that grade taking one of those groups and teaching simultaneously. This would result in a better education for all children and would reduce the number of children falling into the at-risk program. Another abuse of funds is the unbudgeted expense of the foreign aid program, with up to one percent of the student population being foreign- exchange students, but only zero to two students in the County study abroad. All of the children desire the best possible education. He asked the Board to demand the School Board, Superintendent and administrators scrutinize the value of every new or existing program before presenting a budget. Mr. John Baldino, a County resident for 25 years, said that there are several things that keep coming up in budget discussions. The first one is the distinction between teachers, educators and taxpayers. Every teacher and educator is also a taxpayer and none of them want their taxes to go up either. There are, however, some things that need to be paid for, and one of them is education. Every year, teachers spend, out-of-pocket, several hundred dollars to subsidize school supplies. The next issue is one of benefits. The increasing cost of health care and VRS does not increase the benefit to the teacher. Also, there has been much talk about the reduction to 2.75 percent in salary. The issue is not the dollars involved, but one of respect. He then asked that those who wished to stand up for public education to rise, whereupon approximately 75 people stood. Mr. Eric Strucko, said he is the Director of Budget for the University of Virginia Medical Center, parent, County resident and officer of the Albemarle County Democratic Party, stated that education and health care are two valuable services and depend on the skills and dedication of professional staff. Professional staff is the most valuable asset; without highly-skilled personnel, the quality of education or health care suffers. He then compared the Medical Center to the school system, stating that the goals and salaries were quite similar. With the CPI near two percent, a 2.75 percent salary increase is merely a 0.75 percent increase, which is not a strong investment in human capital for any organization. If an organization cannot offer at least a three percent increase in pay, he would question whether it was under sound management. Rather than diverting the funds from human resources, he urged the Board to move the funds back into teacher salaries. Mr. Care¥ Branch stated that he considers Monticello High School to be the root of ever budget problem in the County. He said that starting in the middle of June, there will be some extra costs. The school is excessively priced, but it is not too late to stop the flow of money. That facility is the Taj Mahal of Albemarle County. He encouraged the Board to cut some of the money that is being used from the school. April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 9) (At 8:21 p.m., Mr. Marshall turned the meeting over to Mr. Martin and left the room.) Ms. Carole Lohman stated that, as a graduate of Albemarle High School and a parent, she was concerned about misinformation. The decision to add a seventh period to the school day was not merely an administrative decision, as it was necessitated by the State School Board's decision to increase gradua- tion requirements for the incoming freshman class. Students wanting to graduate with an advanced diploma and having any desire to take electives would need to take summer school. She noted that in 1971, schools in Norfolk had a seven period day and she was appalled to find out that Albemarle County schools were only offering six periods, because children need the extra time. As far as the question over what the definition of a teacher is, accreditation agencies determine the requirements to become a teacher. Teachers do not get eight weeks of vacation, and she suggests that those who think so should volunteer in the schools. In the 1830's, Alexis deTocqueville came to America and wrote Democracy in America, and much of what he observed then is still relevant today. One of the traits he observed was enlightened self-interest, the desire to sacrifice a portion of their time and property for the welfare of the state. Our children are entering a world that has grown more complex since that time, and they need all the knowledge they can obtain. She hopes that the School Board's budget will be fully funded. Ms. Sue Casteen stated that she is a registered voter and taxpayer who has been a loyal employee of the Albemarle County schools for 14 years and is presently teaching at Hollymead Elementary school. She is proud that for the last four years, Hollymead students have gone to the science fair for the region and are winning. All of the second grade Hollymead students wrote, illustrated and read books of 26 pages in length during the Virginia Festival of the Book. Last week's Fine Arts Enrichment Morning enabled 300 students to receive exposure from talented members of the community in one morning. She thanked the Board for responsibly funding the growth needs of the School Division. She reminded the Board that the County needs its students to be well-educated. (Mr. Marshall returned to the meeting at 8:25 p.m.) Ms. Marjorie Shepherd, a registered voter and taxpayer living in the White Hall District, said she has been a loyal employee of Albemarle for 12 years. She presently teaching at Henley Middle School. She is proud that Henley students have consistently placed well in academic competitions: winning seven awards at the Regional Science Fair, winning 2nd place in Knowledgemaster, three winners in Writer's Eye, 4th place in Math Counts Regional Competition, 1st place in the Virginia Math