Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Alexandria Council approves funds for ninth-grade school Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 14:23:38 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD Alexandria Council approves funds for ninth-grade school \BY Kristan Metzler \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The Alexandria City Council approved funds last night for the creation of a ninth-grade-only school aimed at easing overcrowded classrooms. City leaders voted unanimously to allocate $910,000 to renovate the Minnie Howard Administration Building on Braddock Road, which was originally used as an elementary school and has since been converted to offices. "By the year 2000, our population will be close to 11,000 students," Superintendent Paul Masem told the city council Monday night at a work session. There are currently about 9,800 students in the system. The school is part of a restructuring plan that will eventually include the creation of junior high schools at the George Washington and Francis C. Hammond schools and the construction of 31 additional classrooms at T.C. Williams High School. School officials want to open the ninth-grade school by September. The issue comes during a difficult fiscal year when the council will tackle a budget with a projected $15 million shortfall. Council members have said they aren't sure if the school board will receive $1.3 million needed in next year's budget to fund 238 projected new students and restructuring. Mr. Masem said the board plans to absorb $1.1 million in the school budget to open the center and will have to consider cuts in the school system if the council doesn't approve the increased funding in next year's budget. "When you look at the money, you have to look at it as an investment. We are not a drain on this community. We are the best investment you have," school board member Angie Godfrey told the council Monday night. "The last thing we would cut is teachers. We would look at reductions in administrators and support personnel," Mr. Masem told the council last night. But there are other worries. "City staff does not project that, absent a tax rate increase or dramatic reductions in existing school programs, there will be sufficient revenues available in fiscal year 1994 to fully fund . . . the Ninth Grade Center at Minnie Howard," city staff wrote in a report to the council. Some council members say they are worried about what school programs might get cut to pay for the ninth-grade center. "It boils down to the ability to pay the bill. My concern is what impact does absorbing $1.1 million have on services to Alexandria schoolchildren," council member Kerry Donley said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM