2001-03-14March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 1)
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on March
14, 2001, at 7:00 p.m., in the Auditorium of the County Office Building, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville,
Virginia.
PRESENT: Mr. David P. Bowerman, Mr. Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr., Ms. Charlotte Y. Humphris,
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 Clerk, Ella W. Carey.
Agenda Item No. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m., by the Chairman, Ms. Thomas.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 2. Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Item No. 3. Moment of Silence.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 4. Other Matters Not Listed on the Agenda from the Public.
There were no matters brought up at this time.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 5. Consent Agenda.
There were none.
Agenda Item No. 6. PUBLIC HEARING to receive comments on the County Executive’s
recommended Operating Budget for FY 2001-2002. (Notice of the public hearing was published in the
Daily Progress on March 13 and March 14, 20001.)
______________
Agenda Item No. 7. PUBLIC HEARING to receive comments on the FY 2001-02-2005-06 Capital
Improvements Program.
Ms. Thomas said the County Executive would make a brief presentation of his proposed budget.
Mr. Tucker said that before beginning the budget discussions he thinks it is important to give some
context about the community in the year 2001. There are issues and trends going on that effect how we do
business and in turn they drive certain areas of the budget. He characterized Albemarle County as a
growing and diversifying community.
Mr. Tucker referred to a chart showing the County's growth rate with regard to population. He
stated that Albemarle has grown about one and one-half percent to two percent annually. Sixty percent of
the growth is in-migration. That is people coming from other places with lots of expectations whether they
are realistic or not, about what services the County should provide. Those expectations are competing with
the expectations of residents who have lived here for generations and who have their own ideas about the
County’s future direction. Another item of interest is that the fastest growing segment of the population is 65
and older which has implications for everyone with regard to service delivery.
Mr. Tucker said that the County encompasses approximately 720 square miles. Approximately 95
percent of that area is located in rural or suburban type development. The other five percent is located
within development or growth areas. Of that, five percent equates to potentially approximately 35 square
miles of actual urban area. In comparison, the City of Charlottesville is ten square miles. In 1990
approximately 53 percent of the population lived in the rural areas or the suburban areas and about 46 to
47 percent lived in development areas. In 2000 that trend has reversed. Now less than 50 percent of the
County’s population is in the rural areas and a little more than 50 percent of the population is in
development or growth areas. While this reflects the growth management policies which the County has
encouraged over the years, it does put a lot of stress on the County’s infrastructure to support that
population, creating needs that are very different than what the County has had to provide in the past,
including an emphasis on safe, attractive, livable urban areas.
Mr. Tucker said that before he addresses the actual dollars and cents, it is important to spend a few
minutes reviewing some of the more critical external realities that are used in determining where resources
are allocated. Mandates are issues that state and federal governments place on localities to provide
certain requirements or services. However, unfortunately in many cases, the funding does not come along
with the mandates. The County must still meet those mandates, but with local funds. The State's share in
revenues for education is declining. Capital needs are continuing to grow. Some of the capital facilities are
the new jail expansion, a new juvenile detention center, courthouse expansion, school facilities and other
community needs.
Employment recruitment and retention is an area that the County concentrates on because it is
important to maintain competitive salaries and staff, and that we compete well with other localities. He
noted that this is a major part of the budget .
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 2)
Mr. Tucker stated that the budgets of the past few years and again this year have focus on several
areas of priority: public safety, education and human services and the quality of life.
Mr. Tucker referred to charts showing the County’s revenues for the current year (on the left side)
and his proposed budget with regard to revenues (on the right side). Last year local property taxes were 46
percent and this year they are 38 percent. State revenues increased from 23 percent to 32 percent. There
has been a declining amount of revenue at the state level so that is kind of a misconception. Because of
the car tax the state now requires the County to shift that car tax money that used to be personal property
tax at the local level and show it as state revenue. That is why one sees a major shift from local funds or
local revenue to state revenue. But in looking at the state revenue increase, it increased about 13 percent,
and if you take the car tax away state revenues increased only one percent for next year.
Mr. Tucker then looked at expenditures. Pointing out that the School Division Operations, Debt
Service, and Self-Sustaining funds in the schools are the largest portion of the County’s expenditures
(roughly 65 percent of the budget). The Capital Program is fairly small but significant to the County which
has increased by one percent, from two percent last year, to three percent this year.
Some budget highlights are: revenues for this next fiscal year have increased by $10.1 million or
6.2 percent over the current year. This reflects a significant increase in real property tax due primarily to
biennial assessment. This assessment is over two years (averaged about 12 percent) with a six percent
increase on an annual basis.
The budget is built on a .75 cent budget of real estate tax rather than .76 cents. The one cent is is
being held in reserve for the Board to determine how to use it. They could use it as a rate reduction. They
could give it to the Schools or other programs or initiatives. He has encouraged the Board to consider
holding that one cent in reserve for the County to use in the opening of the Baker-Butler Elementary School
next fall in 2002. The Revenue Sharing Agreement with the City of Charlottesville is still fairly strong and
now is a total payment of $6.5 million.
Mr. Tucker continued with the budget highlights noting that the School Division revenues increased
this year by $3.9 million, seven percent from local funds, and by only $200,000 , less than one percent or
.7 percent in state and federal funds. He compared the revenues received this year from the state, noting
that this year the County received a little more than $1.8 million from the state and next year they anticipate
receiving $200,000. If the County had received at least the same amount of funding from the state that the
County received this year, we would not be talking about a shortfall in education right now. Debt Service of
$8.5 million for school construction, renovation and major maintenance has been funded.
Community agencies are proposed to receive an average funding increase of approximately three
percent. General Government operating base budgets are level-funded.
Mr. Tucker next outlined funding priorities. In Public Safety, he recommends adding two police
officers. He recommends expanding the training program for Fire and Rescue Division, adding additional
thermal imaging cameras and the Tanker Taskforce Equipment Project is funded. This Project is to
increase the available water supply at fires particularly in the rural areas. For Human Services he
recommends adding a Day Care Social Worker. That individual will work with individuals, who are on
welfare and who are trying to get off welfare, to help them find competent day care centers. He also
recommends adding additional support to meals and home safety programs for the elderly. The Woods
Edge Elderly Housing Project is underway and is expected to open in the fall. This program helps to
subsidize rent for the elderly. The Teensight Child Care Assistance increases child care subsidy to help
keep teen parents in school. And, then there are three additional child care scholarships for United Way.
Mr. Tucker stated the School Board has requested a budget of over $105 million which is an
increase of $7.5 million or 7.6 percent over the current year. This budget request exceeds the County’s
available revenue by about $2.4 million. The major components of the request include: funding for growth,
funding to maintain competitive compensation, initial start-up costs for Baker-Butler Elementary which is a
small amount (the major amount occurs in the fall of 2002 when the school opens), bus replacement and
increases in energy costs and increasing in staffing in gifted and literacy programs. Mr. Tucker said he
proposes to increase the School’s budget by an additional $650,000 in one-time funds to aid in the funding
of purchase of buses, textbooks and mobile classrooms.
Mr. Tucker said that, with regard to quality of life, the operating funds for the new Simpson Park in
Esmont is funded. They have provided a pilot program for athletic field maintenance which will help the
County’s athletic and field program. There are two additional sites added in the Summer Playground
Program at Crozet and Greer elementary schools. They also recommend expanding the hours of the
Summer Playground Program to 6:00 p.m. in order to help working parents during the summer.
With respect to Community Development, he recommends adding a Geographic Information
Systems Specialist, a full-time Senior Planner, an additional Civil Engineer and two Zoning Inspectors.
These additions correspond directly to the urbanization issues mentioned earlier.
Mr. Tucker then addressed the Capital Improvements Program. This year, they are bringing the
Operating Budget and the Capital Improvements budget together in one financial plan because they impact
one another and should be looked at together. Some of the strategies they followed in the Capital budget
are: increasing the general fund transfer to the Capital Program each year by the rate of revenue growth,
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 3)
increasing annual general fund transfer to Debt Service by revenue growth rate, setting aside an additional
.5 percent of operating budget growth to the Capital Fund and dedicating at least one cent of the tax rate to
the Capital Fund. All of these strategies would allow the County to fully fund the School Capital requests.
Schools make up about 60 percent of the County’s Capital Improvement Program. The Courts and the
expanded Court Facility Services are about 13 percent. One item that is not very interesting to people, but
important to an urbanizing county, is the Stormwater Maintenance Facilities and that’s about two percent of
the Capital Improvement Program.
Some highlights of General Government are: the addition of about $10 million to the CIP for the
Court facility, three new fire stations proposed over the next five years, the addition of $1.8 million in
neighborhood planning, the addition of $1.8 million in sidewalk construction, about $600,000 to
transportation planning and improvements, $1.1 million to athletic field development and $1 million
continuing for the acquisition of conservation easements.