League, having 19 students selected for the band, receiving a Superior rating at the District Choral Band and having four students selected for the Governor's School of Art. She thanked the Board for responsibly funding the growth needs of the School Division and urged the Boards to reconsider its position regarding the amount of the raise for County employees to reflect their dedicated work. Ms. Carol Buckner, a resident of the Rivanna District, said she has been a loyal Albemarle employee for 12 years and presently teaches at Sutherland Middle School. She is proud of the many accomplishments of Sutherland students: 73 percent of last year's eighth grade students scored above the 50th percentile and 39 percent above the 75th percentile on the Stanford 9; 86 percent of last year's sixth grade students passed all three Literacy Passport tests; 209 Sutherland students received all A's and B's on their most recent report cards and that a Sutherland student won 3rd place in a statewide art contest. She thanked the Board for responsibly funding the growth needs of the School Division and urged the Board to reconsider its decision on the amount of the raise for County employees. She urged the Board to consider a raise that will reflect and reward the dedication and work which produce such great accomplishments. Mr. Ivo Romanesko stated that he is a property owner and the co-chair of the Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Action Committee. He commended the members of the Board for their job in presenting a balanced budget with no tax increase and noted that the citizens of Albemarle passed a referendum allowing a meals tax to be levied, which was supported by three major business organi- zations including the Chamber of Commerce. The leadership at the Chamber of Commerce recognizes that the Board faced unique challenges this year. He strongly requested that everything be done to keep the budget balanced and work within the County's financial means. April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 10) 000i79 Mr. Paul Wright said that throughout the presentations, we have heard many different budget numbers. He acknowledged that there was a small error in the Conservative Coalition's advertisement, in that it should have said that dental benefits are paid for partially by the employee and employer, not solely by the employer. The numbers, however, are unchanged. Not a Single number has been disproved, because each of the numbers came from the Board. Speakers say to remember the children, and we are; any money that was saved has gone into instruction. Fringe benefits are indeed important, and they're being raised five percent. Medical costs are part of the CPI and the reason why it is going up at all. By giving both a medical increase and a cost-of- living increase, the Board is giving a double increase. Without comparisons and real numbers, percentages are meaningless. Teachers are paid competi- tively; no one has said that teachers are either over- or under-paid. No one wants to talk about VRS, but there are four different ways of changing it: the VRS can change it, the Attorney General can issue an opinion, there can be changes in the law or there can be a court challenge. Unfortunately all of the meals tax is just going to go into paying the increase in retirement. Ms. Elizabeth Way said that a lot of these reports on how well the Albemarle County students are doing is based on reports from the state, and based on everything except the standardized test scores. The County's main test score for 11th grade students is the Stanford 9 test, of which 39 percent of Albemarle County students scored above the 75 percent percentile. However, if you look at the report, it will say that this is 39 percent of those who took the test, not all llth grade students took the test. We do not know how many of them took the test, nor why we do not have any other standardized test results. Most of the reports are based on the number of Albemarle County students who did well versus the number who did well across the state, which is not what is important. We need to give serious consideration to how well all students do based On academic lessons taught in the schools. The budget priority should be how well we are doing on that. (Mr. Bowerman left the room at 8:38 p.m.) Ms. Teresa Andrews, a parent of two children, said that she has been distressed by the budget process. The Superintendent was directed to prepare a budget based solely on projected revenues; there is no request for the Superintendent to take into consideration expectations on how it may affect student success or school quality. During the last five years, schools have received level funding for four of those years, despite the County's growth. The budget process is reactionary, as it appears that the Board is, as well. We knew three years ago that a new high school would be opening, but there was no financial planning for that fact. She challenged the audience to, over the next year, find a group of children with which to interact on a regular basis and then decide that teachers are paid too much. (Mr. Bowerman returned 8:42 p.m.) Ms. Donna Washington said she has been an Albemarle employee for three years and presently teaches at Sutherland Middle School. She is proud of the Sutherland students' accomplishments, both in academics and in the community, raising $500 for the Hollymead Physical Education Department. They have an active student council which raised over $2,000 for various charities and students have volunteered for the Salvation Army and the Angel Tree. The students raised $1,800 to purchase a letter board for the front of the school. Individual teams at Sutherland have organized and participated