The Halifax County School Board of Supervisors listened quietly Thursday night as Superintendent of Schools Dennis Witt made his case for additional school monies next year.
There were few questions from the supervisors and little comment as the county's governing body listened to Witt present the school system's plea for local dollars.
Staring at a loss of more than $942,000 in state revenue next year, school system officials are looking to supervisors to make up that deficit.
They are also looking to the Board to provide enough local money to cover an average six percent pay hike for teachers and administrators and enable the school system to up the ante by $50 a month on its contribution to individual employees' group health insurance premiums.
"We're down $942,000 coming out of the gate," Witt told the supervisors at a joint meeting of the School Board and Board of Supervisors.
"We're going to have to do something close to that (six percent salary hike for teachers) to stay competitive (with surrounding localities). If we get behind again, we're going to dig ourselves in a hole so big we can't get out of it."
Witt told supervisors that the School Board's proposed record $43,714, 306 school budget represents a modest increase of 1.23 percent over last year's budget.
"These (numbers) are our most conservative positions," Witt said.
"This budget reflects the Governor's budget, which had no salary increases for teachers and public officials."
Witt told the Board of Supervisors that in the current school year employees received a 2.4 percent pay hike and saw the school system increase its assistance with group health insurance premiums by $10 a month.
"Many, many people got less take home pay this year because of increases in health care insurance," Witt explained.
"We can't afford to have that happen two years in a row. We fell behind competitively with the teachers surrounding us and across the state."
He also told supervisors that if this situation continues to prevail, Halifax County will surely lose teachers to surrounding localities.
"Beg or borrow, we need $1 million," Witt told supervisors.
"We want $1.18 million, but if we don't get $1 million we're not going to be in a very good position."
Supervisor R.E. "Dickie" Abbott told Witt he feels state officials will come up with some additional money for teacher salaries when all is said and done.
"Our best bet is about $300,000 if they find the money," Witt told the supervisors.
"That would help. I hope that happens. Anything they (state officials) do will come off of the top of this request," added Witt.
The school superintendent told the supervisors that this is a critical year and that after this year is over, the school system's financial picture should be on a more even keel.
Witt also said that new legislation has been enacted that may possibly allow the county to revert to its former lower composite index rate.
If that happens, the county will receive more money from the state.
"If it happens, we'll give you the $1 million back plus some change," Witt said.
Thursday night marked the first time that supervisors have reviewed the proposed 2001-2002 county school budget.
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 budget package.
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.
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.
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.
But 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. That money is no longer available.
There are few new initiatives in the proposed 2002-2002 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 part of the teachers' salary scale.
The budget also proposed to increase the School Board's monthly contribution to individual employee group health insurance premiums from $170 per month to $220 per month for 10 months, an increase of $209,983 in that line item.
Initiatives proposed for salary increases and insurance benefits are expensive.
But, school system officials pared the budget in some areas and got some help in others to help pull the funding together.
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.
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.

