House and Senate budget negotiators agreed yesterday on a $50.2 billion state budget that includes over $3 million in additional composite index funding for Halifax County schools this year, and for the following 10 years, Delegate Clarke Hogan said yesterday.
County leaders have sought the composite index change for two years.
Hogan also said that an additional $200,000 was entered in the Longwood College budget for the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston.
Longwood College had $250,000 in its budget last year, so the line item for SVHEC will now reflect $450,000.
He said the additional funding for the SVHEC did not come from the community college budget.
The House and Senate are expected to vote on the budget Saturday when the General Assembly ends its 60-day session.
"The reversion back to the lower composite index will be a windfall opportunity for Halifax County," Superintendent of Schools Dennis Witt said yesterday.
"By virtue of the legislation, we will enjoy the more favorable composite index for another 10 years.
" The really good news is that we are going to have an unanticipated impact this year, the 2001-2002 school year, that will return $3 million plus to the Halifax County treasury," Witt added.
The superintendent estimated between $3.3 million and $3.8 million addition through the revised composite index.
The change in the county's composite index means that the local system "will have to put up 23 percent of the standards of quality and the state will put up the rest," Witt said. "Last year, we had to put up 38 percent," which he said translated from $29.5 million to $26 million.
"We are extremely pleased. It is going to be a great time for Halifax County, particularly with austere budgets. The county and school system will have the opportunity to leapfrog ahead with major projects," the superintendent added.
Statewide, the budget package provides about $200 million more for public schools than the last two-year budget.
About $120 million of the $133.4 million in savings was funneled into the state's public school financing formula to address deficiencies cited in a legislative study, according to Associate Press reports.
The state plan includes $55 million for school construction.
Funding for state colleges would be cut by $290 million, but the institutions could raise tuition - frozen since 1996 - to recoup some of the losses, AP reported.
Gov. Mark Warner met with budget negotiators from the House and the Senate yesterday.
"I offered them congratulations on reaching a budget accord. This year we faced tremendous challenges, with a $3.8 billion shortfall over the next 28 months," Warner said in a statement issued Thursday.
"No one will be fully satisfied with this agreement and there are shared sacrifices in the cuts," he said. "But I am pleased that the historic discord of last year has been set aside, and I believe many of Virginians' shared priorities are reflected in this budget document.
"Over the weeks leading up to the reconvened session on April 17, I will be reviewing the details of this agreement to make sure it restores a sufficient amount of funding for these priority areas: the human resources safety net for Virginia's most vulnerable citizens, the Governor's deal-closing fund for economic development projects, school construction and anti-terrorism initiatives," the governor said.

The unraveling of the Southside textile industry contributed to double-digit unemployment in Halifax, Mecklenburg, Pittsylvania and Henry counties in January.
The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) reported yesterday that unemployment in Halifax County reached 12.4 percent in January, up from the 11.4 percent figure recorded the previous month.
VEC figures stated 2,528 Halifax County residents out of a labor force of 20,331 were looking for work in January.
Mecklenburg County joined the list of counties experiencing double-digit unemployment, as it recorded a 13.6 unemployment rate in January, up from 9 percent in December 2001.
The number of workers looking for employment jumped from 1,373 in December to 2,185 in January, due primarily to the closing of Burlington Industries.
Both Pittsylvania and Henry counties recorded higher unemployment rates in January, according to the VEC.
The unemployment rate in Pittsylvania County rose slightly to 10.5 percent in January, after a 10.2 percent rate in December, while Henry County's rate jumped from 10.1 percent to 12.4 percent in January.
Danville's unemployment rate rose to 8.5 percent in January from December's 7.5 percent, while Martinsville's rate rose from 12.2 in December to 14.5 percent in January.
The unemployment rate in Charlotte County also rose sharply, from 5 percent in December to January's 8.2 rate.
Virginia as a whole saw a slight rise in the unemployment rate for January, with a rate of 4.4 percent, compared to December's 4.2 percent.

Working with students who need help is as old as teaching itself, but the state's new Standards of Learning are institutionalizing the role.
The state is financing programs to help: $115,963 for Early Reading Intervention; $153,131 for SOL remediation; plus an additional $300,000 for remedial programs in 2001-2002.
About $400,000 in federal funds is earmarked for Title I and At-Risk programs.
