LoudounExtra.com

Increased Fees and Spending Cut in Loudoun Schools

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Here are some of the fee increases and spending cuts that the Loudoun County School Board approved in the final $733 million budget members passed Monday. The budget represents a cut of 1.7 percent in overall school spending and a cut of 6.4 percent in local funding, compared with the current fiscal year.

The School Board:

-- Imposed an athletic fee of $100 per student per sport.

-- Increased the student parking fee from $25 to $200 per year.

-- Cut spending on buses for after-school activities and field trips by 25 percent.

-- Required students to pay all fees for Advanced Placement tests.

-- Delayed plans to install interactive white boards in kindergarten through fifth grade.

-- Eliminated pay increases for employees.

-- Increased co-pays and deductibles for employee health care.

-- Reduced funding for staff development.

-- Eliminated the use of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in elementary and middle schools.

-- Reduced overtime and part-time salaries.

-- Delayed the purchase of new band uniforms for Park View and Stone Bridge high schools.

-- Reduced funding for instructional materials and textbooks.

-- Reduced funding for substitute teachers.

-- Reduced funding for services related to land acquisition and school construction.