VIRGINIA BEACH
Field trips and behind-the-wheel driver's education are among the proposed budget cuts that might be restored, School Board members indicated Tuesday in their first swipe at the 2009-10 budget.
Several members said they'd like to save part of the $143,000 field trip budget, eliminated in the draft the superintendent presented last week. Board Chairman Dan Edwards asked whether behind-the-wheel driving instruction could be saved if tuition were increased to $250 or $300 from $100. Joe Burnsworth, director of secondary instructional services, said the program could break even at $361 per student.
Board Vice Chairwoman Rita Sweet Bellitto questioned funding regular and activity buses for academy students. Many academy activity buses carry fewer than 10 students. Busing at academies, gifted programs and advanced academic programs costs more than $2 million.
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I am glad to hear that field
I am glad to hear that field trips may be reinstated. Too many school children do not get enough cultural interaction these days, unless their parents take them to museums, plays, operas, etc. This is so critical to the learning experience and appreciation of history, humanities, the arts and so much more that comes along with actually seeing and being in a place usually only read about in a book. Kudos!
RIGHT ON RITA!!!!
Right on Rita!!!!!! Finally, someone has identified the elephant in the room……Academy Transportation…..$2 MILLION. Some of these buses carrying less than 10 students?????
In August, VB Schools ELIMINATED 500 bus stops. Here is what Transportation Director David Pace stated in the August 19, 2008 Pilot: “Each year you can consolidate routes, you eliminate buses from the road.”
Mr. Edwards and Mr. Burnsworth suggest making students pay the full cost for behind-the-wheel instruction……….why not let the Academy students pay the $ 2 MILLION for their customized bus routes? My child attended the Legal Studies Academy and quite frankly, it was more hype than substance.