The School’s CIP totals about $63.3 million with an additional $13.8 million over the current CIP:
$23 million for the new Baker-Butler Elementary School and Southern Elementary School proposals, $25.4
million for additions and renovations and adding about $2.5 million for maintenance and repair.
Mr. Tucker then outlined the process that the County would be following for the month of March
and early April. He noted that tonight is the first hearing on the County Executive’s recommended budget,
th
there will be several work sessions and then another public hearing on April 11 to consider the Board of
th
Supervisor’s budget The Board is then scheduled to adopt the FY 2001-2002 budget on April 18 as well
as set the tax levy.
In closing Mr. Tucker wished Ms. Humphris a Happy Birthday!
Ms. Thomas stated that there would actually be two public hearings combined into one hearing.
Ms. Thomas explained that the Board’s goal is to listen fully to what everyone has to say and to treat each
speaker with respect. The Board does not allow applause. The Board does permit that when speaking for
a group all members of the group can stand while one addresses the Board. The Chairman will call the
first five names on the sign-up sheet and try to keep five ahead, asking that those who are going to speak
would come forward and sit in the front seats. Each speaker will have three minutes to address the Board.
Mr. Dorrier will be operating the timer clock. She also asked that if one has a written statement, the
statement be handed to the Clerk for duplication and distribution to the individual Board members. Back
and forth debate is not allowed. The public hearing was then opened.
Mr. Joe Mullen said he is the father of three children in County schools who all actively participate
in athletics. He is here to ask the Board to support the athletic funding that is in the budget. He believes
that there are three main reasons to do so. First, at Western Albemarle where his children attend, there is a
very high level of student participation in sports. Seventy percent of the student body or almost 700 kids are
participating in those sports programs. Secondly, athletics is not an ancillary part of education but an
integral part of education. If one looks at information that has been gathered there is a two to one
probability that a boy who participates in athletic programs will have higher grades, lower drop out rates,
and a better chance of graduating from college. In a survey, 95 percent of high school principals say that
students who participate in athletics learn things on the playing field that they do not and cannot learn in the
classroom. They learn self-confidence and teamwork. They learn to deal with competitive situations in a
responsible manner. Third, and perhaps the most important, there is no other source of funding for these
programs. Currently at Western Albemarle High School almost 20 percent of the budget that is spent on
athletic programs is coming from benefactors and parents, not counting ticket revenue. That is already a
large contribution to come from other folks to help the County with its future. Great societies invest in the
future of their society. These children and these programs are the County’s future and the County cannot
afford to short-change them. Thank you.
Mr. Bruce Copeland said he is a senior citizen resident of the County. He comes from the business
world having spent 54 years in business, most recently as an investment advisor. Mr. Copeland asked that
the Board invest some of his money. He would like the Board to take the extra penny that was going to be
given back to him and invest it primarily in the public school system. He believes the best investment the
County can make in both the short and long run is in the public schools. As a business person he’d like to
come back here in five years and have the School Board and the Board of Supervisors tell him that the
County is attracting businesses into the community in part because it has a first class school system that is
equipping its students to go into the workforce to meet the needs of businesses out of high school; that the
County is delivering first class students into the military who can qualify for good assignments; and that the
County can have its students ready to go into first class colleges and universities. He hopes that some of
the students will want to come back to this County and participate in its economy and society, in particularly
with highly competitive salaries to go into teaching and into administrative posts. He asked that the Board
consider his willingness to have it invest five additional cents of his money each year for the next five years
as an investment out of the tax rate. Residents need to be looking beyond just this year. He suggested that
st
everyone ask himself what is wanted in the 21 Century in Albemarle County. Now, some people have said
the County has a surplus because of this unexpected half year of tax revenue. He doesn’t think so. He
believes you have a surplus when your basic unmet needs have been met. He feels that there is a lot to be
funded in the school system. He would like to see enough counselors, the huts taken away, adequate
salaries, etc. He’s hoping that the Board will invest his money wisely and is looking forward to a positive
response from the Board.
Ms. Jenny Meade began by apologizing that Dan Meador was not able to get to the meeting on
time and she, therefore, would address the Board. She is representing the Charlottesville-Albemarle
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 4)
SPCA. Dan Meador is the Chairman of the Board and she sits on the Board. The SPCA has requested
more money from the Board of Supervisors. The history of City and County funding for the local SPCA has
been woefully inadequate and there are no heroes or villains in this situation, but the SPCA asks that the
Board reconsider the amount of money budgeted for them. The request is in the $300,000 range. The
SPCA has been given $44,000.
Ms. Meade stated that the SPCA started in 1914 when a group of citizens got together to pick up
stray dogs and cats. The animals were brought back to their homes. In the 1920s and ‘30s the effort was
spearheaded by a “bunch of little old ladies” who went out in their cars and picked up these animals. In the
1950s the SPCA got some money to buy a building and a chicken coop which is now the present shelter.
The SPCA is losing this shelter to VDOT and the bypass and having to build another one. Shortly after the
building was erected the City and the County came to an agreement whereby the SPCA would become the
pound for the local shelter. Before the City or the County had a pound, apparently City strays were dumped
at the City yard where they barked and escaped and were a general nuisance. No one can remember what
happened to the County strays but somebody who was very active back then and who probably knows said
they thought many were shot. The SPCA has been a boon for the City and the County. If the City and the
County had to erect its own animal shelter, it would cost hundreds upon thousands, probably millions of
dollars. The SPCA takes in almost 5,000 animals a year and 63 percent are from the County. In closing
Ms. Meade quoted her mother, Sally Meade, “animals are a great part of our lives. Not only have we used
them as working parts of households but they fill a great need in most people’s lives as pets and
companions. You feel that if you can give them a fair shake it really is most satisfying.” Ms. Meade asked
that the Board give the SPCA a fair shake at giving the animals a fair shake.
Ms. Kathy Verrell introduced herself as the mother of three school age children in Albemarle
County. She asked the Board to support the Superintendent’s budget in its entirety. To consider any of the
cuts on the first tier would be detrimental. The literacy initiative at Henley in the form of the language
program has yielded positive results. Over 80 students reading significantly below grade level are enrolled
in these double period English classes whose focus is to develop decoding and comprehension skills. The
amount of resources this school system pumped into initiating the language program from staffing, training
and buying the materials would be a great loss, if it were to give up this program in only the second year.
What kind of return on the taxpayer’s money would that be and what would the Board have the school do
with those students who cannot read the textbook, if the Board were to do away with literacy initiatives?
Ms. Verrell aslo suggested that tweaking staffing to a ratio even slightly as suggested in the first tier
would force Don Vale, Henley’s principal, to cut two teaching positions. At Murray Elementary School Dave
Rogers is faced with operating his building next year with absolutely no teacher assistant (T/A) support or
perhaps he’ll choose to cut his reading specialist. These two schools are still trying to adjust to staffing cuts
from the past several years that traded under the name of differentiated funding. This proposed staffing
ratio will not only result in larger class sizes but severely impact several programs. And finally, the
commitment and dedication of all teachers deserves to be fairly compensated. At Henley her daughter,
th
Whitley, has access to over 208 years of teaching experience among the ten core teachers in the 6 grade.
She directly attributes her daughter’s enthusiasm and love of school to these magnificent teachers. With
th
over 134 years of experience among the seven teachers in 7 grade, her daughter Taylor is thriving and
she attributes this to the quality of the professionals the Board has employed in the school system. A walk
through the halls of Murray Elementary School will allow one to witness the commitment and compassion
of that faculty. She paraphrased a little boy in the current Bank of America commercial “without teachers
where would each of you be?” She asked that the Board not be held hostage by the political antics in
Richmond.
Ms. Patricia Earle introduced herself and stated that she is a member of an organization called
Virginians for Educational Excellence. Virginians for Educational Excellence is a local organization formed
nearly four years ago to support quality education for all of the students in the area. As such the
organization is certainly not opposed to paying teachers what they deserve. The organization believes that
the bulk of the school money should be spent in the classroom. She said that she takes exception to the
manner in which the school budget is presented each year. The School Board always makes requests for
more money than it can expect to receive and year after year this results in a battle over teacher salaries,
tier one cuts, etc. This does not serve anyone well, not the students, not the teachers, the parents, the
taxpayers, not even the School System itself and certainly not the quality of education which the Division
hopes to provide in this community. Therefore, she believes the School Board must stop presenting a wish
list and instead take the time and effort to prioritize their true basic needs and then present a realistic
budget for which it is willing to stand accountable to the Board of Supervisors as every elected body must
do. This is not an easy task but it must be done. Every family must prioritize its basic needs, every business
big or small. Surely a budget of over $100 million demands equal scrutiny. Once this has been done and a
balanced budget presented, she believes that the majority of the citizens will stop lining up on opposite
sides of the budget issue and everyone will work together to provide the community with the best public
school system that the citizen’s money can afford. She respectfully requested that those present consider
her point and if agreeable, work with Virginians for Educational Excellence to help bring about this change
in the budget of the Albemarle School Board.