"We have always had programs to address the needs of children who needed help, whether funded or teacher designed," said Ann Conner, director of Instruction for K-12 in Halifax County public schools.
Principals design the programs based on their students' needs, with needs usually varying from school to school.
On example is Sinai Elementary School.
At Sinai, there are after-school programs in the spring, with a focus on May SOLs.
About 80 students are participating in these programs, according to Conner. The Thursday afternoon reading/math program is from 3:45 p.m. until 4:50 p.m.
An intervention program is also in place for students at Sinai during the day.
Is intervention/remediation working at Sinai?
"Definitely, because we are focusing on test-taking skills," said Sinai Principal Mike Wilborne.
"Some children do not know how to focus and interpret information on a test, especially charts and graphs," said Wilborne.
The principal said that it was important to teach third-grade students taking the long SOL that "they really have to take time to read and understand what is there" before making a choice.
"With the remediation program, I am very impressed with parental involvement. They have their children participate and are working closely with the school," added Wilborne.
"The parents realize that we are trying to help the children prepare for the state testing program in the spring and that some children need assistance. They are definitely getting it in the after-school program," said Wilborne, noting the small classes and one-on-one attention.
The Sinai principal also had praise for Laurietta Faulkner, who is retiring as director of the Mentor Role Model program.
"Children realize that there are people out there who care how they do in school. They see that there are people out there who will reach out and help them if they have problems. Sometimes children need someone to talk to.
"We are seeing extraordinary results through this program," said the principal.
South of Dan, which serves second and third grade students, estimates about 75 students are participating in remediation programs.
At Wilson Memorial about 25 students in K-6 are expected to participate this year, while about 30 students may be involved at Turbeville in grades three, four, five and six, according to Conner.
C.H. Friend Elementary in South Boston has about 30 each projected in grades three, four, five and six.
Cluster Springs has about 83 participating in the fifth grade, about 30 in the fourth grade and 16 in the sixth grade, according to Conner.
While at Washington-Coleman and Halifax Elementary there are no after-school programs, remediation instruction is completed during the school day.
No SOL tests are given in grades K-2.
Reports for all of the county's remedial programs were not available.
Since the 1960s, there have been summer remediation programs, but after-school programs are largely SOL-driven, starting in 1998 with the mandated tests, according to Conner.
She said that the county school system "strongly urges" students to take summer remediation programs if they fail two SOL tests.
Although there are no organized before-school programs at the high school, many of its teachers are available early in the morning for extra help, said Conner.
There is also an Opportunity Center at the high school, a place students can take make-up tests or get extra help. There is a "subject area" person available on certain afternoons throughout the year.
"We have math tutoring every week," said Debbie Griles, assistant HCHS principal.
"As we prepare for May SOLs, we have teachers who work with students after school in the core SOL subjects, which include English, math, social studies and science."
"If the need arises, we pull students in even earlier to begin remediation," added Griles.
The high school has over 1,600 students, with SOLs administered as students complete the mandated test courses.
"Our SOLs scores are steadily approving. We have had good success," Griles said.
"Remediation is working and the success can be seen in the increasing passing rate."
Middle School
At the middle school there are "built-in programs" to help during the day, programs available during scheduling blocks that would have been related to arts courses, explained Conner.
"But they also run after-school programs," she added.
Halifax Middle School Principal Gail Bosiger is also initiating an educational blitz for the first time on April 27 and May 4.
"This really isn't part of remediation because all students can come," she emphasized.
"We felt the need for a last-second push and wanted to do it for the better students as well."
The two Saturday blitz programs will run from 10 a.m. to noon, and then reconvene from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Subjects will include math, science, social studies and English.
"We want to offer a fun and educational opportunity to the students just prior to testing," added the principal.
Eight-grade students must take the SOLs.
Bosiger also said that this year the middle school will be testing more special education children than ever before. They must be tested in at least one area, according to the principal.
"Eight-grade English and math will be used as a guidepost for children in special education seeking a modified standard diploma," she added. "For that reason, we need to test them so they will have a benchmark."
Danville Community College also has a partnership with the middle school, a program that has been in place several years.
Conner calls this program a type of intervention, remediation and enrichment.
There are 956 students at the middle school and approximately 125 children are involved in both remediation and intervention programs.
Educators are well aware that children starting kindergarten bring diverse backgrounds to school.
Some can read, tie their shoes and have been exposed to a variety of enrichment opportunities. Others have not.