A 28-year-old former South Boston resident, Xenia Uzella Morgan, was sentenced on Friday to a total of two years in prison for convictions stemming from an eight-minute police pursuit through South Boston last September.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn suspended Morgan's entire one-year sentence for eluding a law enforcement officer, and half of Morgan's 12-month sentence for a subsequent offense of DUI.
Morgan additionally received a five-year suspended sentence for the possession of cocaine as a result of a separate indictment.
Judge Osborn ordered that the suspended portions of Morgan's sentence be conditional on her good behavior for 10 years following her release, that she serve a probationary period of one-year, and that she be subjected to random drug tests.
The court ordered Morgan to pay in excess of $1,500 in court costs and fines, and suspended her operator's license for 12 months.
South Boston police officer R.D. Edmonds testified during Morgan's trial that he observed a vehicle that he believed belonged to Morgan at a convenience store last September 23.
The officer further testified that he knew Morgan's operator's license had been suspended, and, along with fellow officer M.T. Moreno, followed Morgan to Fairmont Apartments, where he approached Morgan in her vehicle to ask for her operator's license.
Morgan then sped away through South Boston before finally being stopped on College Street.
Prosecution testimony at Morgan's trial stated that Morgan ran about 15 stop signs and one red light while being pursued by police at speeds approaching 70 MPH during the chase.
Other Court
· Kevan Eugene Brown, a 21-year-old South Boston resident, was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison for the grand larceny of a VCR, satellite dish and other property belonging to Wal-mart last June.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn suspended all but six months of Brown's sentence, conditional on Brown's good behavior for 10 years following his release.
The court additionally ordered Brown to serve a one-year probationary period upon his release.
· Frances Rosa Harris, 53, of Buffalo, N.Y., was sentenced on Friday to five years in prison for the possession of cocaine.
Judge Osborn suspended all of Harris' sentence to time already served, conditional on her good behavior for five years.
The court additionally ordered Harris to serve a two-year probationary period following her release, and for Harris to be subjected to random drug tests.
Harris' operator's license was suspended by the court for six months.
· Danny Lee Beadles, 50, of Crystal Hill, was sentenced on Friday to five years in prison for breaking and entering the property of Wayland Branch Hudson with the intent to commit larceny, between November 1 and December 17, 1998.
Items stolen during the break-in included a shotgun, TV, electric blanket and a lamp shade.
Judge Osborn suspended Beadles' entire sentence, conditional on his good behavior for 20 years, ordered him to serve a one-year period of probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $165 to his victim.
· Marlo Jermaine Owen, 25, of South Boston, was sentenced on Friday to 20 years each in prison for the distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine..
Judge Osborn suspended all but four years for each charge, to run concurrently, for a total sentence of four years.
The court ordered the suspended portion of Owen's sentence to be conditional on his good behavior for 20 years following his release.
Judge Osborn additionally ordered a probationary period of two years for Owen and that he be subjected to random drug tests.
· Theresa Brown Bailey, 31, of Drakes Branch, was sentenced on Friday to three years in prison for the enhanced larceny of shoes valued at over $200 from A&N.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 90 days of Bailey's sentence conditional on her good behavior for five years, and ordered a one-year probationary period for Bailey under Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services.
· Harvey Donzell Johnson, 44, of South Boston, was sentenced on Friday to five years in prison for making a false statement on a consent form in order to purchase a firearm.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 60 days of Johnson's sentence, conditional on his good behavior for five years, and ordered a six-month probationary period for Johnson, to begin immediately.
· Darrell Donnell Mosley, 38, of Skipwith, was sentenced on Friday to two years in prison for the fraudulent conversion of rental property of Prime Time Rentals.
Judge Osborn suspended all of Mosley's sentence except for 20 days in jail to be served on weekends, and ordered Mosley to be subjected to a one-year probationary period through Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services.
The court additionally ordered Mosley to pay a $500 fine and $712 in restitution to his victim.
· Bernard Lester Waller aka Bernard Lester Reese, 27, of Nathalie, was sentenced on Friday to five years in prison for making a false statement on a voter registration form.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 10 days of Waller's sentence, conditional on his good behavior for five years, and authorized Waller to serve his sentence on weekends.
The court additionally ordered Waller to pay a $2,500 fine with $1,000 suspended, and ordered him to serve a one-year probationary period.
· Charles Michael Sydnor, 23, of Virgilina, was convicted on Friday of a violation of probation conditions.
Judge Osborn revoked one and one-half years of Sydnor's previously suspended prison sentence, and ordered Sydnor to be subjected to the same terms and conditions of probation as before, following his incarceration.
· Herman Ryan Ewell, 45, of Crystal Hill, was convicted on Friday of a violation of probation conditions.
Judge Osborn resuspended all but 90 days of Ewell's reimposed prison sentence, and ordered Ewell to serve a two-year probationary period following his release, with the same conditions as before.
· James A. Bailey, 41, of Virgilina, was ordered on Friday to pay costs of attorney within 60 days.
Judge Osborn ordered a 30-day jail sentence for Bailey if costs were not paid by that time.
· Gregory J. Hamlett, 21, of South Boston, was convicted last week after a jury trial in Halifax County Circuit Court of the possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.
The jury additionally found Hamlett guilty of failing to appear in court on November 16, 2000.
Judge Osborn affirmed a jury-recommended sentence for Hamlett of five years in prison for the firearm conviction.
Hamlett was additionally sentenced to 10 days in jail, with credit for time served, for failing to appear in court last November.