Mr. Jeff Douglas said he is a resident and taxpayer of Albemarle County. He has been a teacher
for over 25 years. He loves his job. He stated that the County is not as good a place to work as it used to
be. He went on to say that the County is in an interesting situation. Last year the Board raised the real
estate tax rate not realizing that it was retroactive to the first of the year and the County reaped an extra six
months of revenue it had not counted on. Apparently it had been so long since there had been a tax
increase that no one remembered how it worked. In this case doing the right thing seemed to be purely
accidental. No one died, the taxpayers did not starve to death, whole subdivisions did not move out of the
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 5)
County, and all of the terrible things that are supposed to happen when taxes are raised. Now everybody is
all worked up trying to figure out how to return the money to the taxpayers.
Mr. Douglas noted that at the same time the County is prepared to tell the students and the parents
and the teachers that the school budget has to be cut, that the Board is not going to fund the growth in the
County, that the Board is not going to equip the classrooms as it should, that some of the funds for the
special programs that make school bearable for some kids will have to be cut and that maybe the County
will not pay its teachers what the market requires. So in all the years that the Supervisors, the School Board
and the taxpaying citizens told us that the Board would really like to give the schools more money but there
just was not enough money to do so, somebody must not have told the truth because now there is a little
more money. It doesn’t seem that the Board still wants to pay what it will take to keep good teachers in
Albemarle County classrooms. Everybody is a little too anxious to look good to the public in an election
year. The taxpaying citizens then criticize the County for not educating the children as well as they expect
and as the state requires. He hopes the Board is as anxious to leap to the defense of a school system that
nobody seems to want to pay for.
Ms. Pat Harder said she is a County resident and parent of County school children as well as the
Lead English teacher at Henley Middle School. When she read in the newspaper last week about the
Board’s intention to reduce the property tax and refund last year’s surplus money to the residents she saw
for the first time what this would mean to her family in actual dollars. The estimated reimbursement
mentioned was approximately $30.00 for every property owner in Albemarle County. She thought about
what this amount would mean to her family and decided that one of her options would be to take the family
of five to McDonald’s for dinner. Then she thought about what $30.00 buys for the Albemarle County
Schools. It pays for the funding of programs and adequate staffing for those programs. At Henley and
other County secondary schools it pays for literacy. Three years ago she was part of the County’s literacy
taskforce to whom was given the task of finding a reading program that was specially designed to help
disabled readers at the secondary level. The money for the selected program language was found and for
the last two years the taxpayers have been investing in literacy for older students who struggle with reading,
students who are two, three, four and more years behind. Students for whom passing any of the text-heavy
high stakes SOL tests, which are written at several grade levels above where they are reading, is almost
impossible. The Schools purchased the materials for the program but has not fully supported the most
rudimentary component that makes any program successful, staffing.
Ms. Harder noted that every day at Henley eight teachers meet for two periods with 90 of these
students. Due to the sacrifices on the part of all of the staff, Henley has been able to spread its' teaching
staff thin enough to give these students 90 minutes a day of reading instruction, doubling the amount of
time that most of the students get in English. Because of this the students are making great gains in their
reading. Henley can finally say that at the secondary level there is a systematic approach to reading
instruction for kids who have been previously left behind but it all comes down to staffing, having the
teachers available to reach the program. Because the County uses a staffing ratio formula rather than
adequately providing funding of programs, Henley could lose up to two teaching positions this next year if
the budget is not fully funded. The Henley staffing is now so tight that it is impossible to be a true middle
school with full academic teams. The next cuts will have to come from the reading program because there
is nowhere else. What a shame to be teaching for 29 years and to see that the County wrestle with the
same funding choices that it did when she was a new teacher. The price of dinner for five at McDonald’s--
$30.00. The price of literacy in Albemarle County—priceless. The County can have her $30.00.
Ms. Marjorie Shepherd introduced herself as a parent of four daughters in County Schools, a
teacher at Henley Middle School and said she is speaking as President of the Albemarle Education
Association. The AEA believes that the Superintendent’s proposed budget is a maintenance budget, and
any cuts would be a step backwards. Therefore, she is presenting considerations for producing or
conserving revenue in Albemarle County without touching the School budget. Consider turning the heat
down in this building; the Schools did it. Consider extending the replacement rate for the County fleet by
two years as the School Division had to do with the school buses. Consider cutting the lunch hour for
County Office Building workers down by 15 minutes and shutting everything down earlier; School staff eats
in 22 minutes so it can be done. But, do not consider cutting a thing from the proposed school budget.
Ms. Shepherd suggested that the Board consider merging departments with Charlottesville to save
operational costs. She would start with Social Services. It would help the children not to have to deal with
new people and get new folders every time they move. Consider merging County and City police
departments and the road maintenance crews, and the Parks and Recreation departments. People don’t
pay any attention to the City/County line when they go out to have fun. Consider merging specialized
Special Education classes with the City, like the multiple handicapped class, but don’t consider having the
Schools pay for arrogance about cooperating with Charlottesville.
Ms. Shepherd suggested that the Board consider selling banner advertising for local businesses on
the County Web page, and ads in the “Welcome to Albemarle” booklet. Consider putting Coke and
Frutopia machines in a prominent spot when you walk into the County Office Building. Consider bake
sales. The Board could have departments take Friday lunch time and pit departments for a little
competition, but don’t even think about pitting essential personnel against essential programs in the budget.
Ms. Shepherd asked the Board to consider selling oranges, peanuts, wrapping paper, and those
little pails of gummy worms. The Schools have done them all, been there, done that, sold the T-shirt.
Consider selling magazines. Set up some competition. Set up some charts. Mr. Rene will come out, get
everyone fired up and someone is going home with a Razor scooter. Consider a raffle at the County Fair.
Crutchfield, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Shenanigan’s are all good for donations. The School Division has
done it. Consider a receptacle for used binders from steering committees, task forces, conferences, and
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 6)
focus groups and then re-use them, but don’t consider selling out employees by ignoring the work of the
Compensation Committee.
Ms. Shepherd further urged the Board to consider putting a fountain in one of the parks that people
like to throw money into. Consider lobbying for impact fees so that developers have to share the cost of
growth. Consider allowing property taxes to be paid online. Consider renegotiating the revenue sharing
contract with the City so that what we give them gets counted for state revenues. Consider regulations to
discourage growth in the County. If the Board does not want to pay for them, why encourage people to
come? Consider a database where all of the findings of all of the studies and all the consultants so that the
County does not pay someone else to find the information three years later, and require departments to
check those before even suggesting another study. Consider giving rewards to people who come up with
more ideas for saving or generating money. There are many things to consider before the Board gets out
the scissors. The Schools have been doing them all for years. The School Division does not even think the
Board has scratched the surface. Don’t point the scissors in the School’s direction, they are already cut to
the quick. She then asked those in attendance to please stand if they supported the school budget as it is
(approximately 50 people stood).
Ms. Barbara Shifflett stated that she represented the Albemarle County Fair Board of Directors.
As she looks at the list of the worthwhile cultural, educational and civic oriented activities supported by
Albemarle County, she is impressed. The County supports the Virginia Discovery Museum, the Paramount
Theater, the Lewis and Clark Festival, the Virginia Film Festival and many others. She strongly encourages
the Board to add the Albemarle County Fair, an equally deserving event to that list.
Ms. Shifflett went on to highlight some of the contributions the Fair makes to the community. The
th
Fair is celebrating its 20 year of community education and service through the staging of the County Fair.
The Fair continues to highlight very important agricultural traditions that go back to the origins of the County.
The Fair is managed and run by community volunteers totaling over 300. The Fair supports and
showcases numerous community spirited organizations and local entertainers. Last year the Fair had over
150 non-profit and commercial vendors. It hosts youth and adult competitions in forestry, livestock, home
arts and agriculture, probably the only local event to focus on all of those skills. The Fair has a stable
board of directors who provide strong sound fiscal and operational management.
After 20 years of operating without any financial assistance from the County and following two
years of less than fair weather, the Fair is in need of some support to insure the future of this important
community event. The Fair has suffered rainy day losses of over $75,000 and needs to rebuild its capital so
that it can continue on a solid financial footing. The Fair is looking at a number of ways to refinance its
capital including a very ambitious schedule of public fundraisers this year involving the efforts of over 100
community volunteers. The Fair is also asking local government to support their effort. This is also a way
to support open space and the County’s agricultural community. She feels that an event like the Fair
celebrates the heritage and spotlights the agricultural traditions of the County and therefore deserves
support in the same way as other cultural and educational events. The Fair is unique. It brings direct and
concrete benefits to the community, and just as important serves the best funnel cake around. While the
Fair does not expect to be funded the total amount of their yearly budget, they would appreciate any help
available.
Mr. Allen Freeman noted that he has taught in the County for 29 years. Twenty-five years ago he
was an officer of the Albemarle Education Association and he addresses the Board about teacher salaries.
He said 25 years ago that teacher pay was not determined by fairness or the quality of work, either good or
bad, or by how much pay was deserved. Then, as now, he believes that pay is basically determined by two
factors: supply and demand and, secondly, division of the Board of Supervisors and the community. He
then addressed supply and demand. Teachers are like cars; the public can buy either a Yugo or can buy a
Volvo or something in between. You are competing in an open, national market. You’re like Priceline.com.
You name your price that you are willing to pay and teachers decide to sell you their skills at that particular
price. But this is a national market, not the provincial market identified by the Compensation Committee’s
recommendation even if accepted on the high side. You can buy a Yugo only at the salaries that are being
proposed. But salary alone is not why people teach in any given area. There are the intangibles that are
just as important as dollars. They are defined by the Board of Supervisors’ and the community’s vision.
Several questions need to be answered. Are teachers respected? Do they teach in safe and well-
maintained buildings? Are the principals of high quality? Do local politicians stand up for education or try to
do everything cheaply?
Mr. Freeman asked the Board to consider the vision of 1,000 proud and confident teachers and
probably about 12,000 quite demanding parents and at least 12,000 needy students and reject the negative
and economically bankrupt vision of maybe the 150 members of the Conservative Coalition. He urged the
Board to support the School budget. Do not risk the recall made inevitable when buying an inferior product
such as a Yugo. The County can afford at least a solid Chevy. He thanked the Board and stated that he
has known most of its members for a long time and he is confident that the Board will do the best that it can
just as teachers always do the best that they can.
Ms. Katherine Morris said she and her husband have three children at Albemarle High School. Her
purpose for speaking is to support a specific line item: the proposed increase in the base salary for
coaches’ stipends. She appreciates the difficulty of the budgetary decisions that are before the Board. Her
children are all seniors this year and have collectively played 19 seasons of various sports. It has been an
integral part of their high school education. They have had excellent coaches and have matured as
athletes and individuals as a result of the caliber of individuals for whom they have played. Any athlete’s
experience is directly related to the knowledge and experience of his or her coach—their style, their
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 7)
philosophy and their leadership both on and off the playing field. Coaches help build character. They
teach the value of hard work, or teamwork and the consequences of one’s actions. They are powerful role
models for youth and their influence cannot be underestimated. To attract and keep the quality coaches
that the County has come to expect, ones who build pride in athletes and their schools and have at times
produced district winners, regional winners and state championship contenders, the County must show that
it is making concerted efforts to provide them with reasonable stipends to reward the hours they dedicate
before, during and after the season. On a broader note, she added her wholehearted support for full
funding of the School budget. The Board can have her family’s $30.00 too.
Ms. Tonya Brockett introduced herself as a County resident and Director of the local Central Small
Business Center. The SBDC provides free business consulting to area residents, to existing and aspiring
entrepreneurs, lost cost training, business and professional development training, on-site business
resources and referral services. This SBDC is one of 30 around the state. The service region includes the
City of Charlottesville and ten surrounding counties including Albemarle. The SBDC submitted a proposal
for funding to the County which has not been included in the County Executive’s budget. It was
recommended however that the Board consider providing to the Center, through reserved funds, an
amount equal to what the other localities are providing. One of the things that she wanted the Board to note
is that of the four other counties providing $5,000 each, they consume only 18 percent of SBDC resources
combined. County residents consume 31 percent of SBDC consulting resources alone. An additional 17
percent of SBDC training resources are occupied and used by County residents. She asked that the Board
keep this in mind when comparing the contributions that the County makes to the contributions from other
localities.
Ms. Brockett noted that PVCC, UVA and the Chamber all provided in-kind contributions to the
Center as a modification to the funding recommendations document that she received. Added to them are
First Virginia Bank Blue Ridge, Bank of America and currently the three counties of Fluvanna, Louisa and
Orange. Cornerstone Networks and Intelos provide the high speed Internet access. New this year is an
increase of $3,000 from the Chamber and a proposed new injection from the County of Culpepper for
$5,000. PVCC has also increased their funding and they also serve as the Center’s host institution and
grant administrators. Also noted in the document was an item that she wanted to correct. SCORE, the
Service Core of Retired Executives, also provides consulting to entrepreneurs. They are located in the
Center’s offices and the Center provides them with the resources that they use to serve the County’s
residents. She provided a copy of the letter from SCORE to the Charlottesville City Council which she feels
also directly applies to the County. She asked that the Board note that the services provided to County
residents include one-on-one consulting that helps them strengthen their business, by retaining employees,
retain the money they need in their businesses so they can grow and sustain themselves, and help them to
enjoy the quality life that the County has to offer. The Center helped create 59 jobs. Ms. Brockett
recognized that she was out of time and thanked the Board for its time.
Mr. Joe Lieberman said he is a retired teacher. He is happy to be before the Board to support the
County and School budgets. He wanted to address teachers’ salaries specifically. He had occasion to
attend the UVA teacher recruitment fair as well as a convention of 600 teachers recently. The County is in
an extremely competitive teacher market. It is not local, but national. Schools systems are desperate for
teachers. They are desperate for Albemarle County teachers or any teachers. Any of the County’s
teachers who were to go anywhere in the United States and whisper that they are teachers would be
offered jobs. That’s the situation as he found it. There were over 100 schools systems at the fair from
Chicago to Florida. The County used to get its new teachers from UVA. That’s probably going to be far
less true from now on. Schools systems throughout the country are seeking teachers that the County used
to feel were exclusively theirs.
Mr. Lieberman said that he felt it was important for the Board to understand that the teacher salary
schedule is shockingly low. Even if the Board raises it as is proposed, it will be low in comparison to
salaries throughout the United States. There is another problem with the teacher salary schedule--it is a
30-year salary. A teacher begins a first year and does not meet maximum for 30 years. Other school
systems have as little as a ten year span from first year to the highest year at year ten. The school system
of Castle Rock Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia had everyone talking and thinking at the fair. Castle
Rock is starting new teachers at approximately $42,000 and goes up to $90,000 with a doctorate at the
highest end of the scale. Everyone at the fair was wondering how to compete with this. The County must
begin to consider the same.
Ms. Nancy Damon stated that she represented the Central Virginia Festival of the Book, a very
special educational program of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The County has supported the
Virginia Festival of the Book for a number of years. She wanted to express their thanks and gratitude. The
stth
Seventh Annual Festival is next week, March 21 through 25. She extended an invitation to the audience
as well as the Board to attend programs, almost all of which are free and open to the public. The Book
Festival brings famous, infamous and not yet famous authors to read and talk about their work. There will
be at least one program and sometimes more in every County school, Saturday and Sunday programs for
families and 139 adult programs. Last year’s total attendance was 13,500 people. Last year there were
visitors from 22 states other than Virginia who brought happy tourist dollars. This year the Festival has had
inquiries from Italy, France and India as well as many states. She thanked the Board for its vote of
confidence by supporting next year’s Eighth Annual 2002 Virginia Book. She provided posters to the Board
members with a request that they be posted in the County Office Building.
Ms. Marla Muntner introduced herself as a teacher at Stone-Robinson Elementary School and Vice
President of the Albemarle Education Association. She began by telling a story. Last week a first year
teacher at Stone-Robinson was kicked repeatedly, elbowed, and head butted by an elementary student. If
the Board thinks it is going to attract bright young people like him into the profession of teaching, ask him to
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 8)
put up with abuse, ask him to consistently work nights and weekends and then expect him to stay on only to
earn $47,000 at their 30-year career peak, it is not going to happen. According to this year’s AEA survey,
within the next five years, 51 percent of our teachers are planning to either leave teaching for another
career, transfer to another district, retire or leave for other reasons. This 51 percent total is up 11 percent
from the 40 percent who were planning to leave just last year. Clearly, now is not the time to reduce the
competitiveness of their pay. Ms. Muntner noted that she served with two Board members on the Strategic
Plan for Compensation Committee. The plan is designed to attract, motivate and retain County employees.
Part of the plan involves projecting what other Virginia districts will pay next year so that the County may
keep up. She provided the Board with a chart showing 19 Virginia school districts chosen for comparison
and what is known to date about their teacher pay plans. According to the chart next year’s increases range
from about four percent to a whopping 16 percent increase in Loudon County.
Ms. Muntner then turned to the issue of class size. There are many wonderful things happening in
the County schools. For example, this year Stone-Robinson’s staffing plan allows teachers to work with half
of a math class at a time while the other children are in other classes. According to her students the
benefits of this small math class include: it is quiet, the children get more work done, the students pay
more attention, there is more time to think, the teacher can help the students more, it is more fun for the
students and the children learn more. According to this year’s AEA Survey data, 50 percent of teachers say
smaller classes are also conducive to student success. This is up from 43 percent last year. The County is
making real progress in this area and it is positively affecting student learning. Now is not the time to
increase class sizes.