School officials are trying to level the playing field, trying to step up orientation in kindergarten, urging parents to help their children learn the alphabet and basic literacy and social skills, Conner said.
As mentioned earlier, school principals try to gear programs to their schools.
For instance, Washington-Coleman is known for its "great parent/community volunteer" program, Conner said.
Principal Biddie Plaster's teachers welcome volunteers into their classrooms to read to students and take part in other activities.
The Mentor Role/Model program is viewed as an integral cog in county schools.
This community-based program places adults with students in a mentoring program that includes school as well as sports and other activities.
"I think the Mentor/Role Model program does a great deal for us in developing good citizens," said Middle School Principal Bosiger.
"We have children given opportunities to do things and be involved in good wholesome family atmospheres that would have missed that," explained the principal.
With so many single-parent homes, Bosiger thinks the Mentor Role Model program is particularly important for young males in the seventh and eighth grades who have no father figure.
Do remediation and intervention programs work?
"Yes," replied Conner. "Look at the SOLs."
Five elementary schools are fully accredited and both the middle and high school, as well as Meadville Elementary, are provisionally accredited and meet state standards as schools reach the mandatory SOL 70 percent passing rate. There are no schools in the final "warned" category, noted school officials.

Virgilina Mayor John Youngk will have some competition in the upcoming May election.
James Stover Long Jr., filed his petition to run for mayor of the community just before the 7 p.m. deadline Tuesday.
After several late filings Tuesday night, ten people will be running for the six available council seats in the Virgilina community.
The six incumbents, R.E. Chandler, Michael Glasscock, Mary Helen W. Gravitt, Beverly Murray, Owen Murray Sr., and Thomas Keith Tuck Jr. will be challenged by four newcomers, Myrtle Anne Smith, Stover Long Sr., Leslie R. Hughes and Weston L. Hopkins for positions on the Town Council.
The Town of Halifax will be getting a new mayor.
Leon Plaster, currently head of the town's planning commission, has filed to run for Mayor of the Town of Halifax.
Plaster is seeking Dennis Osborne's seat, who is not seeking re-election.
Three incumbents filed for re-election to the Town Council in Halifax.
Jack Dunavant will seek to hold his seat representing Ward C, D.F. "Buddy" Guthrie will be running to represent Ward D, and Cabell Daniel will be seeking re-election in Ward A.
One current councilmen, Sam Thompson, representing Ward B, will not seek re-election.
Newcomer Wistar Allen Stevens is seeking Thompson's seat.
In South Boston, four candidates, two incumbents and two newcomers, are seeking to fill the three available seats on town council.
Veterans Ed Owens and Tom Raab are being joined by newcomers Eric Roberts and William A. Ozmec in seeking election to the Town Council.
W.C. "Buddy" Wilborn will not be seeking re-election in South Boston.
Elections will be held May 7.

By KEITH STRANGE
As the rapid-fire staccato of the auctioneer set the rhythm for the auction of JPS equipment yesterday, four people stood in the background with tears in their eyes.
"I never dreamed this plant would close," said Elva Wallace, who worked for over 26 years at the factory.
"I was two years from retiring," she lamented.
Wallace said that she came to the auction to see the mill one last time.
"It's so sad to see it go," she said with a downcast gaze.
She said that she missed the people that she worked with most of all.
"We were like a family here," she said. "The last day, we had a farewell dinner that was one of the saddest things you can imagine."
Another of the group didn't want to talk about his feelings.
He was content to stand in the background and wipe away the tears.
John Fletcher and his daughter Linda Chandler came to the auction to try to buy some mememtos.
"My dad worked here 50 years, and I worked for 22 years," Chandler said.
"We used to work in the same department," she added.
Chandler and her father came to the auction to visit their old employer one last time.
"We would have bought something, but what we wanted, they took a lot of it out," Fletcher said.
The pair said that they were on unemployment, but looking for a job in Southside wasn't easy.
"No one wants to talk to you when you get my age," said Fletcher. "You can't get anyone to look at you."
"There are a whole lot of us without a job," Chandler added.
The auction was held by Michael Fox International, who got the contract by bidding on the auction in bankruptcy court.
"Most of the people here buying equipment are dealers who will sell the equipment overseas," said Del Ezell, a dealer with International Textile Machine Sales.
Ezell said that he was at the auction to buy the looms from the plant.
"I will buy them for between $5,000 and $10,000," he said.
