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March 22, 2008
PPS PSAs
1) School Board approves budget
2) VJMS tackles math to beat cancer
1) School Board approves budget
The Board of the Petersburg City Public Schools voted to send the Superintendent’s $55,751,842 budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 on to the Petersburg City Council.
City Council has the final say in approval of the financial plan, which requests $13.23 million from the city, a $3.5 million increase from last year’s budget.
This year, however, Dr. James M. Victory, Petersburg City Public Schools Superintendent has vowed that there will be “no surprises” for City Council in regards to the budget. Administrators have met frequently with Mr. David Canada, Petersburg City Manager, and other city officials, as the proposed budget has been worked out.
Careful attention to a number of efficiencies has allowed the school division to project savings of approximately $2.38 million for the upcoming fiscal year, according to Ms. Tracie Coleman, Petersburg City Public Schools Chief Financial Officer. But most of that money will be needed to offset personnel costs of $37.8 million (excluding salary increases), worker’s compensation insurance of approximately $323,000 and the ever increasing utility, food and fuel costs.
Other efficiencies include requiring a fee for summer school attendance, for lost textbooks and for field trips. In addition, students who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch will no longer receive it free.
In order to attract and retain teachers and other employees, the school division will need to offer wages that are competitive with surrounding localities. Thus the proposed budget includes a proposed salary schedule for teachers that is benchmarked for market competitiveness.
The budget is based on an enrollment of 4,442 students.
2) VJMS tackles math to beat cancer
Vernon Johns Middle School sixth grade students in Petersburg are solving little problems to help conquer a bigger one.
The annual St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Math-a-thon asks its youthful participants to solve math problems – and the more that they solve, the more that donors can give to help in the fight against childhood cancer.
They can do their math in print, the old-fashioned way; or by CD-Rom; or even online.
The campaign kicked off on National Pi Day this month. (That’s not the kind of pie with cherries or apples, but rather a famous mathematical calculation).
Thanks to the sponsorship of VJMS math teacher Jewell Booker, VJMS is an excited participant.
Media: For more information about this campaign, log on to: www.mathathon.org. If you are interested in interviewing VJMS participants, please contact Cliff Davis at the above number.
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