Ms. Muntner said that in her profession, teachers are often asked to perform miracles, to do the
nearly impossible and to do more with less. Now she asks the same of the Board. School employees are
doing more than ever to insure student success and the Board must do the same. Ms. Muntner asked that
those in the audience who agreed with full support of the School Board’s funding request stand
(approximately 50 people stood).
Mr. Chris Bunin said he is a third year teacher at Henley Middle School. He asked that the Board
fully fund the School Board request. Teacher’s salaries need to be raised. Three years ago he faced a
difficult decision. He had to decide whether to go on teaching or to join the technology fields of Remote
Sansing and GIS. GIS and Remote Sansing would provide him with an income that would allow him to buy
many things he enjoys. However, teaching would allow him to do what he enjoys. He decided he would
teach with Remote Sansing and GIS as a back-up plan. The only time he thinks about the back-up plan is
on payday. He asked the Board to compare his $30,800 salary to that of the salary offered next year’s GIS
specialist. There is a difference of about $17,000. A number of his friends went into teaching as well and
loved it. A few, all male, teachers are now in entirely different fields. They got married and had a family.
Then the reality of the teacher salary for which he now works set in. After talking with their wives they
realized they needed to abandon something that they loved and it would not be their families, but their jobs.
Mr. Bunin asked that the Board not make him have to make a decision between a job that he loves and the
family that he loves. He also noted that besides salary increases schools need funding for the classrooms.
Technology support is necessary to keep up with the changing world. With adequate funds, teachers and
students could be trained to truly be prepared for the next millennium without having to go to college to find
out what is a geographical information system. Last month he attended an expo dealing with SOL success
and what really works. Everything he heard that other middle schools are doing to meet accreditation
sounded great. Some of the things they are doing would include extra planning time, remediation, and
team teaching. If the budget were cut, teacher positions would be lost as would the opportunity for these
methods of meeting accreditation. The Superintendent and the School Board have done just what the
Board of Supervisors asked. They have recommended a working budget that will meet the needs of this
school system. It is not a wish list. It is a necessity list. Please support the budget.
Ms. Martha Redinger said that she has three children in the County schools. “If it ain’t broke, don’t
fix it,” is a quote that will need to be reflected upon a decade from now when we look at the outcomes of the
Richmond-based education system. There have been sweeping changes in the County schools, most of
them expensive, most of them due to the imposition of SOLs. Albemarle County schools are not failing.
They were not failing ten years ago, five years ago nor are they failing now. The scare tactics of some
politicians who have much to gain by doing something about it have in fact had a negative impact on this
County, its finances and her children. Historically Albemarle County Public Schools have fared well on
national tests. Western Albemarle High School has some of the best teachers in the country. While
Richmond legislators have failed to prove the point that all children will be losers without them, while
pushing the SOL agenda, taxes will need to be increased to pay for the experiment.
Ms. Redinger said five years ago there were six periods at WAHS. The classes met every day.
Today, in order to accommodate the Richmond agenda and graduate with an advanced diploma, seven
periods are required. Ask any teacher whether meeting every day or just two or three times a week is
better. Five years ago, they offered study halls; they have now been cut out. This year they need staff to
teach SOL material. Five years ago there were fewer tests and more time for teaching. Five years ago, the
schools and the state were not experimenting on the children like they are with today with the SOLs.
Differentiated funding which translated into larger class sizes at WAHS and loss of teachers for some
subjects also did not exist five years ago. More is being asked of all children than ever before and support
structures are being reduced one by one—more courses, more tests, less teaching time, later release time,
less family time and less choices for individuality.
Ms. Redinger noted that the financial pressure has been turned on the localities. This is
indisputable given the Governor’s latest proposals. Albemarle County has to look out for its own. Teacher
salaries need to be increased to comparable levels to attract the best. Class size should be kept small and
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 9)
programs like orchestra should be in the schools. If she had her way, Richmond would have made
recommendations, not requirements or imposed itself when the system is broke. The County’s system was
not broke, but the County is being asked to fix it anyway and it is costing a lot. In order not to slip backwards
the Board should pass the proposed budget simply because there are no other options without imposing
more damage on an already stressed system. She asked that the Board keep the $30.00 rebate. It may
seem like it is the principle of the thing, but the County will indeed need it as compensation for the depleted
state funding.
Mr. Tom Olivier said that two years ago the Board of Supervisors adopted a new Natural
Environment Chapter for the Comprehensive Plan. That chapter included a provision for creation of a
standing County biological advisory committee. The creation of this committee is urgent. Right now the
County is in one of the great extinction crises in the history of life on earth. The update of the rural areas
chapter of the Comprehensive Plan was to follow soon after. However, in the past two years only one work
session has been held for the rural areas update. Over and over residents have been told that while the
County cares deeply about biodiversity and its rural areas, it has lacked staff for timely pursuit of these
matters. Perniciously, staff hired for open space issues routinely have been diverted to development tasks.
The ACE program has been adopted to protect open space resources but it serves rather than develops
policy. Indeed, the value of the ACE program is compromised by the state of the open space policies and
their implementation. The Planning Department has requested support for a new planner position to work
on rural areas issues and to support creation of the County biodiversity committee. Analyses within the
Planning Department indicate insufficient staff to create this committee in the coming work year unless this
new staff position is created. The County Executive’s budget recommends against funding this new
planner. Mr. Olivier countered that two years of abstract commitments and warm words are enough. Now
is the time for the County to commit financial resources to this biodiversity crisis. He urged the Board to
provide support for the new planner requested by the County Planning Department in their budget. He also
noted that the Zoning Department has requested funds for four new zoning inspector positions and the
current budget proposal from the County Executive supports two. He urged that new zoning inspectors be
funded in the Board’s budget.
Ms. Wren Dawson Olivier said she is from the Scottsville District. She echoed the sentiments of Mr.
Tom Olivier regarding the request by the Planning Department for an additional planner position. Good
government means more than attention to development areas concerns. In addition, she urged that the
Board provide funding for additional inspection staff requested by the Zoning Department. These
inspectors play a key role, assuring that County policies are properly implemented. They are necessary to
reduce nuisances that undermine the quality of life of County residents. The County Executive’s budget
proposes support for two new zoning inspectors. She urged support for these positions.
Ms. Lana Chassman stated that she works for public television (WVPT). Broadcast television is the
most powerful communications tool developed. Yet nearly all of its uses are designed to maximize the
profits of those who own its production and distribution components, not to enhance the lives of those who
use it. WVPT is a non-commercial public television station that serves the greater Charlottesville-Albemarle
region and is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to serve this area. Its mission is to use
broadcast television and other communications technology to serve the educational, cultural and
informational needs of the citizens of this area. Many national surveys by government agencies and polling
organizations demonstrate a need for more effective education for children and improved, more accessible
continuing education for adults. They also demonstrate a need for education in history and civic affairs.
Public television, in general, and WVPT specifically makes a greater effort to address these needs than any
other television service. The Board might be happy to know that WVPT received a national award recently
for its Festival of Trees, placing second in the entire United States among 384 submissions for special
events. This was a community oriented festival stressing families and early childhood literacy. One of the
reasons the award was given was because of the involvement with the community. So, in summation,
along with the other programs that it offers such as Pop Quiz, Young Heroes, Young Environmentalists,
Ready to Learn, Kidvention, WVPT respectfully submits its request for local support for fiscal year 2002
from the 22 cities and counties in the station area.
Ms. Patricia Gaesser stated that she has two school-aged children. She asked if anyone believed
that a $30.00 rebate, on average, per household from the surplus created by the tax rate increase, would
really make a difference in anyone’s life. Yet that $30.00 could perhaps buy a textbook so sorely needed by
the schools and in that way make a difference in a child’s life. She asked that the Board keep her $30.00
and donate it to the School Division. She also would like to express her support, once again, for salary
raises for the hard-working, underpaid teachers and for continued support of the strings program
implemented this year in some of the county middle schools. For many children music instruction through
the schools is the only opportunity they may have for music lessons, and for those who for many years have
been driving kids around to music lessons this program is a godsend. She does not want County
administrators to think that music programs in the County schools are expendable because the parents of
music students simply would pay for lessons and ensemble experiences outside the school setting. This
presumption ignores the “potential” music student, the child who may have talent and interest, but whose
family simply cannot afford it. The presumption of personal affordability also ignores the fact that parents
are forced to make difficult financial choices impacting the entire family, as they write checks each month
for music lessons. Since kindergarten she and her husband have spent roughly $17,000 on music lessons,
ensemble programs, and instrument rental or purchase for two children, one of whom stopped taking
th
lessons after the 4 grade. Her youngest however, now in the Henley strings program, continues. They
have made this commitment despite the fact that her husband, a full professor in the Curry School at UVA
is in one of the two lowest paying schools in the University. But then there’s never enough money for
education, is there? Nevertheless, they set their priorities and make sacrifices. Their cars have 120,000
and 140,000 miles on them, probably due to all of that driving to music lessons, but she’d rather have a
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 10)
house filled with music than a garage filled with new cars. So for anyone here tonight who may presume
that County parents who want music instruction for their children can always afford to go outside the school,
think again.
