NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — The Newport News School Board voted to approve the superintendent’s proposed budget with an additional $150,000 for two additional guidance counselors.
The $315.6 million budget includes a 2 percent salary increase for all employees, compression pay and 17 new positions.
That is up 2 guidance counselor positions from the previous week, however still short of the Newport News Education Association’s requested six.
Six additional guidance counselors the school district thought they would be able to hire under the governor’s proposed budget ultimately had to be cut following the loss of $1.1 million in state funds when the General Assembly amended it, according to Superintendent Dr. George Parker.
In an effort to make up the difference, Newport News Public Schools is expanding its partnership with the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board (CSB) to give students and families access to mental health counselors, according to Michelle Price, a spokeswoman for NNPS.
“Traveling to a CSB facility is prohibitive to some families; this arrangement will ensure our families (access) to these much-needed services,” Price said in an email. “The Community Services Board currently provides therapeutic day treatment to identified students in need of these services.”
Overall, the school board voted to ask city council for an additional $2.4 million in funding over the previous year.
City Council is expected to discuss the request next month.