Cora Hudgins, 65, of Clarksville, remains in stable condition at Halifax Regional Hospital after a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon on Bill Tuck Highway (Route 58).
Hudgins was trapped inside a foreign-made pickup for over half an hour before emergency responders cut open the vehicle's top.
The Toyota pickup, driven by Hudgins, was struck on the driver's side by another pickup driven by William Dodson.
Dodson was treated and released from Halifax Regional Hospital, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Further details of the accident were not available at press time. Trooper Stanley Noblin is investigating the accident.

Horseback riders finally have a place to park their rigs at Staunton River State Park.
A $20,000 grant, coupled with two years hard work by Halifax County Saddle Club volunteers, turned the dream into reality Saturday.
Approximately 70 people turned out for the dedication of the John D. Conner II Memorial Trail Head, which will serve about 30 to 35 horse trailers, according to Saddle Club President Harold Woosley.
The trail head was named for the late John D. Conner, who was "still riding horses" just months before his death at age 82, Woosley said.
Conner had been a member of the original Saddle Club when it organized in the 1960s and of the Halifax County Saddle Club when it reorganized in 1979, explained Woosley. "He and his wife Margie joined the club."
The new parking area is located near the entrance of Staunton River State Park. The entrance to the seven and one-half mile trail is nearby.
"The trail winds around the outside perimeter of the park and covers the Staunton River and the Dan side," explained Woosley. "It takes about three hours to ride."
Within the next year, Woosley said that club members plan to have some camping sites for horseback riders.
The club's volunteers play an active role at the park. They keep the horseback trail free of debris, trash and limbs.
"I am grateful to Saddle Club members," Woosley said yesterday. "They worked hard on this parking area and put in a lot of volunteer hours."

With no diamond action for the better part of two weeks, Halifax County High School baseball coach Kelvin Davis may have had some questions about his team as it headed into back-to-back games against Franklin County and E.C. Glass.
But the Comets erased any fears Davis may have had about the effects of the weather-induced layoff.
The Comets got off to a good early start and downed E.C. Glass 7-2 Friday night in Lynchburg in the Western District opener.
Thursday night, the Comets scored a come-from-behind 14-4 win over Franklin County, scoring five runs in the third inning and six runs in the fourth inning to turn back the Eagles.
The pair of wins pushed the Comets' record to 4-0 for the season and 1-0 in Western District play.
While Thursday's game may well have set the stage for Friday night's win, the Friday night victory over E.C. Glass was big because it was the district opener and the Comets won it on the road.
It was also big in that the Comets set the tone for the contest early on, leaving the Hilltoppers to have to scratch and claw just to stay within hailing distance.
The Comets had nine hits in the game with Nick Thompson, Matt Hastings and Justin Shepperd each getting two hits.
Mike Priest, designated hitter Jonathan Wallace and Adam Conner had a hit each.
The Comets jumped on top early with David Greene getting a leadoff walk in the top of the first inning and Thompson following with a hit.
Greene stole two bases and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hastings to put the Comets up 1-0.
A two-out double by Shepperd plated Thompson to give the Comets a 2-0 lead.
Two base hits netted a run for the Hilltoppers in the bottom of the second inning to make it a 2-1 game.
The Comets added two more runs in the top of the third inning with a two-RBI double by Shepperd that made the score 4-1.
A hit by Hastings and a walk to Priest preceded the hit by Shepperd.
Two hits by Glass in the bottom of the third inning netted the Hilltoppers a run to make the score 4-2.
Halifax made it a 5-2 game in the top of the sixth inning when Wallace walked, advanced to second base on a passed ball and scored on a double by Conner.
A run-scoring double by Thompson and a run-scoring single by Priest in the top of the seventh inning gave the Comets a 7-2 lead and put the game out of reach.
Along with the timely hitting, the Comets played errorless ball on defense and got a good performance on the mound from hurler Scott Adams.
Adams allowed only six hits in the game and did not give up any walks. He fanned 10 E.C. Glass batters.
Halifax County's bats were hot in Thursday's 14-4 win over Franklin County.
The Comets erupted for 20 hits with Hastings leading the way with four hits.
Priest had two hits, both of them home runs. Greene, Thompson, Wallace, R.D. Cole, and Conner also had two hits in the contest.
Adams, Shepperd, Casey Owen, and Chad Conner each had one hit in the winning effort.
Wallace and reliever Justin King combined forces to give the Comets a good night of pitching.
Wallace allowed only one hit and gave up four walks while fanning nine batters in his four innings of work.
King allowed only two hits, gave up no walks and fanned three batters in the final two innings.
Franklin County took advantage of walks to four of its first five batters to manufacture two runs in the top of the first inning.
Greene singled to start off the Comets in the bottom of the first inning and later scored to make it a 2-1 game after an inning.
A two-run homer by Travis Hundley in the top of the second inning staked Franklin County to a 4-1 lead.
That lead held until Priest cleared the sacks with a three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 4-4.
Shepperd and Wallace followed with hits. A sacrifice allowed Shepperd to score and a hit by Conner scored Wallace to put the Comets up 6-4.
Halifax County added six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a 12-4 game.
Thompson started the inning with a single and scored on a double by Hastings.
Hastings went on to score on a wild pitch and Priest followed with his second round-tripper of the contest to ignite the big inning that included run-producing hits by Cole and Greene.
Halifax added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning that started with a walk to Bruce Anderson and back-to-back hits by Conner and Adams.
A single by Hastings, his fourth hit of the game, plated Conner and Greene to account for the 14-4 final score.
Halifax County will be idle until Friday when it faces defending Western District champion Albemarle.
Game time is 5 p.m.

