Facing a loss of more than $942,000 in state revenue next year, school system officials are looking to the Halifax County Board of Supervisors to cover that tab as well as provide an average six percent salary hike for teachers and administrators.
Supervisors will get their first look at a proposed 2001-2002 school budget Thursday night, a budget that will require an additional $1.18 million in local dollars over the current year.
An appropriation of $14,288,799 in local dollars, a nine percent increase over the current year's appropriation, will be needed to fund the school system's proposed record $43,714,306 budget package.
While the amount of additional local money appears to be large, Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt notes that the overwhelming majority of the additional $1,189,197 in local revenues sought by the school system is needed to offset the state revenue shortfall of $942,789.
"It does demand a lot of the locality," Witt said yesterday of the proposed 2001-2002 school budget.
"But it is because we have lost state money, not because we're going on a spending spree."
A loss of approximately 100 students in its ADM (average daily membership) count will net a $250,000 decrease.
That, coupled with a loss of $425,000 in composite index transition funds, a $275,000 decrease in state funding for fringe benefits and a loss in projected state sales tax revenues adds up to a big impact on the county.
As a result, Supervisors are faced with another tough financial hurdle.
Last year, the county had to overcome a staggering $3.2 million loss in state funds resulting from a change in the composite index, one of the key factors used by state officials to determine the amount of money to be distributed to local school systems.
When the South Boston and Halifax County school systems were consolidated in 1995, Halifax County was granted a five-year moratorium on changes to its composite index.
When Halifax County was placed under the state's most current composite index figure last year, the county took a $3.2 million financial hit.
Receiving $425,000 in state composite index transition funds, a one-time allocation by the state to help soften the impact of composite index change, helped some.
However, that money is now out of the picture.
There are few new initiatives in the proposed 2001-2002 county school budget.
School system officials are proposing an average six percent pay hike for teachers and administrators as well as an average six percent pay increase for all support personnel.
With the average six percent pay hike there is a 2.5 percent floor and a 10 percent cap at the top.
Longevity steps for 25 and 30 years have also been made a part of the teachers' salary scale.
"We have phased in longevity steps for every salary scale we have in place but we haven't had one for teachers," said Bill Covington, the school system's chief financial officer.
"That will help these people toward the end of their careers. It will give them some initiative as they move above step 20 to stay around."
While school system officials worked to help teachers on the upper end of the salary scale, they have also helped the beginning teachers.
Under the proposed teacher salary scale, a new beginning teacher will have a salary of $28,000, a salary that will remain constant during the teacher's three year probationary period.
However, there is also a one-time $1,000 signing bonus for a new teacher coming into the school system for the first time.
With that, a first-year beginning teacher in Halifax County could take home $29,000 in the first year.
The budget also proposes to increase the School Board's monthly contribution to individual employee group health insurance premiums from $170 per month to $220 per month, a increase of $209,983 in that line item.
"Even if we get a 15.2 percent rate hike (in health insurance premium costs), the contribution increase would cover that much of an increase for the employee," said Bill Covington, the school system's chief financial officer.
"Anything less and the employee comes out ahead."
In addition, school system officials are proposing to increase the amount of money retiring employees will receive for unused sick leave days.
Under the current policy, the school system pays retiring employees $15 per day for accumulated unused sick leave days up to the allowable maximum of 180 days.
The proposal is to increase the payment to $25 per day for the first 100 days and $50 per day for days 100-180.
That would amount to a maximum of $6,500 if a retiring employee had 180 accumulated sick leave days at the time of his or her retirement.
"We estimate that could cost us approximately $25,000 if we had a extremely busy year," said Bill Covington the school system's chief financial officer.
The initiatives for salary increases and insurance benefits are expensive.
But, school system officials pared the budget in some areas and got some help in others.
For instance, the rate the school system will pay to the Virginia Retirement System will drop from 12.54 percent to 9.24 percent, yielding a savings of $800,000.
The school system, as a one-time measure, is proposing to lease-purchase 10 school buses as opposed to purchasing them outright.
That will yield a savings of $328,730 this year. However, the debt payment will cost the school system $115,000 a year for five years, a figure that will have to be taken into consideration over the next four budget years.
Also, there is a reduction in the budget for two principals' positions which will save $90,000.
One of the positions was a position that was funded in last year's budget.
With Volens and Clover Elementary Schools set for closing, Volens principal Annette McAdams was moved to Wilson Memorial Elementary School when Gus Mitchell retired.
No replacement was made at Clover and Volens Elementary will close, thus yielding the two positions from next year's budget.
There are also no plans to add any personnel to the school system next year.
A $12,300 decrease is noted in the budget for electrical services and $200,000 of the debt service tab for next year will be paid out of the Capital Improvement Fund.
The school system is expecting to see an increase of $130,600 in federal Title VI-B Funds for Special Education.
In addition the school system is anticipating receiving an increase of $155,193 through Class Size Reduction Funds.
With regard to increases, school system officials are looking at a $20,000 increase for vehicle fuel as a result of rising gasoline and diesel fuel costs and a $24,000 increase for heating fuel oil, again as a result of price increases.
After the Board of Supervisors gets its look at the budget Thursday night, the Halifax County School Board will review it again Monday night when it holds its regularly scheduled April meeting.
"We will look at adopting the budget Monday night," Witt said.
The school superintendent said that the school board's public hearing on the proposed school budget will likely be held in May at the school board's regular May meeting with the formal adoption of the budget coming either that night after the public hearing or at a later meeting.