in various service projects during the school year. The sixth grade students have provided clothing and supplies for hospitalized children and their families. The seventh grade students participated in the National Make-a-Difference Day. Community Service Day will give eighth grade students the opportunity to participate in various community projects. Hollymead is proud of its stu- dent's commitment to both academic excellence and service to their community. She asked the Board to reconsider its position regarding the amount of the raise for County employees to reflect and support their dedication. Ms. Nancy Lee Kozub said she is a taxpayer and resident of the County. She presently teaches at Jack Jouett Middle School, but has taught in the school system for 22 years. In her areas of French and Spanish, her students consistently score high in state and even national rankings on these examina- tions. The school was allowed to send 12 applications to the Regional Science Fair this year, and all 12 applications were accepted, and all those who entered won prizes. Teachers work very hard to achieve these outcomes, working a contract day and putting in time on their own, because they value April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 11) O00180 the students. Teachers are not community servants, they are professionals and should be treated as such. As the state requires higher standards of educa- tion, which requires hiring and retaining an excellent caliber of teachers, she urges the Board to reconsider the amount of their budget in order to attract and keep high quality teachers. Ms. Kristin Bateman, a junior at Albemarle High School, said that she sees both the potential of the students and teachers, as well as the need for more funding. Albemarle High School excels in academics and sports, but this excellence is threatened by the budget shortcomings, and this threat is ultimately a threat to the community. With the new standards of accreditation and the rising student population, there is a need for more teachers. There are also problems with supplies, building conditions, textbooks and broken computers. In reality, teachers are always there to provide help, not just during their contract day; their role is not confined to their role in the classroom. Educators provide many valuable resources to the community and they need to be fairly compensated. Mr. Will Harvey said he is the County's Democratic Chair. He said that a healthy debate over budget options should not include attacks on the professionals who teach our students. The only thing this criticism does is undermine the respect of the students for their teachers. Our children need the skills that the teachers can provide them with, in order to be successful in life. Mr. Ed Jones, Chairman of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA), asked the Board to support JABA's request for funding for their downtown senior center. The old facility was unable to meet the needs of the diverse programs needing to be offered and still allow for growth, so further money for rent and utilities for the new facility is needed. The new facility is needed to promote physical, mental and social wellness for older and disabled adults and their families, through nutrition services, appropriate health care and a well-rounded activity program, as well as providing intergenerational programs. The County's Program Review Team has not recommended funding for FY 1999 and the Board is asked to reconsider. JABA is paying 50 percent of $36,000 for the rent, utilities and maintenance of the center; the County and City are asked to prorate the remainder, with the County paying 24 percent of the remainder. The ratio is based on place of residence of persons attending the center, the County's portion is $4,320. The average age of Albemarle County seniors attending is 76 years old and they are often socially isolated without the outlet of a downtown senior center, and the majority of those attending are low income minority seniors with chronic health conditions. This is not a population able to advocate for themselves in this much needed service. He again asked the Board to appropriate these additional funds. Mr. Gary Westmoreland, Chairman of the Jefferson Area Libertarians, said while that some people are concerned about the fat in this budget, he's concerned about the lean. The point of this budget, from a Libertarian viewpoint, is to cut spending dramatically but sensibly, and to eliminate, not merely reduce, taxes. Mr. Tom Dugan, a registered voter of the Rivanna District and a County employee for eight years, said he presently teaches Chemistry and Physics at WAHS. He is proud of the school's accomplishments, particularly of a current sophomore who was accepted into the Governor's School for Theater Arts. He is also proud of the school's record at last year's advance placement exams; 80 students took a total of 148 exams and 38 percent of the scores were awarded a five, the highest score attainable. Six of the nine students taking the Chemistry exam scored at the highest level. He thanked the Board for respon- sibly funding the growth needs of the School Division. He urged the Board to reconsider its stance on education to reflect the dedication and work which produces these accomplishments. Ms. Charlotte Horton stated that she is a special education teaching assistant at Scottsville Elementary School. She has been a loyal employee of Albemarle County schools for nine years. She is one of those mysterious classified employees, which is a broad category of educational employees other than teachers. She is proud of how far the schools have come at meeting the needs of the special services students, with