Ms. Gaesser went on to say that the larger issue here is, of course, that this County needs to
support music and fine arts. She asked whether the Board members had strong music programs in their
schools when they were growing up. She did, and feels that everyone wants better for their children than
what they had. She invited the Board to attend the Spring Concert to see how far a middle school strings
program has come in just one year and what the County has given so far to those children who want music
in their lives and to others who need music to change their lives.
Mr. Mark Usry said he is a father of two children in the County schools and President of the Stone-
Robinson Elementary School PTO. He is part of the problem but hopes to be part of the solution. He is
part of the problem because he is one of the people that moved to the County in the last few years because
of the quality of life issues he found in the County that did not exist in the location from which he moved. He
has concerns that a small, but vocal, well-meaning but misguided group of individuals is trying to hold back
progress that Albemarle County can make through public services that are offered. He has a concern that
a small group of people are claiming accountability should occur, which he agrees with and believes is
occurring, but that these people miss the other lesson that is taught to most people who study the area of
economics--the area of the market place and the fact that teachers and other public employees have
options now in this economy to go elsewhere. He has concerns that the County is facing a major teacher
burnout and teacher retirement in the County based upon a number of reasons but not the least of which is
its ever diversifying student body. He expressed concern about the potential impact that a school system
whose public service is not keeping up with the demands of its citizens will have on potential businesses
wanting to move to this area which could further help our economic outlook.
Mr. Usry expressed a concern about falling behind in salaries and maintenance in all public arenas
because it’s much harder to catch up once we’ve fallen behind. The answers to needs seem to be fairly
straightforward. Number one, meet if not exceed, the current compensation recommendation by the
committee to the School Board some time ago. Maintain facilities at the current levels, if not at a better
level. Maintain the basics in the schools, and he does not just mean math and science and English, but
also included are art, music and language instruction. He wants the County to be able to provide the
children with the type of education that they deserve. He also wants the County to provide the teachers with
the compensation they deserve. He asked the Board to help maintain and insure that County kids receive a
world class education so that they can complete in a worldwide economy.
Mr. John Baker stated that he wished he were smart enough to understand what surpluses were at
the national, state and local levels because there is an initiative that because there are surpluses ostensibly
they should to returned to the people. He is smart enough to know that in County schools there is not near
the funding that there has been in the past or that is needed for the world class education that some have
th
spoken of. He spent ten consecutive hours on March 13 recruiting teachers. He noted that what he uses
in speaking with potential teachers is a brochure that contains eight reasons why Albemarle County is tops.
However in each one of those areas, high test scores, strong academic programs, modern facilities, low
staffing ratios, small community schools, enthusiastic volunteers, exceptional benefits, there is room for
improvement. In order for the County to have any kind of competitive edge in terms of recruiting teachers
these days it takes a level and effort that is almost inhuman compared to people who tack up a sign that
says “this is our salary scale and this is what we offer.” It is worth doing because the County does have
such a positive story to tell. He refutes the County’s detractors that say the County is paying a comparable
scale. He refutes the County’s detractors who say the County schools have everything they need. The
County can have all of the things that it alleges when it is recruiting so that the County continues to get the
quality of people that it wants. Please fund the school budget as submitted to the Board.
Ms. Susan Pollock said she is the mother of two children who attend Woodbrook Elementary
School where she is PTO President. It is a shame that the schools are short of funds in a place as affluent
as Albemarle County. With the low taxes paid by citizens she feels that the expected tax refund is
ridiculous. She hopes that somehow the money will be found to fulfill the School Board's budget request as
it is, noting that even as it stands this budget does not cover all of the School’s needs--not given the current
need for PTOs to fund purchases like computers, cafeteria tables, classroom books and risers among
other things. Finally, if it happens that cuts needs to be made, she hopes that faculty compensation is
safeguarded. How can the County expect to attract and retain the best teachers if the salaries are not
competitive? These are the people who are preparing the County’s children for the future. They deserve to
be treated as such.
Mr. Paul Wright first complimented Mr. Tucker on a more improved and more thorough budget. He
would call for one small addition with respect to the listing in the Capital Improvement of bonds. They
should be listed as an aggregate. For example, the County is going to have bond debt in excess of $70
million if this is adopted and that is not reflected anywhere in the document. It would probably be better for
taxpayers to see that. Mr. Wright stated that he was before the Board to discuss mythology, myths that he’s
heard that do not bear up under scrutiny. For example, one would think that the County is cutting the
school budget, that these cuts would be significant. Two years ago in a proposed budget the budget was
$99 million for the schools. Last year it was $106 million. Today it is $114 million. That’s a 15 percent
increase in two years. There has been a less than two percent increase in students. The Board has
approved and the Conservative Coalition has backed increasing starting teaching salaries from $26,000 to
$30,000. The compensation program clearly showed that that is where the County was lacking and the
Coalition supports that. For example, the 4.2 percent that the School Division is proposing is actually more
than that because many of these people are market to market. There were some deficits and those are
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 11)
being made up. Someone who is going from their third year to their fourth year will now be making a nine
percent increase in one year. More importantly the Coalition just wants the Board to keep its promises. If
the Board said that it would give the money back and it has legislation drafted and passed, then that is what
should be done. Last year the County spent a $5 million surplus. Some of it could have been put aside in
case “this state thing” happened. He then addressed what he called the myth of Castle Rock. Castle Rock
is not on a map. It is a school district, not a place. The closest place you can find statistical data is Richville.
It is a suburb of New York City, located one hour from New York. Their tax rate is twice that of Albemarle
County. They only have 11,000 students and 750 teachers. So for all of the people who want Castle Rock
let’s double the County’s taxes, increase the size of classrooms, and fire some teachers. That is what one
will have to do to get Castle Rocks. Mr. Wright urged the Board to check out the facts before listening to
just part of the story.
th
Ms. Martha Harris referred to her “Letter to the Editor” published in the March 13 issue of the Daily
Progress concerning the Compensation Committee’s study as being factual. The data was confirmed by
signatures of Paul Wright and Ken Boyd, both members of that committee, before submission to the Daily
Progress. Ms. Harris stated that she would contact each Board member individually regarding comments
th
made by Roxanne White in her memo of March 13 to each.
Ms. Harris stated that although the problems with the recommended compensation increases of
4.2 percent for the schools and 3.9 percent for the general government are of questionable validity, this
costly area will be addressed in a different venue. However, what Dr. Castner has identified as potential
cuts from the schools’ need based budget leads one to question his definition of needs. Are $32,000 for
School Board members’ laptop computers or $54,000 for a Web analyst or $60,000 for additional stipends
for coaches, or $74,900 for additional school based administrators, or $214,000 for teachers for growth,
which if it is like it was last year didn’t materialize, needs that will effect positively the education of Albemarle
County children or the wish list of an administration that has little concern for what it costs to operate the
school system? If these are the type of items that are disclosed as possible cuts, it leaves one with doubt
st
about what other excesses are in the budget that are not disclosed. According to the February 21
Charlottesville Observer article from which she has just quoted, a 2-tiered list of identified cuts totaling close
to $2 million are part of the budget package presented to the School Board by Dr. Castner but was deleted
from the package delivered to the Board. What was the strategy for this? She asked that the Board hold its
allocation to the Schools to the current amount determined by County Executive, Bob Tucker, and require
the same fiscal responsibility of the schools as the taxpayers must face when they are paying their tax bill.
Ms. Delores Johnson identified herself as a small business owner. She said that the Small
Business Development Center has proven to be a very valuable resource for herself. Small business
owners have a tendency to want to tell their visions, dreams and hopes to everyone. After awhile people
start to avoid them. The SBDC is the small business owner’s sounding board and will assist the small
business owner in determining whether or not his idea meets a need. The SBDC is highly respected for its
knowledge and ability to guide the small business owner by area banks. When one approaches the banks
one of the first questions he is sure to be asked is whether or not he’s met with the SBDC. The SBDC will
review, question, map out, support and help one seek funding to reach goals. The SBDC has done just hat
for her. It has assisted and encouraged her so that on or before March 26, 2001 she will be submitting an
application for a special use permit to build a conference center and banquet hall. With the guidance of the
SBDC Ms. Johnson is confident that her dream will meet the needs of the community and be profitable.
She stands to ask that the Board fund the SBDC.
Mr. DeForest Mellon said he is the vice-president for Citizens for Albemarle and said is speaking for
that organization. He said that the Organization notes with concern that the Planning Department’s
breakdown of task areas’ prospectus for fiscal year 2001-2002 does not include any current staff members
who will oversee either critical resource Inventory nor the Biodiversity Study provisions of the Natural
Resources section of the revised Comprehensive Plan. To rectify this unsatisfactory condition, the Planning
Department has requested funding for a new planner position. The work of this new planner would include
biodiversity protection and some rural areas issues. The proposed operating budget from the County
Executive recommends that this position not be funded.