A proposed amendment regulating the discharge of firearms within town limits raised concerns among South Boston Town Council at its committees work session on Monday.
The amendment to Town Code would prohibit the "throwing of missiles, shooting and use of bows and arrows" within town limits.
Exceptions would be allowed for bow and arrow, muzzle loading rifles or shotguns discharging pellets on land that is 25 acres or more of contiguous area, and for the operation of firing and archery ranges, or shooting matches.
Landowners or lessees would apply for an annual permit from the town manager, or his duly authorized agent, to use his property for hunting purposes, which would be granted if the applicant met the requirements of the amended code.
The use of a dog or dogs to hunt deer within town limits is not permitted under the proposed amendment.
No person, under the proposed amendment, can discharge a shotgun, muzzle loading rifle or bow and arrow within 100 yards of any building, dwelling, street, sidewalk, alley, roadway or public land or public place within town limits.
South Boston Police Chief Jim Hall commented at the meeting that every jurisdiction he had previously served had some type of ordinance regulating the firing of guns within town limits.
According to Hall, he originally sought the ordinance because he wanted to control and limit the discharge of firearms in a way to make people safer in the community, and to bring town code into compliance with State Code.
Hall also mentioned the ordinance could "dovetail" with a special early urban archery season under consideration by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to assist urban and suburban localities with deer management.
Council Questions
Several councilmen had concerns about some of the safety issues as outlined in the ordinance.
Coleman Speece questioned the 100-yard limit, asking if that was sufficient distance from dwellings or roads for the use of firearms.
Hall and police officer Mike Williams answered that 100 yards was sufficient, given the reduced range of pellets fired from a shotgun or a muzzle loading rifle.
Williams, himself a hunting enthusiast, told council that muzzle loaded rifles have decreased range, and that anyone hunting with such a rifle realizes he has only one chance, ensuring the hunter would want to make sure of his target before firing.
Councilmen Tom Raab and Carroll Thackston also had questions and concerns relating to parts of the ordinance, particularly with limitations put on bow hunters while practicing on their own property.
The issue was put on the agenda for further discussion at Monday's council meeting.
Other Agenda Items
· Council discussed proposed rules and regulations for the town-owned cemetery at Monday's meeting.
Among items addressed in the proposed regulations are the term "interment," which limits use of the cemetery to the permanent disposition of the remains of a deceased person.
Mayor Glen Abernathy posed several questions in relation to that provision, as well as others, saying he didn't "want us to get so bogged down that it would cause confusion at a later time."
Council members agreed to do further research on the issue and discuss it again at its next work session.
· Consideration of regional enforcement of local motor vehicle license requirements (decals) was put on the agenda for council's next work session.
State police can now issue citations for decal violations, but fines generated do not return to the respective localities.
Under the proposed arrangement, Virginia State Police would be able to assist town and county law enforcement officials in decal enforcement. Localities would receive one-half of the imposed fines.
· Council agreed to consider a resolution at next Monday's meeting supporting the town's proposed application for a Community Development Block Grant to fund the Tobacco Warehouse District Revitalization Project.
A public hearing on the application is scheduled for Monday's town council meeting at 7 p.m.
· A consideration for the joint exercise of power between the town and county for the consolidated E-911 Communication Center was put on the agenda for the joint meeting of the local governing bodies later this month.
Finance Committee
· Town Finance Officer Vandie Saunders reported that as of March 31, there was a balance of approximately $4 million in the town's checking accounts, with approximately $3.9 million of that total reflected in the General Fund.
Both the landfill closure and water and sewer funds were "in the red," according to Saunders.
The South Boston landfill is under a state mandate to close by December 31, 2005, while the town's sewer system is undergoing extensive rehabilitation to correct infiltration and inflow problems.
· Council approved a resolution for Monday's council meeting, intended to support borrowing $1 million from the VRA for assistance in landfill closure.
Another resolution to be considered on Monday addresses a $1.5 million bond anticipation loan to help with ongoing sewer system rehabilitation.
A public hearing is scheduled for Monday night to hear citizens' comments on the total borrowing amount of $2.5 million.
· Council members received the first draft of the proposed 2001-2002 budget at Monday's meeting.
According to Town Manager Ted Daniel, the proposed budget calls for no tax increases, and proposes an increase for car decals from the current $20 to $25.
Car decals for county residents are currently $25.
The Finance Committee agreed to further discuss the proposed budget after next Monday's meeting.