He was quick to point out that when he sold them he would get between $25,000 and $30,000 for them.
He added that 70 - 80 percent would go overseas to Asia or the middle east.
"The people that we sell this equipment to are buying it so they can make fabrics and sell it back to us," Ezell said.
The buyer said that no one in the United States is buying textile machinery.
"The textile industry is down all over the country," he added.
Ezell said that over 170 textile plants went out of business in 2001.
"A lot of the equipment here won't sell today because there is just too much of it available," he said.
"There are just so many sales and plant closings that a whole lot of equipment on the market doesn't sell," Andy Becker, an auctioneer from Atlanta, agreed.
"We handle between 70 and 80 plant closings a year," said Louis Goldberg of Michael Fox International.
Goldberg said that he hoped that the equipment in the plant would bring in a couple of million dollars at the auction.
"If you went out and tried to buy it new it would cost you between $15 - $20 million," he said.
When asked about the overseas sales of the equipment, Goldberg shrugged.
"The people oversees pay more money for it," he said.
Goldberg said that seeing former employees at the auction wasn't unusual.
"We see a lot of people who worked at plants come to the auctions. They are here to get mementos and set foot in their old workplace one more time," he said.
The building and land that JPS owned has been bought by four local residents and two investors from California.
"The four that bought it from Halifax County are myself, James Sadler, Ira Seamster and J.R. Griffith," said Gene Bailey, former administrative manager.
He added that they were either going to lease the property or sell it.
"We have between 88 and 89 acres, and we have two or three businesses interested already," Bailey said.
Right now the building is being used for storage, and Bailey said that after the equipment is sold he will be able to talk to prospective industries more seriously.
"We'd like to see another plant come in here and help the local economy," Bailey said.
"We have former employees calling us already that want to come back and work here," he added.
"This is a sad day for Southside," Bailey said.
"We have got to get the IDA moving to bring business in here."
As the auction continued, Ezell was buying and selling.
"It's just another day at work for me," he said, looking up from his auction catalog.
It wasn't another day at work for Wallace or Fletcher.
"They're giving this stuff away," Fletcher said, shaking his head.

Letters sent to Del. Clarke Hogan from community college officials Wednesday apparently closed a Southern Virginia Higher Education Center funding controversy unleashed last week.
At issue was $320,000 the delegate wanted to transfer as a line-item addition in the Longwood College budget for SVHEC operations.
Southside Virginia Community College Provost Earl Currin issued a memo last week saying Hogan's funding amendment could result in a potential loss of dollars and positions that would cripple both Danville Community College and SVCC.
"On February 28, 2002, a memo was sent from Southside Virginia Community College to college employees and friends in the 60th House District, detailing an amendment submitted by Del. Clarke Hogan that would transfer $640,000 (biennium budget) from the Virginia Community College System to Longwood College," wrote SVCC President John Cavan.
In his letter, Cavan apologized for any embarrassment Currin's memo caused, and Virginia Community College System Chancellor Glenn DuBois wrote the delegate thanking him for his support of the state's community colleges.
On Wednesday, the Halifax Education Foundation board passed a resolution supporting Hogan's efforts to get funding for SVHEC through the Longwood budget, HEF president William Coleman said yesterday.
"The resources are desperately needed to provide educational services to our students," Coleman added.
"Since becoming aware of this amendment, Del. Hogan and I have met frequently to discuss the higher educational needs of the people in the 60th District," SVCC President Cavan wrote.
"I am convinced that Del. Hogan is a strong supporter of the Virginia Community College System, of both Southside Virginia Community College and Danville Community College, and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center," adding that the two agreed on the basic philosophy of the mission of SVHEC "and the need for building a tradition of higher education in Southside Virginia."
"I apologize for any embarrassment that this (Currin) memo may have cause Delegate Hogan. At the time that the memo was sent the administration of Southside Virginia College did not fully understand Delegate Hogan's strategy and rationale for the amendment. It was simply a breakdown in communication. We are in difficult economic times and the Feb. 28 memo was an emotional reaction."
Chancellor DuBois noted the difficult budget year and expressed appreciation for Hogan's efforts "to adopt a comprehensive and fair budget proposal."
Dubois said, "By avoiding across the board cuts and restoring tuition authority to the State Board for Community Colleges, you will allow us to continue to be 'part of the solution' for students, businesses, and communities across Virginia."