Mr. Mellon went on to say that the Citizens for Albemarle believes these critically important
provisions of the Comprehensive Plan to be absolutely essential considerations for the future of Albemarle
County, and urges the Board to appropriate sufficient funds for the new planner position to deal with
biodiversity and some other rural areas issues. As the Organization has argued before the Board on
numerous occasions during the past six years, it believes that considerations of biodiversity are of critical
importance to the economic, agricultural and aesthetic health of Albemarle County and its citizens. It is
apparent that present staff commitments in the Planning Department are heavily burdened by acute, daily
concerns with development issues that leave little time for consideration of long-term but arguably more
important issues that affect the County. The tyranny of small decisions and their incremental impact must
not be permitted to displace intelligent, long-term planning strategies that will preserve the quality of life that
County citizens enjoy. Time is of the essence in these matters, because the shadow of urbanization and
the attendant loss of critical biological habitat proceeds at an increasing pace.
Mr. Larry Lawwill stated that he is speaking on behalf of the Building Level Administrators
Association. The Association has three concerns with Mr. Tucker’s proposed budget. First, with a $1.7
million deficit for the schools there are really only two areas where cuts could occur to make up this large
deficit. These areas would be compensation and staffing. The School Board has stated that salaries are a
top priority of which the Association is in full support. This would mean that the other area, staffing, would
need to be cut greatly. Due to state elementary funding requirements most of the staff cuts would have to
come at the middle and high school level. Cutting staff from the high schools and middle schools will mean
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 12)
cutting some programs. There could be a negative impact on the effort the schools are able to make in
working with students who will struggle the most to be successful on the SOLs. He asked the Board to
th
keep in mind that this year’s 9 graders are the first students who need to pass the SOL end of course tests
in order to be able to graduate high school. Cutting staff will also increase class size.
Mr. Lawwill stated that he served on the taskforce that worked at developing compensation and
benefits. The Association understands the importance of having excellent educators in every classroom.
To be able to hire and retain these quality individuals the School Division needs to have competitive
salaries. He finds it interesting that there are those in this community that believe that the suggested salary
increase is too large for current economic conditions. If one were to compare the proposed salary
increases for the other school systems in the County’s identified market, one would find that the School
Board’s proposal is at the bottom third of the proposed salary increases. The issue of salary is going to
continue to be a major concern for many years to come. Finally, the Association’s last area of concern is
the issue of lowering the tax rate for the start of the fiscal year. If there is a need to lower the rate for six
months, then it needs to be understood that the rate will go back up for the second half of the year. If the
tax rate is not returned to the current level all areas of the County government will be effected. Education is
the largest portion of the County’s budget. This year’s deficit will pale compared to the long-range effect of
dropping the tax rate permanently. When it comes to funding education, a quote from a popular
commercial states that “you can pay me now or you can pay me later.” Unfortunately the problem with later
is that it costs more money. Not fully funding the School Board needs will negatively impact the quality of
education for all students in the County.
Mr. Ralph Smith first thanked each Board member for his/her service. He has two children, one at
Monticello and one at Walton. He is before the Board to support the Superintendent’s proposed budget. In
particular he believes that Mr. Tucker’s proposal for employment, recruitment and retention is extremely
important. If the County does not start paying its teachers a professional wage, its future will suffer. On a
personal note, his daughter will graduate in the spring from Monticello and plans to attend Longwood
College in the fall. She was recently recognized at a School Board meeting along with other students for
her involvement in the teacher cadet program. She wants to be a teacher, an honorable profession, but he
is wondering if she could do better based on the high cost of a college education and the low pay of return.
He asked the Board to please support the teachers’ pay increase. In addition Mr. Smith expressed his
th
support for high school athletics. The participation of high school athletics is on the increase for the 12
consecutive year. At Monticello High School over 50 percent of the students participate in spring sports;
that is 597 students will now play in the spring. Coaches and coaches stipends are extremely important
because these individuals shape and mold the children’s futures and they also teach the value of
sportsmanship. Athletics is a vehicle for education.
Mr. John Baldino began his comments with a quote from Disraeli, “there are lies, there are damn
lies and then there are statistics. Those present have heard a lot of statistics tonight. They’ve heard
percentages. They’ve heard dollar amounts but the one thing that comes through in all of this is that there
is a crisis. The Governor has declared that his crisis is over. While he is happy for the Governor, the
County’s crisis has just begun. There is a crisis in the classroom that needs to be recognized quickly.
There is a crisis of inadequate compensation of professionals. He includes all School Division employees
in the term “professionals.” If education is not funded to levels at which it needs to be funded class sizes
will continue to increase. There are a lot of teachers near retirement. Many are leaving the classroom
because they do not want to put up with the pay and all of the other things that come with it. The new
people coming into the classroom look at this kind of like the Peace Corp. They will be teachers for three
or four years and then move on to another career.
Mr. Baldino then addressed inadequate supplies. Teachers are buying more and more out of their
own pockets because the School Division cannot afford to provide the necessary supplies to the classroom.
If one were to ask of the supplies found in a classroom how much a teacher purchased, he would be told
three quarters. Last, there is an erosion of the fine arts. Fine arts is what makes the quality of life. Life is
not just the basics. Mr. Baldino stated that when he looks behind him (referring to the audience) he looks at
education. He noted that this group of men and women are his first line of defense against tragedy. Their
replacements better be well-educated because they are going to have to learn very complicated skills and
he wants their successors to be as well educated and as confident as they are. Education is not just a
matter of life. It is a matter of life and death.
Ms. Frances Lee Vandell stated that she is speaking on behalf of the Blue Ridge ESL Council, a
literacy organization. She respects the Board’s recommendation to not fund BRESL in a tight budget year,
but hopes that the Board would look for some discretionary money to fund $1,000 to this project so that
BRESL could strike while the iron is hot. Using her knowledge gained from working on the 2000 Census,
they would like to target Spanish-speaking individuals. The County could save in the long-term untold
money for services to them as well as aid in getting these individuals ready to work or enhance their
employability with some English. These individuals, who do not fit in normal classrooms are in danger of
falling through the cracks. The County is letting resources wither while, as the Census results will show,
rapid growth in low-income, non-English speaking residents have come to the area.
Ms. Vandell stated that in response to the Board’s comments in the Agency Budget Review Team
recommendations, the BRESL students generally do not go to the Charlottesville or Albemarle Adult ESL
classes because they have child or transportation constraints or time constraints. The classes don’t help if
one is working day and evening jobs. While education is considered a humanitarian service, in cases of
undocumented workers, they are afraid to go to public institutional buildings. For many, tutoring is the
bridge to the City and County ESL programs.
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 13)
BRESL is not asking funding for volunteer tutors or administrators. At the present time, the
Organization cannot cover all of the tutoring requests that it receives so it cannot solicit employers at their
businesses without extra administrators to help. Tracking students after they learn English and whether or
not they remain in this area can be added to the record keeping that BRESL already does. This is a good
recommendation, particularly because adult education teachers believe most of them continue to live and
work in this area after they learn English.
Mr. John Hermsmeier stated that he is a resident of the Scottsville District. The proposed budget
Board includes 1.5 unfunded positions in the Planning Department reducing the request from 4.6 new
positions to 3.1. Although the senior planner was included in the recommended budget, an additional
planner position was not included. Funding this position would help insure that adopted policy
commitments already in the Comprehensive Plan can be brought to fruition such as conducting a biological
inventory of the County and staffing the biodiversity committee which has still not been formed due to lack
of staff time. The dramatic increase in the Planning budget reflects the serious problems with understaffing
that have prevented Albemarle County, over the years, from moving ahead more progressively towards
large scale, long term planning goals. There is no reason to doubt that the Planning Department needs its
entire request funded in order to accomplish the tasks that have been asked of it. To adopt a budget that
does not include the additional planning position is to essentially decide that certain planning tasks will not
be completed. The money spent on this planning will save taxpayers huge amounts of money in the future.
Mr. Hermsmeier stated that if the County does not invest in planning it will find that keeping up with
the spiraling demands of unplanned growth will rob it not only of its pocketbooks, but also of the way of life
in Albemarle. If residents want a county with open spaces, a biologically rich environment and low taxes, it
can be achieved if the County takes proactive steps to make it happen which include fully supporting its
staff and all that it is asked to do. Creating a better link between the budget and all of the things residents
care about in Albemarle has multiple and far-ranging benefits. For example, existing qualities like healthy
lands and waters can become a lasting legacy for all residents. The act of leaving this legacy reduces the
need for increasing expenditures due to increased demand for new infrastructure and services, and keeps
land prices and taxes lower so that residents of all income levels can afford to live in the County. Money
that would have been spent trying to keep up with spiraling growth can instead be directed to increasing the
quality of lives of residents. The County makes design choices with its money. The County can pay now to
plan for the protection of community values or pay both now and later through the paths of accommodation
of their destruction. There is much to appreciate in Albemarle’s planning successes. Now is the time for
the County to step to the plate and provide the financial resources necessary to truly proactively plan the
future of the County. If planning is funded only to a level where long-term, large-scale planning is
continually sacrificed in the struggle to react to short-term requirements, then the County will pay lots more
later to live in a community that is not as good as the current one. What is the justification of that strategy?