Albemarle mainstreaming and including the children with special needs. Today's teaching assistants are highly trained professionals, with many trained extensively in Physical, Occupational and Recreational Therapy. Their training in behavior management and modification techniques have been equally balanced with continual training April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 12) and learning styles on the latest teaching techniques. Working side by side, teachers and teaching assistants provide an environment and the one on one support so that all children have an opportunity to learn and to experience success. She takes great pride in her job, but feels that there has been a lack of support by Supervisors during a time of prosperity and low unemploy- ment insults her job as a paraprofessional and her peers' accomplishments. Ms. Marla Muntner said she is a taxpayer in the Samuel Miller District and a loyal County employee for three years. She is presently a teacher at Stone-Robinson Elementary School. She is proud of the school's accomplish- ments. First, the Bright Stars Program helps prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten. This program introduces children to the school environment and its outreach program creates a strong connection to the families which benefits them throughout their school years. Second, due to such early intervention programs and strong primary programs, over the past two years, the percentage of second graders reading on or above grade level has increased by more than 35 percent. Third, through the school, their inclusion program allows all students to gain the social, emotional and academic benefits of classrooms that realistically represent our diverse community. She is proud for all they do for the students. She thanked the Board for responsibly funding growth needs of the School Division and urged the Board to reconsider its position on the amount of the raise for County employees to accurately reflect the dedication and work which produces these accomplishments. Ms. Stephanie Reynolds said she is a registered voter and taxpayer living in Albemarle County. She has been a loyal County employee for five years and presently teaches at Stone-Robinson Elementary School. She is proud of her school's accomplishments. The school has an outstanding volunteer program, with over 100 active volunteers working for nearly 4,000 hours total. She is also proud of the outstanding teaching staff, who are presently hosting the annual Math and Science Night, which helps strengthen the school/community bond. She thanked the Board for responsibly funding the growth needs of the School Division and urged them to reconsider their position on the amount of the raise for County employees to reflect the dedication and work which produces these accomplishments. Mr. Donald Lyon, an Albemarle County resident, compared the Conservative Coalition to Ebenezer Scrooge and said that it seems the only predictable thing about the Coalition is their contempt for government; however, he does applaud them for shedding light on the budget process and promoting citizen involvement in government. When the Coalition makes statements suggesting the elimination of the Police Department with the replacement of a Sheriff's Department, saying that teachers are overpaid or personally attacking the County's spokesperson, they make his blood boil. He thinks the Board should look at down-zoning the entire County and not expanding the existing growth areas. It would be in the County's interest to help the City of Charlottes- ville stabilize its tax-base in order to stop urban flight. Mr. Charles Trachta stated that the Coalition is just dragging the teachers through the mud for their personal agenda. The pension and medical package is not an issue; it was decided back in the 1980's. He asked why should someone who qualifies to receive a state pension after six years would condemn someone who qualifies to receive the same thing after 25 years. One of the Coalition's leaders made his money running a bus company in the northeast, a business notorious for taking advantage of government subsidies, revealing their hypocrisy. Test scores do not show that schools are failing, contrary to what the Coalition claims. He asked how Virginia could be spending too much on education when they rank 44th in the nation in spending, and Albemarle ranks in the middle of the state. He noted that two of the Coalition members attempted to operate a private school, but it was closed down for not meeting state standards, and that one of Coalition's leaders was upset because the state did not allow her to pack children in her day-care center like sardines. The reason why guidance counselors is needed is the breakdown of the family. Schools are not only where children come to learn. The Coalition's argument would be better if they submitted their own budget, instead of just attacking this one. When he was a New York police officer, the vast majority of the people he arrested where without a high school diploma; if you want to break the cycle of poverty, you need to reject these people who think with their pocket books. Either spend money on education today or a lot more money on jails tomorrow. Ms. Barbara McAdams said she is the parent of two children and a teacher at Burley Middle School. She knows how hard it is to stand up in front of the April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 13) 000:1.82 classroom and teach. She is glad to teach, because she loves the children she teaches, but no longer sees teaching through rose-colored glasses. She knows that respect for her profession has declined considerably, among students, parents and the community. She and her fellow