Arlington School Board Makes Case for Extra Tax Increase

The Arlington School Board wants to restore several positions Superintendent Pat Murphy has recommended eliminating, including gifted services teachers at the county's three high schools and some teen parenting positions.

But the school board has built its budget assuming the Arlington County Board will approve an extra half-cent tax increase to fund those positions — and that's far from a sure thing.

School officials made their case for the additional tax increase Wednesday night, putting pressure on the county to fund programs and positions that might otherwise be cut. The extra tax hike would generate a little more than $3 million annually.

County Manager Barbara Donnellan's proposed $1.1 billion budget already includes a 3.2-cent tax increase — and 1.1 cents of that would bring in $7.1 million already proposed to cover an extra 973 students entering Arlington Public Schools.

Part of the school board's argument was that updated enrollment projections indicate 1,112 new students will enter public schools next year. But that didn't seem to hold much water with county officials, who talked about the school system as if it were simply another county department.

"The things that's different … is knowing that enrollment increased far more than what's anticipated," school board member Abby Raphael said. "That and some changes the school board didn't want to make in terms of instruction is the basis for the request of the additional increase."

The school board argued that it was trying to anticipate needs in a time of skyrocketing enrollment — including the needs of specific students, like those who receive special ed.

Donnellan called that "a totally new component for us to take into consideration."

The school system has two new elementary schools slated to be built, plus additions at three others. But until more buildings go up, Arlington Public Schools is looking at adding 20 to 25 trailers each year to accommodate students.

The school board will hold a public hearing April 18 on its $524.5 million proposed budget, with final adoption slated for May 2, giving the school system time to adjust its spending plan based on the financial reality the Arlington County Board hands down on the 20th of this month.

The county board has given itself the authority to raise taxes by as much as 5 cents per $100 assessed value — about 1.8 cents' worth of wiggle room beyond the manager's recommendation.

Aside from the school board's request, advocates have asked for an extra 1-cent increase to be dedicated to affordable housing, county board Chairman Walter Tejada has said. Various county departments have made requests of their own.

"This is on everything, but I think the manager's recommendation is a pretty strong one," county board Vice Chairman Jay Fisette told Patch. "I'd be hard pressed to go any higher."

The school board's proposed budget restores two teachers and one half-time assistant to the school system's teen parenting program, gifted services teachers at all three high schools, at least one elementary school reading teacher and two teachers to help keep class sizes down in subjects that have Standards of Learning tests. It does not add foreign language instruction to Tuckahoe Elementary, which many parents have asked for.

"Every year we become a new school system. We have different children. Different sets of needs. And different parents. That's a good thing. But every year, the expectations also change," school board member James Lander said.

"This may sound callous, but in a county that has a billion-dollar budget … I think our projections and our stewardship of the funds have been excellent."

Arlington Public Schools students come from 123 counties and speak 97 languages. School Board Chairwoman Emma Violand-Sanchez said Arlington was a minority-majority school district, as 46 percent of its students are Caucasian, 28 percent are Hispanic and 11 percent are black.

More than 31 percent of Arlington students receive free or reduced-price lunch. More than 28 percent of students are English Language Learners. And nearly 15 percent receive special education services.

Arlington Public Schools is projecting enrollment of 23,725 students next year, a 4.9 percent increase over the current year.

The school board's budget represents a 4.6 percent increase over the current spending plan.