School Chief Proposes Larger Classes, Fees

Class sizes will grow; student fees for sports, Advanced Placement tests and parking will be imposed or increased; and funding for special education and ESL classes will be cut in a budget proposed by Loudoun County Superintendent Edgar B. Hatrick III last night.

"I don't think we've ever seen the equivalent of what we're seeing now" in terms of fiscal stringency, Hatrick said.

The budget proposal anticipates an overall spending increase of 1.6 percent. But that would be far less than in the past, and much of it would come from savings carried over from this year's budget. The budget incorporates a $1.3 million cut in funds from the county.

Although teaching positions would be reduced by about 70, no teachers would have to be laid off.

The School Board is to discuss Hatrick's proposals and approve a final budget at the end of the month to send to the Board of Supervisors.

Hatrick also included dramatic proposals that anticipated the possibility of deeper cuts in local funding of up to 15 percent. But he said those cuts "could amount to a butchering of the Loudoun County public schools as we know them."

The Loudoun proposal comes after austerity plans by other area superintendents. In Montgomery County last month, Superintendent Jerry D. Weast proposed cutting support staff and eliminating cost-of-living raises for teachers. Prince George's County interim Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. proposed last month closing six schools and cutting 900 jobs. The Fairfax County and Alexandria superintendents will release their budgets tomorrow.

The nearly flat budget marks a sharp turn for a school system that has long been the fastest-growing in the region and has had a reputation for not skimping on services. Last year, the budget increased by 8 percent. For at least three years before that, 14 percent increases were usual alongside major increases in enrollment. Still, a report from the Washington Area Boards of Education in November showed that Loudoun spent less for each pupil this school year than most local systems.

In November, Loudoun announced that it was expecting a $176 million budget shortfall, and county government officials directed agencies, including the school system, to prepare budgets that account for local funding reductions of up to 15 percent. State funding cuts announced by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) also will affect the schools.

The worst-case scenario Hatrick presented last night would be a 9 percent cut from this year's budget even as the school system expects 2,500 more students next year. And at least one county supervisor said last week that local funding cuts in the deeper ranges were probable.

Those cuts would hit hard. Buses for field trips would be sharply reduced or eliminated. Art, music and physical education programs would be steeply cut back.

Class sizes would increase to up to 25 students in elementary schools and 24.6 in middle schools, and cuts to special education, sports, parent outreach and summer school could be instituted. Sweeping staff cuts would be made, and all staff would have to take a one-day unpaid furlough on a school day.

Freshman sports would end, and junior varsity lacrosse would be cut. Four elementary schools -- Aldie, Hillsboro, Lincoln and Middleburg -- would close.

"It'll be panic" when people see the possible cuts, said Loudoun Education Association President Sandy Sullivan.