teachers deserve that three percent raise. Mr. Michael Brittingham said he has been a registered voter living in the White Hall District. He has been a loyal County employee for 25 years and now teaches at WAHS as a physics teacher. He is proud of his physics students who, for the past several years, have scored considerably higher than both the state and national average on the AP Physics exams. He is also proud to have one of his students represent Virginia in the International Model Bridge Contest. He has two degrees, one in electrical engineering, and could hold a private sector job that would double his present salary, so is not in this field for the money, but for the students. He did not come to address the issue of money, but rather because he has been thoroughly insulted by the statements and actions of some members of this Board and organizations within the community. He reminded Board members that their education depended on teachers like those in Albemarle County. He urged the Board to recognize the dedication and efforts of these professionals and not question their integrity by questioning what they are worth. (At 9:16 p.m., Mr. Marshall announced that the Board would take a short recess. The Board reconvened at 9:33 p.m.) Mr. Bob McAdams, a County resident and taxpayer, commended the adminis- trators, Supervisors and School Board for the original budget proposal, as it maintained the current tax rates despite new demands from the state, popula- tion growth and needs for new services. He then commended the County employ- ees as the ones who would make this budget a reality. He disagreed with statements that the Board was being irresponsible and that teachers are overpaid. Rather, teachers are committed professionals who have spent their time and money to extend their education, with the level of education that other kinds of professionals earn substantially more than teachers. Most teachers are so committed to their profession that they accept the stress and low pay of the profession in order to teach our children. When people urge cutting the three percent salary increase, they are saying that County teachers and other members of the County staff are not worth it, which shows a profound disrespect to County employees. He urged the Board to keep the three percent increase for the salaries of County employees, and not to lose sight of the fact that we are all the government; it is not our adversary. Mr. Patrick Ciccone, a junior at AHS, said that he views school from its most important level, that of a student and sees Albemarle education at its reality. The quality of education at AHS is high. Despite the inability to travel beyond the County lines, he has enjoyed a wide range of enlightening field trips. Despite the missing pages in his text book, he has gained a wide knowledge of history. Though the teachers allegedly end their days at 3:30 p.m., the school newspaper has won best in the state for two consecutive years, largely because the journalism teacher stays with the students until 9:00 p.m. Despite pending elimination of assistant coaching and cuts in coaching, the athletic teams continue to win. Mr. Alex Jordan's name was called, but he was not present at that time. Mr. Ed Strauss, a citizen of western Albemarle County, said that every person in the County has the potential for rising taxes next year. The primary concern of the Board should be fairness to the people. With two- thirds of the budget going to the schools, there is nothing left for anyone else. There is no fairness in just raising the salaries of teachers; what about the police officers, lawyers and firemen. The teachers are coming forward talking about their best and brightest students, but the school system should be judged by the whole, not just by the ones you're proud of. Everyone is worth something. One way is to raise taxes and give rebates to the people who do not have children. Mr. Jeff Douglas, said he is a registered County voter and taxpayer, and has been a loyal County employee for 23 years. He presently teaches at Albemarle High School and doesn't get a single day of paid vacation. He is proud of the school's many accomplishments, especially the way in which the community pulls together at a time of crisis. Tonight, many staff members are at a benefit event for a family who lost their father, home and possessions in a house fire. Another example is the way that teachers, staff and students April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 14) 000:1.83 have handled the severe overcrowding at AHS. Teachers have given up planning and lunch time, rooms which they need for planning are used for other classes and they have coped with large class sizes. Support staff have managed to take some of the slack for teachers and those whose jobs were eliminated. Students have continued to strive to excel, meet with teachers outside of class time and make an effort to mediate the disputes that arise from the crowded conditions. In 1985, it was known that the County would need another high school by 1995. He thanks the Board for responsibly, if belatedly, funding the growth needs of the School Division; however, to lower employee raises during a time of prosperity is an insult to his profession and accom- plishments. Ms. Victoria Boyle said she was a recipient of services of the Shelter for Health and Emergency and came to speak on their behalf. For years, she was abused emotionally and verbally. A County police officer recommended that she go to the Shelter for counseling. She has received individual and group counseling which have kept her going as a professional woman, over $2,000 worth of services which her insurance would not have covered. The Shelter's budget is