Nannie Mae Talley, 70, of 1238 White Oak Fork Road, Virgilina, died April 5 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
Ms. Talley was born in Halifax County on November 18,1930, the daughter of the late Irvin Talley and Bettie Gravitt Talley. She was a member of White Oak Fork Baptist and was a retired employee of the Army and Air Force Exchange in Alexandria.
Survivors include five daughters, Barbara Hamlette of Annandale, Judy Nadeau of Alexandria, Betty Balch and Grace Talley, both of Dumfries and Edith Tune of Nathalie; three sons, James Talley of Clarksville, Arthur Talley of Washington, D.C. and Larry Talley of Annandale; one sister, Elaine Talley of Virgilina; two brothers, Joseph Talley of Alexandria and Otis Talley of Baltimore, Md.; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Ms. Talley were held April 8 at 2 p.m. at White Oak Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Glenn Faulkner officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Coral Haywood Minnix, 79, of Gladys, died April 6 at his home. He was the husband of the late Branchie Trent Minnix.
Born December 23, 1921, in Campbell County, he was a son of the late Edward Gordon Minnix and Florine Evans Minnix. He was a member of Edge Baptist Church, a retired farmer, and a U.S. Army veteran of WWII.
Survivors of Mr. Minnix include four daughters, Amelia Smith and her husband, Carroll, Kay Dawson and her husband, Kenneth, all of Gladys, Sue Doss and husband, Ray of Gretna and Coral Elder and husband, Dan of Vernon Hill; two sisters, Vivian Yates of Lynchburg and Edith Atcheson of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Matthew Smith and wife, Cerise, Mark, Michelle and Nicole Smith, Kim and Chris Doss and Jon and Gerry Elder. He was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Minnix.
A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. April 8 in Mt. Carmel Methodist Church Cemetery by the Revs. Don Cockes and Andy Grose.

Viola Easley Holt, 88, of 1068 Bagwell Dr., Scottsburg, died April 6 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Holt was born in Halifax County on November 16, 1913, the daughter of the late Royal and Virginia Street Easley. She was married to the late Robert Holt and was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church.
Her survivors include a daughter and son-in-law: Mary and Albert Darensbourg of Scottsburg; daughter-in-law: Gladys Holt of South Boston; sister: Bettie Holt of Halifax; eight grandchildren: Deborah Jones, Robert Holt, Major Holt, Felicia Holt, Lisa Sykes, Herman Sykes, Marie Williams and Scheryll Reeves and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, April 11 at 1 p.m. at Piney Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence.

Gracie Martin Wright, 98, of 4149 Leda Grove Rd., Nathalie died April 7 at the Woodview.
Mrs. Wright was born in Halifax County on November 8, 1902, the daughter of Walter Giles Martin and Fannie Lee Wade Martin. She was married to Ernest Linwood Wright and was a member of First Baptist Church of Republican Grove.
Her survivors include a daughter and son-in-law: Betty and Robert Cunningham of Nathalie; three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; son: Walter Linwood Wright and two grandchildren: Michael Cunningham and Gayle Cunningham Wade.

A funeral service will be held today, April 9 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with the Rev. Shelton Miles officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
For memorials please consider the First Baptist Church of Republican Grove.