INSIDE Class leaders reflect on high school’s end > page 2
Volume 57, Number 21 • June 2, 2011
School Budget vote delayed until May 31 By Ken Odor and Jim Fields jodor@goochlandgazette.com
Editor’s Note: Look for an updated report of the May 31 meeting on the Gazette web site.
Photo by Ken Odor
American Legion Post 215 Ladies Auxiliary members Jenna Nelson, left and Mary Ligon lay the memorial wreath at the Veterans Monument at Monday’s Memorial Day Ceremony on the Courthouse Green.
Goochland commemorates the fallen By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com
“Memorial Day is the day we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have,” said Guest of Honor Brig. General
INDEX
Calendar 12 Classifieds 13-15 Letters 6 Local Exchange B1
Joel McKean, USAF (ret) in his Memorial Day address at the annual ceremony on the Courthouse Green in Goochland. Recalling a visit to Bethesda Naval Hospital, McKean remembered what Justin, a recovering
Obituaries Opinion Sports TV Listings
7 6 9 10-12
Marine told him when asked what message he had for the people on Memorial Day. “Remember that many fought and bled so that you could enjoy see Memorial Day > page 3
Strong criticism of proposed teacher cuts and other budget reductions threw a monkey wrench into what was expected to be the end of the school budget process May 24. After more than 20 speakers addressed the board in the public comment period, School Board Chairman Ivan Mattox called for a break. When the meeting resumed at about 8:30 p.m., Mattox announced that the board would not vote on the budget that evening but would wait until May 31when the recessed meeting would be reconvened. “We decided to take another stab at the legitimate concerns of the speakers,” said Mattox Wednesday morning. “We needed to look at this thing again,” he said. Earlier, Mattox addressed misunderstandings concerning the budget, assuring the audience that mandated transportation of Special Education students would be provided but that it was a separate issue from the decision not to transport students to Maggie Walker Governors’ School, which is not
mandated. Mattox also stated that reductions in force had been carried out in accordance with code and policy requirements and that the superintendent had received no pay increase since 2008. Mattox then announced that two adjustments had been made to the revised budget. A .4 Art Teacher position formerly slated to be reduced had been added back, he said and golf, swimming and gymnastics would be retained at Goochland High School. The announcement of the retention of the art position was met with applause. But when the public hearing began, so did the criticisms, as speaker after speaker came to the microphone with their concerns. “Money needs to be allocated to instruction first,” said the first speaker, Heather Wilkins, who called the path followed by the schools a road “leading us nowhere but to destruction.” Jane Christie asked that the board not approve the budget and urged the board to adjourn and reconsider, after questioning how instruction could be cut when the Goochland Board of Supervisors had specified $100,000 more for instruction than requested by the School Board. Several speakers asked that money
SPORTS
WEBSITE
Benedictine Football putting in hard work
DMV Select office opens in Goochland
> page 9
> goochlandgazette.com
see School Board > page 4