George Daniel Palmer, 24, of Pumping Hill Road in Nathalie, was sentenced to 30 months in a federal penitentiary Monday in the U. S. District Court in Roanoke.
Palmer will also be placed on supervised probation for a period of four years, according to Major R. S. B. Pulliam, chief deputy and Task Force coordinator of the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force Office.
Major Pulliam said Palmer was arrested August 29 of last year on a multi-count federal indictment alleging distribution of crack cocaine.
Palmer was also charged and pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after being a convicted felon.
He will be sentenced in the near future on the firearm charge under Project Exile, which carries a minimum mandatory five-year sentence, Pulliam said.
The sentencing of Palmer is a result of an investigation conducted by the Task Force in which Palmer was arrested as part of Operation "Citizens Outcry."

Supervisors sent a proposal to create a new zoning district classification for residential manufactured homes back to the planning commission for study following a Monday night public hearing.
Supervisors also asked that lot sizes in A-1 zones be included in the review.
"Look at lot sizes across the board for consistency," said Supervisor Tom West.
The board also suggested commissioners consult with Halifax and South Boston town officials on the issue.
At issue was the proposed lot size for manufactured homes, approximately 10,000 sq. ft. with water/sewer availability.
Attorney Alan Gravitt, representing MayMac Inc., sought the new zoning district.
MayMac owns a 142-acre parcel off of the end of Westside Drive and had originally sought the zoning amendment several years ago as Westside Land Development Corp., according to Jerry Lovelace, assistant county administrator. The land, which is zoned agricultural, has water and sewer services available to the property.
Gravitt said that it was not economically feasible to develop the site with one-acre lots, the current A-1 requirement. He emphasized that MayMac wanted to help bring home ownership to working people as well as offer a new subdivision model.
Supervisor David Martin said that he was concerned the new plan would create "doughnut-shaped" trailer parks around towns because of their water/sewer availability.
Martin said that he thought any rezoning should be evaluated within the context of the county's comprehensive plan.
Lovelace noted that trailer parks have different standards.
Robert Greene, Halifax town manager, said that he was concerned about the density factor.
The Halifax manager told supervisors that last month the town had passed "a similar ordinance" requiring 20,000 sq. ft. ( about one-half acre).
With the county's proposal Greene said there could be four homes per acre, but that the Town of Halifax would allow only two. In the future, the two different standards might be found side by side along boundary lines, he noted.
Greene asked supervisors to consider 20,000 sq. ft. as the minimum lot size.
Jack Dunavant, representing Southside Concerned Citizens, also expressed concern about lot size. He proposed a 20,000 sq. ft. lot size.
Dunavant, who told supervisors he and his family lived in a trailer for several years following a house fire, described the issue as a tough one that "was not just about trailers, but about zoning."
The SCC spokesman also described it as a safety issue. "It is dangerous for children with cars pulling out ... "We need to aim higher," he urged.
Dunavant said that the proposal would be "a magnet to draw developers to chop up land around the perimeters of the town.
"Please send this back and we can all come up with something good for the county" he said.
Jake Mills of Sinai also called for 20,000 sq. ft. minimum lots.
"It is pitiful talking about putting four ( homes) on one acre of land," said Mills. "We are living in peace in Sinai, and now (you're) talking about putting all this on one acre of land."
Supervisor James Edmunds said that he had mixed emotions about the issue, but said that houses needed to be in urban areas. He also urged protecting against sprawl.
Edmunds agreed that four houses per acre was too much.
Supervisor West said that four houses per acre was too much "for manufactured or stick-built homes."
West asked that a study of lot sizes in A-1 zoning districts be included in the planning commission's review.
Lovelace also introduced a letter from F.W. "Biggy" Hunt in favor of 20,000 sq. ft. lots in the new zoning district.