modest and they do a tremendous job. She urged the Board to give the Shelter as much as they could. They help men, women, children and families that otherwise wouldn't receive help. Mr. Richard Deloria said he is not a resident of the County. He is an assistant attorney in the Albemarle Commonwealth's Attorney's office, and is present to speak on behalf of the Shelter for Health and Emergency. He is responsible for prosecuting domestic abuse cases. The Shelter is incredibly important to the success of law enforcement in terms of finding victims and empowering the victims to become independent and go forward. It is important for the County to support the Shelter and its mission. Ms. Melissa Brown said she is a taxpayer, a County employee, a teacher and a parent. She and her husband moved here from Fairfax in 1991 because they wanted to live in an area that had the same environment and dedication to learning as her childhood home. When they were ready to buy a house, their main consideration for location, other than price, was the quality of the school system. Now, basic services in the schools are in danger of being eliminated. Instead of resting on our laurels, we must be willing to fully fund the schools if we want a quality education for our kids. She then asked for those who shared her view to stand, whereupon approximately thirty people stood. She then stated that if the Board refused to fully fund the schools, the quality would inevitably decline. As a parent she will not subject her children to schools that are not the best they can be. If services are not maintained, she would move to an area where basic education is valued, rather than subject her kids to poor quality schools. Education is the future of the community. Ms. Michele Law, a resident of Albemarle County, thanked the Board for their assistance to the Shelter for Health and Emergency and asked them to continue funding the Shelter. Domestic violence is the greatest contributor to teen pregnancy, juvenile crime, drug abuse and sexual abuse. The work of the batterer is a lifetime job and establishes such fear and control that he need not always be physically violent. Being able to go to the Shelter helps the victim and her family become whole and strong again. She knows from personal experience that the Shelter can help victimized women become active members of the community again. Funding the Shelter helps the community, by protecting children from growing up in abuse. Ms. Karen Fankhauser, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Shelter for Health and Emergency, thanked the Board for their support in previous years and requested that they fully fund the Shelter's budget. The Shelter is the only place that provides comprehensive services to women and children who are victims of domestic violence operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Shelter provides counseling, information, referral, case management, court advocacy and pre-legal workshops. ~In addition, the Shelter provides chil- dren's programs, rehabilitation of abusers and follow-up services. In 1996- 97, the Shelter had a 38 percent increase in residential clients. The Shelter seeks funding based on the services they provide. Changes in the law as of July 1, 1997, have seen an increase of victims they serve; the law now requires mandatory arrests by police officers of those who inflict abuse. Consequently, it is expected that there will be even more victims over the next year. She requested that the Board take this request under advisement and fully fund their budget. April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 15) Mr. Keith Batt said he is a father of three students attending County schools. He said this is not about teacher pay raise, but about control and power, about a devious School administration who has pitted the teachers against the Board. Proper planning could have avoided this crisis. The Board has been elected to maintain checks and balances to ensure that the School system spends the money wisely; the Board is accountable to reject expendi- tures that only benefit the dominant or the privileged. Ms. Lenore Savage, a registered voter and taxpayer, said she has been a teacher for 21 years, 16 years at Albemarle High School. She is tired of hearing people say that teachers care more about money than students, with no evidence to support that statement. She is proud of her colleagues' and school's accomplishments: the American Studies Program, receiving the Excel- lence in Teaching of Social Studies, being invited to present their American Studies team's interdisciplinary curriculum and of the exceptional national test scores her juniors are making. She cares about her school, profession and students, but she also cares about her salary. The average raise reported in the newspaper says nothing about her un-average raise, that she will get a $700 raise this year, the same as last year. Many experienced teachers are in the infamous salary scale bubble and will be for years, who won't get the average raise. She urged the Board to reconsider its position regarding the amount of raises for County employees to reflect the dedication and work which produce the accomplishments which she just relayed. Ms. Karen Fleetwood, a teacher at Agnor Hurt Elementary School, said she agrees with Mr. John Carter that it is unseemly that she should be standing before the Board, and that the budget process has turned into a "them" versus "us" situation. She knows of no other profession or group that has to constantly go through the process of defending themselves. The Board is responsible for this by carelessly tossing out comments with no basis in truth. In last week's Daily Progress, Mr. Marshall was quoted as saying that "we have a bunch of teachers that don't care about the children, only about the money". No one goes into the teaching profession for that money, but there is no reason why teachers should be unable to pay their rent or bills. Besides the hours and effort, many teachers spend hundreds of dollars each year out of their own pockets for books and supplies, and more money to further their own education. Secondly, not everyone will receive the average raise; her own raise will be under one percent. Mr. Robert Baugh's name was called, but was not present at that time. Ms. Suzanne Fusselman said she lives in the County and has taught in Albemarle County schools for 25 years. She is also a County taxpayer and a parent of a middle school and an elementary school child. Twenty-five years ago, the choices for women were limited. She went into teaching, not to make a fortune, but to be a good teacher. Teachers still have to try to convince people that they do not have eight weeks vacation. They do not go home at 2:30 p.m. each day. Teachers are not the enemy, they are trying to invest in our greatest resource, the children. She would invite any of the Coalition members to come into her classroom for a week to find out what education is really all about, so that she does not have to fight the same battles in another 25 years. Ms. Patricia Goodman said that Albemarle County has truly become her home, after having grown up in New York. She attributes that much of her satisfaction comes from being part of the Stone-Robinson Elementary School family. She said that she is fortunate to work with a forward-thinking energetic principal, talented colleagues and supportive parents. She thanked the Board for responsibly funding the growth needs of the School Division. She urged the Board to reconsider their position on the amount of the raise for County employees to reflect the dedication and work which produce their accomplishments. Mr. Joe Connor, a member of the parent council representing Stony Point Elementary and a parent of three children, said that teachers want to do a better job, not just maintain the status quo. In order to do a better job, however, they need the support and time to make changes in the processes. Instead, time and time again, teachers are asked to do more with less. He asked the Board to not balance the budget on the backs of the teachers; rather, give them the resources to do their job and the respect they deserve. Give the professional teachers a professional salary. Ms. Martha Redinger's name was called, but was not present at that time. April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 16) 000::1.:85 Mr. Allen Freeman, a taxpayer, parent and a voter in Crozet, said he has been a loyal County employee for 26 years. He has taught at WAHS for the last 19 years. He is proud of the accomplishments of the students at WAHS: 79 percent of eligible students took the SATs last year; nationally, the average is 42 percent; even so, our students' average was 1107, while the national average was 1016 and the state average was 1003. WAHS scores are the highest in Central Virginia, and only three high schools in Virginia exceed Western's average scores. These high SAT scores pay off in a high percentage of college acceptance. Four students are National Merit Finalists. Western's Academic Challenge team is the Virginia High School League Division II State Champions. In a stock market game sponsored by the Standard and Poors, WAHS claimed four of the top six places out of 948 teams with a profit of better than 42 percent in seven weeks. All accomplishments are the results of a student's hard work. Every student was coached, taught and encouraged by their teachers. He stated that education works in Albemarle County. He asked that the Board support the School budget. Mr. Marshall then thanked everyone for staying here for the meeting. appreciates the comments that have been made. The Board will take the comments into consideration as it finalizes the budget next week. He Mr. Bowerman asked what amount the Shelter is requesting for full funding. Mr. Martin replied, $416. Mr. Bowerman asked about the amount requested from the Senior Center. Mr. Martin replied that the Senior Center was asking for $4,320 for full funding. Mr. Marshall stated that the budget would be more fully discussed next week, but asked what the pleasure of the Board was, regarding the Shelter and Center. Mr. Martin noted that everyone seemed in agreement to fully fund the Shelter. Mr. Bowerman requested that staff comment tonight or next week regarding the funding for the Senior Center downtown in relationship to the City's commitment, their involvement with County citizens, the Program Review recommendation, etc. Agenda Item No. 7. Approval of Minutes: February 21. and April 17, 1996. Mr. Martin had read the minutes of April 17, 1996 and found them to be in order. Mr. Perkins had read the minutes of February 21, 1996, pages 13 to the end, and found them to be in order. Motion was offered by Mr. Perkins, seconded by Ms. Humphris, to approve the minutes of February 21 and April 17, 1996. Roll was called and the motion carried on the following recorded vote: AYES: Mr. Martin, Mr. Perkins, Ms. Thomas, Mr. Bowerman, Ms. Humphris and Mr. Marshall. NAYS: None. Agenda Item No. 8. Other Matters not Listed on the Agenda from the BOARD. Ms. Thomas stated that she had a copy of a letter that she had sent to someone who had spoken earlier in the hearing, that she would share with the Board members. April 8, 1998 (Regular Night Meeting) (Page 17) Agenda Item No. 9. Adjourn. At 10:21 p.m., with no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. · airman Approved by Board Date Initials£~