According to Chesterfield County Public Schools budget documents, funding for the 2016-17 school year, totaling $600 million, marks the first time that investment in public education has reached prerecession levels. However, Superintendant Dr. Marcus J. Newsome said there is still work to be done.
The CCPS budget passed last week by the School Board includes operating costs which will add an additional 28 teaching positions identified in the five-year budget plan. It also also provides 14 previously unrequested support positions to help educate a growing and diverse community.
The 28 teaching positions identified in the five-year budget plan will help reduce K-2 class sizes in elementary schools with a poverty rate of 30 percent or higher. First – and second-grade class sizes at those schools will be capped at 24 and kindergarten class sizes will be capped at 23 based on available positions. The objective is to get more students on reading level by third grade, a key focus at the state level.
Investing in instruction, according to the budget documents, is the priority included in the budget will be 14 additional positions, which are targeted instructional support for schools with the greatest need: five ESOL positions for K-2 reading interventions; six elementary coordinators of special education (serving 12 schools) to allow assistant principals; a focus on instruction in classrooms; two attendance social workers to help make sure children are in school and one success program teacher to support student transition programs; the budget also includes $250,000 for digital resources to support Chromebook initiatives in middle and high schools.