Supervisors Approve 
Hunting Recommendations

In a 4-3 vote Monday night, supervisors agreed to prohibit hunting within 100 feet of the centerline of a highway, changing the previous "ditch to ditch" provision.
Archery and crossbow were also added to hunting weapons prohibited within 100 feet of the centerline.
Supervisor R.E. "Dickie" Abbott, supported by supervisors Page Wilkerson and Lottie Nunn, sought continuance of the current "ditch to ditch" hunting provision. But following a 3-3 tie vote, Joe Satterfield, chairman of the board, cast his vote in favor of the change. Supervisor David Martin had left prior to the vote.
Supervisor James Edmunds, calling the hunting issue a safety matter, added that he had been approached by law enforcement officers about the problem.
With more traffic and more people living in the country, Edmunds said there was concern about shooting.
"I can't see a good reason to hunt from the highway," he said.
Two other parts of the proposed amendment sailed through with no opposition.
One permitted the use of muzzle-loading rifles from opening day through the second Saturday of regular firearm season for deer hunting.
The remaining addition provided definitions for game, game animals, hunting and trapping, and open season, all taken from the state's definitions for use in the county code.
In other business, supervisors will meet with the Halifax County School Board to discuss the school system's budget on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Mary Bethune Complex conference room.
The board also scheduled a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Monday, April 23, for a redistricting plan to be recommended by the local redistricting advisory committee.
Time is of the essence as the county addresses redistricting issues based on the 2000 Census. New boundaries must be submitted to the U.S. Justice Dept. for review and approval, all prior to upcoming elections.
Supervisors also issued resolutions for road closures on Route 610 and Route 640 for bridge repair projects.
The bridge over Little Terrible Creek on Route 610 between Route 626 and Route 641 needs substructure repairs, according to VDOT officials, requiring that this portion of Route 610 be closed to through traffic for about one week beginning April 9.
To repair the bridge over Buffalo Creek on Route 640 between Route 639 and Route 669, this portion of Route 640 will be closed to through traffic for about one week beginning April 23.
Joe Barkley II, resident highway engineer, told supervisors that two official requests have been received concerning Clarkton Bridge.
The bridge is located between Halifax and Charlotte counties. A number of citizens from both counties sought action to keep the bridge in place for pedestrian traffic.
During a winter working retreat for Halifax County supervisors, VDOT officials told supervisors in both Halifax and Charlotte counties that they would not repair Clarkton Bridge. VDOT seeks disposal of the bridge or new ownership by an entity assuming full liability.
Barkley expressed optimism about the bridge's future.
After the April 15 VDOT advertising deadline, the resident engineer said that a committee would be established to review applications concerning the bridge "to decide on the most qualified applicant."
Supervisors also scheduled a public hearing for their May meeting for a bed and breakfast application for a facility to be located on Route 119 near the North Carolina line.
Jerry Lovelace, assistant county administrator, said that the architectural survey of the county had completed its first phase and that the advisory committee would meet Wednesday night to review a list of structures.
Supervisors approved the addition of a garbage truck to the county's fleet to facilitate better coverage and pick-up schedules. A driver's position was also approved.
Also, two trial convenience centers are to be opened later this year, one at the Project Hope site and the second in the Delilah community. Summer is the projected opening date for the recycling/garbage collection sites.
Supervisors also approved a fee waiver for two Habitat for Humanity projects and will ask the Town of South Boston to waive landfill fees for garbage disposal for the projects

Halifax County High School's varsity girls softball team had posted five wins, four by shutouts prior to Monday's non-district game against Heritage.
But the Comets shot themselves in the foot with a critical defensive miscue in the top of the eighth inning that left them to shoulder a disappointing 1-0 loss.
Monday's loss left the Comets with a split in their two regular season non-district games against Heritage.
Actually, the game should not have come down to the one late-game play.
The Comets hit the ball and had runners on the sacks in every inning except the first inning.
Halifax County missed out on a big opportunity in the top of the fourth inning when Anna Lewis, Branda Best and Lindsay Stolzenthaler produced back-to-back hits with one out and failed to score.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Comets got a base hit from Laura Gosney, Felicia Sprattley and a walk to Brandi Conner to load the bases with two out.
But, again, the Comets failed to scratch.
Base hits by Jennifer Roller and Jenny Armistead in the top of the sixth inning put two Comets runners on the sacks with two outs.
And, for the third consecutive inning, the Comets failed to plate a run.
In the top of the seventh inning, Sprattley reached base on an error, stole second base and made it over to third base.
Yet, again, the Comets came up dry.
In the top of the eighth inning, Stolzenthaler reached base on an error and got to second base off of a sacrifice by Roller that made two out in the inning.
But, for the fifth straight inning, the Comets came up dry.
Heritage mounted a threat in the second inning , using two hits and a walk to load the sacks only to see the Comets' defense turn back the rally.
More good defensive work by the Comets in the fourth inning turned away the Pioneers after they managed to get two runners on the sacks.
The Comets got good pitching from Lewis who allowed only five hits and walked only two of the 28 batters she faced.
Lewis struck out two batters.
Roller led the Comets at the plate with two hits. Sprattley, Lewis, Best, Armistead and Gosney each had one hit in the game.
Halifax County, now 5-1, is scheduled to face Franklin County in Rocky Mount today at 5 p.m.

