Close Gold Hill?

Published 5:25 pm Tuesday, March 20, 2012

BUCKINGHAM – In years past there has been talk about closing Gold Hill Elementary School but now that talk seems to be taking a closer step to becoming reality.

The school board's proposed preliminary budget for FY13 is based on the supposition that Gold Hill Elementary School is closed.

According to a memorandum from Superintendent Gary Blair to all school division employees on March 15, “If Gold Hill Elementary School is closed, I estimate a cost savings of approximately $576,000 in operations and personnel.”

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In the memo, Dr. Blair began, “As you know, the budget for the 2012-13 school year has not been finalized and changes will continue.”

Blair wrote that as of March 15, the changes included the elimination of the following positions: director of operations, administrative assistant, and supervisor of maintenance.

Blair's memo noted that personnel currently serving in those three positions were retiring.

Additionally, the eliminations include a reduction of five secondary instructional positions and six elementary instructional positions.

Moreover, two assistant principal positions that are currently 12 month contracts will be decreased to 11 month contracts.

In the memo, Blair listed administrative reassignments including Cindy O'Brien as principal at Dillwyn Elementary School; J. B. Heslip, principal at Buckingham Middle School; and Missy Shores as assistant principal at Buckingham Middle School. However, Blair noted that Shores would continue as athletic director at the high school.

Even with the proposed reductions and realignments, the preliminary budget proposal shows anticipated revenues at $20,353,384; and, anticipated expenditures at $21,360,784. The result indicates an unbalanced budget with a deficit of $1,007,400.

During a phone conversation with Dr. Blair on Monday, he explained that after making numerous cuts, reassigning administrators, and realigning personnel, they began analyzing pupil-teacher ratios.

“The more schools you have, the more teachers you need because numbers don't break even,” explained Blair. “In deleting a school we could also save on six elementary teaching positions.”

Blair explained that following Wednesday's meeting, which included a closed session to discuss personnel issues, he did not want to “spell it out” until he could talk to those affected.

Stressing that on Wednesday, the school board approved a preliminary budget proposal, Blair offered, “Since we don't know what the state will do, we really have no idea; and, since we don't know what the board of supervisors is able to do, the school board said let's do this initial budget.”

He continued, “So right now if the budget had to be approved, we would have to close Gold Hill or lose a lot of teachers.”

Blair explained that in an effort to be honest with people, he went to Gold Hill on Thursday and met with the teachers and principal to explain the budgetary implications.

“I told the teachers that I don't want it to close. However, this is a county-wide concern,” shared Blair.

He stated, “I can't look at one segment over the entire county. This is for the more global good of Buckingham County versus the good for Arvonia and Gold Hill. And, if I don't do this, I've got to come up with $576,000 from somewhere else.” Blair added that the $576,000 would be in addition to the $1,007,400 deficit.

Blair said he told the Gold Hill staff that the reason he was telling them upfront is if nothing changes, he doesn't have a choice.

“Rather than wait and surprise everybody, I am going to be open and listen to people. We are going to hash it out all together because I promised I wouldn't do a budget to you, I'd do it with you,” shared the superintendent about his conversation at Gold Hill.

Blair said he plans to send a letter home with the Gold Hill students within the next few days to notify the parents that he will be at the school to meet with them on a specific date.

“I think that people certainly can feel upset but my message to them is if I have choices I am not doing this,” he stated. “I really think Gold Hill is a special place.”

However, he added, “I do think that the children will learn and be wonderful at the renovated school, especially with some of the same teachers.”

He talked about the difficulty in changing school boundaries but shared that his experience has demonstrated that when students go to the new school they really like it.

Blair continued, “We are down in revenues and I've got to make some really tough decisions. And my tough decisions have to do with people, positions, and buildings.”

The superintendent offered, “All I asked last year and this year again is that if people like to have all those, let's work together to find a way to fund it.” He added, “If it is worth it to this community, then let's try to find a way, whether through a tax increase or fundraising or from benefactors.”

Explaining that the school board's job is to set the priorities and so far that is instruction for children on a broader sense versus a building, Blair stated, “We have to make tough decisions and they are going to be painful because we have a big gap with less federal and state funding.”

He offered, “When you have a renovated school and you've worked really hard to create a great environment for children, it is hard to resist the temptation to want all the children to have that benefit.” Blair continued, “But I do realize that a small school is a very special place, especially Gold Hill. They have a real sense of family. It's a great place to go.”

Admitting that he would hate to lose that, Blair stated, “I am not too sure how I can find $576,000 somewhere else to cut that would supersede keeping that building in operation.”

Blair explained that although plans include using Buckingham Primary as a preschool center, he said the operating cost at that school is about $130,000; and, the center would not require any additional pre-K teachers. “So there won't be extra costs,” he stated, noting that rather than a principal, the center would probably have a preschool coordinator who would also teach.

Moreover, he said the pre-school center would open up more classroom space at the complex on Route 20 to accommodate students from Gold Hill.

Stressing that they continue to look at all possibilities, Blair added that they are also considering a 160-day calendar versus the 180-day calendar.

After spending countless hours looking at the possibilities, Blair said it all comes down to how it will affect the children and what is in the best interest of the children.

Blair concluded, “At this point my recommendation to the board is that we close Gold Hill and we make the appropriate division-wide personnel adjustments.”

Echoing Blair's concern about revenues, Chairman Acie Allen offered, “We still don't know what the legislature is going to do or if the feds are going to come up with some money. It's a money issue, plain and simple.”

Allen, noting that for the last ten years he has been an advocate of keeping the small school idea in tact, stated, “Now it's a budget thing.”