Some new ideas for saving CCPS money

Richard Woodsen
Published: March 18, 2008

I would like to applaud the Culpeper County School Board for passing a more realistic budget ("School Board agrees to amend budget," March 11).

It appears that the current School Board members understand the economy and the needs of the entire community while meeting the needs of our children.

It is still a huge amount of money being asked of the taxpayers in these tough financial times.

I have attended many of the meetings of the School Board over the past months and feel that I can make some suggestions to be explored that will reduce the budget request while still providing a wonderful learning environment for the students.

 One idea is to move the students from the Farmington Elementary School to the new Yowell Elementary School for a few years.

Yowell will be very efficient and economical to operate, and there wouldn't have to be additional new staff, a great savings.
The orignal request from the school system was for only 10 classrooms. Yowell would provide that plus additional space.

The second idea is to use Eastern View High School as a middle school moving the students from Culpeper Middle school. Then use the existing Culpleper Middle school building as part of the high school complex.

Again, there would be a gigantic savings in staffing and busing expenditures, and this plan would allow the students to all graduate from the same high school while alleviating the overcrowding situation.
 I have learned that the student enrollment numbers are down and that these ideas could work.

I feel that the new School Board members are innovative and looking for fresh ideas and are willing to step out of the traditional way of thinking. 

The taxpayer would be appreciative, and I, as a parent, feel my children would receive a good education without program cuts. It's a true win-win.