Laruth Williamson Mitchell, 54, of Pelham, N.C., died March 29 in the Pell Care Nursing Facility in Walkertowne, NC.
She was a native of Caswell County, N.C., the daughter of the late Armistice Williamson and Novella Swann Williamson, born October 5, 1947.
Mrs. Mitchell was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church, was a graduate of Winston Salem State University, and was a school teacher in Halifax County, NC for a number of years. She was married to Alvis (Stephen) Mitchell.
Survivors include one sister, Wanda Williamson of Roxboro, N.C.; four brothers-in-law, Bennie, Timothy and Michael of Blanch, NC, and Lealand Luck of Halifax; five sisters-in-law, Candacy, Joyce and Laura of Blanch, Garnett Luck of Halifax and Rev. Annie Lanier of Washington, DC. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Wesley and Henry Williamson.

Funeral services for Mrs. Mitchell were held April 3 at 1 p.m. at Fulton Funeral Home Chapel in Yanceyville, NC, with burial in Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

Hattie Mildred King McCloud, 66, of The Woodview, died April 2.
Mrs. McCloud was born in Charlotte County on September 14, 1934, the daughter of Joseph Edward King and Minnie Lee Newcomb and was married to Floyd Edward McCloud. She was a member of Clover United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Virginia K. Bridges and Etta K. Martin, both of South Boston; and one brother, Elgie King of Scottsburg. She was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
A funeral service for Mrs. McCloud will be held today, April 4 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial will take place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Rescue Squad or the South Boston Fire Department.

Melvin S. Bass, 77, of 4079 South Boston Road, Ringgold, died April 2 at Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Bass was born in Halifax County on April 20, 1923, the son of Claude Clifton Bass and Nettie Hamlett Bass and was married to Frances Scearce Bass. He was a member of Lakewood Evangelical Methodist Church, where he was a member of the Willing Workers Bible class. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and was a retired 1st Sergeant with the US Army.
He was a member of the National Guard prior to entering the Army and becoming a member of F Company, 116th Infantry 29th Division from South Boston.
Mr. Bass served with the Army during WWII in the invasion of Normandy. He was wounded in Brest, France, received two Purple Hearts and a number of other various medals.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth W. (Kenny and Debra W. Bass of Ringgold; one daughter and son-in-law, Tammy B. Payne and Kenneth Payne of Danville; three brothers, Early Bass and Albert Bass, both of Danville and Dean Bass of South Boston; one sister, Lorene B. Lucado of Appomattox; three grandchildren, Blake E. Bass, Patrick R. Willhite and Kenneth Payne Jr. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Elwood, Willard and Curtis Bass; and one sister, Connie B. Collie.
A funeral service for Mr. Bass will be held today, April 4 at 2 p.m. at Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel in Danville with the Revs. Jimmy Burks and David Wilson conducting the service. Burial will take place in Highland Burial Park with Military Honors by American Legion Post 1097.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Danville Life Saving Crew, 202 Christopher Lane, Danville 24541, or the Ringgold Volunteer Fire Department, 1540 Ringgold Road, Ringgold 24586.

Pearle Ruth Walker Bobrowiecki, 80, of Fairhaven, died March 27. She was the widow of Kasimierz Bobrowiecki.
Mrs. Bobrowiecki was born in Woolwine, the daughter of the late Hammett and Hilda Hubbard Walker. She was a member of Centre United Methodist Church, where she was a member of its women's group and chairwoman of the administration board and pastor-parish relations.
She was a graduate of Halifax High School and attended the Kinyon Campbell Business School, and was a member of the Nemasket Line Dancers of Middleboro.
Survivors of Mrs. Bobrowiecki include one son, Joseph Bobrowiecki of Middleboro; three sisters, Marcell Hayes of Solomon, Md., Nancy Williams of Miami Shores, Fla., and Hilda Williamson of Alton; two granddaughters; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Ida Snell and Christine Cole.
A funeral service was held March 30 at Fairlawn Mortuary of Sullivan-Waring. Burial was private.