It makes no more sense morally than it does financially.
Mr. Lanny L. Moore addressed the Board on behalf of volunteer fire departments. He has heard a
lot tonight about crisis. When there is a crisis the volunteer fire fighters are called and they respond. As
volunteers they need help. None of the people standing with him gets paid. The volunteer fire fighters have
submitted a budget to the Board. The number one priority is funding for training. The request is for
$25,200. Mr. Tucker was kind enough to put in $15,000, but the additional $10,000 needs to be made up.
The fire fighters are also asking for more equipment including eight thermal imaging cameras at a cost of
$144,000. Mr. Tucker and the Committee were kind enough to fund four. The fire fighters need at least
two more because one is needed in each volunteer fire department as well as in each rescue squad.
Some of the volunteer fire departments have purchased there own. There is one half million dollars worth
of fire equipment sitting in the parking lot. That equipment was purchased by the volunteer fire departments
with some help from the Board. Most of the funds were raised by the volunteer departments. The need is
for mechanics to work on this equipment. The bus shop is doing some of the maintenance but there is a
need for a mechanic to work on the pumps. The fire fighters appreciate the items that were funded. They
have also asked for a block grant of $50,000 for emergency use. The Board has been kind enough to fund
a volunteer coordinator position that was filled yesterday.
Ms. Whitney Mason said she is the Executive Director of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.
Albemarle is a wonderfully supportive community. It wants, expects and deserves an animal shelter, and
animal welfare program commensurate with its values, its shared love and devotion to animals and its
t
desire to move into the 21scentury. Last year the SPCA took in close to 5,000 unwanted, homeless and
stray animals of which 2,700 were brought in by County animal control officers. The SPCA expects this
number to grow along with the increasing County population. Due to the care the SPCA gives, many of the
animals are placed in new and loving homes. The SPCA does this in an entirely inadequate facility which is
not cost effective and results in many healthy and adoptable animals being euthanized due to lack of space
to house them. The County’s current contract with the SPCA allows for an $8 payment per dog only if held
for at least 5 days and then destroyed. The cost to the SPCA is more than $25 per day for dogs and cats
and it does not want to euthanize them simply to be paid. In many cases the SPCA spends far more than
$25 to provide the animals the care they desperately need. The SPCA does more than care for animals.
The SPCA is working to reduce the over-population problem and expand educational programs to teach
responsible pet ownership. Communities throughout the country are already succeeding in these areas.
This community needs to catch up. The SPCA desperately needs a new facility and assistance with
programs that will not only impact on animal welfare in Albemarle County but also human welfare in
Albemarle County. Ms. Mason paraphrased Ghandi: “A community’s morality can be judged by how it
treats its animals.”
Ms. Thomas asked whether or not Dan Meador had arrived to speak. She was told no and
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 14)
therefore stated that that was the last signed-up speaker. She invited those who had not had a chance to
speak to do so.
Ms. Grace Zisk said she is a retired Albemarle County teacher, a senior citizen and grandmother of
a child at Burley Middle School. Only one person mentioned that this is an affluent county, and it is. She
thinks that it is disgraceful that practically every year there is a struggle to get enough money to pay the
teachers and for the School Division. It is not because she has a grandson in the schools that she is
interested; it is because everyone has to be concerned with the citizens that this society is going to turn out.
It’s only through education that the County is going to turn out a good society here. So, like most of the
speakers tonight she urges the Board to pass the budget. Though not familiar with each line item that one
of the speakers mentioned, she assured the Board if that were gone over and some of them could be
discarded there are plenty of other things that could take their place. For example, when she attended the
concert at Burley last week she noticed that the auditorium desperately needed a paint job and it is
demoralizing for students to be in a school that looks as if it is "run down". She also supports the
instrument program; it should be offered to all students not just to those whose parents are able to afford
them. On the item of the returned surplus, it was good of the Board to make that promise but sometimes
one has to break a promise with a good explanation. She hopes that the Board will not refund the surplus
and asked that it support the budget.
Ms. Eve Schwartz stated that she has two elementary school children at Woodbrook. She wanted
to talk about the importance of fully funding Dr. Castner’s proposed budget. Schools are probably the most
single important public good the County provides. It is virtually the only public good that adds value to the
community rather than simply maintaining existing values the way that fire or police protection does. People
want to come to Albemarle County because of its high quality of life and the public schools are an
March 14, 2001 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 15)
important part of this; not just because of the schools themselves, but also because of the steady stream of
well-educated people that continue to live and work in the County. These are the people who fix your cars,
process your paperwork in various offices around the County, who manage your restaurants and places to
shop and who get her grandmother in and out of the shower at the many assisted living communities and
hospitals. It is a mistake to think that one can skimp on basic education and still enjoy a high quality of
services from these kinds of workers. If your mechanics can’t deal with numbers, they’re not going to get
the job done right. If a semi-literate caregiver at a hospital plugs in the wrong piece of equipment, it could
kill someone. The employers that come to Albemarle County and provide many people with high income
jobs also come here because they know that their basic labor pool already posses a high level of basic
skills and these skills come from the public schools. High wage jobs rest on the availability of lower skilled
workers too. There are many retirees or soon to be retirees in the County and they naturally worry about
living on a fixed income. It is a mistake to think that saving on education today will assure them a decent
retirement tomorrow. Social security is based on taxes paid by average working people and the lower their
skill level the lower their income and the less money there is available for social security. By the same
token, private pensions fundamentally rest on the profitability of US corporations. If their workers are low
skilled, their profits will also be low. People who think there is tremendous waste in public schools have not
been inside one for a long time.
Ms. Schwartz challenged anyone who thinks there is waste to tour Agnor Hurt or Woodbrook and
then compare them with private education to see who does more for more people with fewer resources.
The public schools are our best investment. Specifically Ms. Schwartz encouraged the Board to support
the funding of gifted education. In any given classroom, school, school system you have a bell curve with a
median, first standard deviation and second standard deviation. Everyone agrees that these children here
need differentiation if they are going to succeed. These children are just as far from the norm and they
need gifted resource teachers who can help not only provide the hour and a half of state required pull-out
but can also provide the classroom teachers with the adjustments to the curriculum that these children
desperately need to succeed.
Ms. Betty Lyon said she is the mother of two County school children. Her children had attended
private school until this year. She began by thanking all of her children’s teachers. Charlottesville continues
to be one of the top ten places to retire. She challenged the Board to go on the Internet and download the
SOL scores. She admonished the Board to rank those scores with the rest of Virginia and see where they
lie. Her child’s teacher now teaches 23 students in the second grade. She taught 23 for one hour in
Sunday school and was ready to pull her hair out.
Ms. Lyon went on to say that the County obsesses about the beauty of the entrance ways to this
fine community. She challenged the Board to make that roadway on the back of the schools. She
suggested that the Board place a welcome center in one of the trailers on school grounds. Teachers do
not earn enough. UVA says $8.00 an hour is the minimum salary to make ends meet in this County. The
beginning teachers do not make much more than that. The salary levels are a true reflection of the value
placed on teachers. Ms. Lyon suggested that the next time the Board give a "pat on the back", it be given to
a neighbor for his best joke. Don’t give it to the teachers for a job well done. Please consider fully funding
the budget. She also asked that the Board fund the schools so that funds raised by the PTOs can truly be
the dessert to the menu, not the minimum required vitamins and minerals.
With no one else from the public rising to speak, the public hearing was closed. Ms. Thomas
thanked everyone who had come to this meeting tonight.
______________________
Agenda item No. 8. Other Matters not Listed on the Agenda from the Board.
Mr. Martin mentioned that he would get in contact with the Chairman of the School Board regarding
the naming of the road leading to Baker-Butler Elementary School. He suggests that some other name,
such as "Historic Proffit" be considered.
_______________________
Agenda Item No. 9. Adjourn to March 19, 2001, at 1:30 p.m.
At 9:11 p.m., with no further business to come before the Board, motion was offered by Mr.
Bowerman to adjourn this meeting to March 19, 2001. The motion was seconded by Ms. Humphris.
Roll was called and the motion carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES:Ms. Humphris, Mr. Martin, Mr. Perkins, Ms. Thomas, Mr. Dorrier and Mr. Bowerman.
NAYS:None.
________________________________________
Chairman
Approved by Board
Date: 05/02/2001
Initials: EWC