Thursday, April 29, 2004 • Kilmarnock, Virginia • Eighty-seventh Year • Number 29 • Three Sections • 50¢ Former supervisor blasts $13.2 million school budget proposal by Robb Hoff Based on the average daily membership consider a $40,000 decrease from last year’s LANCASTER—The Lan caster school (ADM) used to determine state revenues, the $7.2 million in local funding by using the board’s $13.2 million budget for 2004-05 total cost per pupil under the $13.1 million same bot tom-line formula the supervi sors was taken to task last week by former county school budget, including local, state and fed- used last year. The for mula multiplies the supervisor Cundiff Simmons during a re lated eral revenues, would be $9,997, up almost local fund ing amount per student by the public hearing. 15 percent from the $8,686 per pupil cost ADM, and adds three-percent for infl ation. Simmons, who was de feated last year for this year, said Simmons. The ADM for this year (1,323) is 47 stu- a District 3 seat by Peter Geilich, said the He said the local dollars spent to fund dents fewer than the ADM used last year for $1.3 million increase in county funding pro- public education in the county would climb budget calculations. posed in this year’s school budget is ex treme 22 percent, from $5,255 per stu dent to Simmons said a $1 million increase in based upon the level of local funding that $6,425. That fi gure equals the total funding teacher pay and benefi ts could still be real- already ex ists. per student from local, state, and federal rev- ized for 2004-05 if the formula is used. He “We are funding way over the top level of enues sources in some Virginia localities, added that the aver age salary and benefi ts school funding in the state as it is,” Simmons such as York County, he noted. per teacher could also increase to $54,854 said. Instead, Simmons proposed that the board (continued on page A16) Board schedules adoption session by Robb Hoff Randolph Latimore said. ther decrease pro jected expendi- Last year, more than 62 per- LANCASTER—Following a The budget also refl ects fed- tures by $148,486. cent of county taxes and other public hearing last Wednes day, eral revenues of $787,799 for However, additional funding for local revenues were used to fund the Lancaster board of super- school operations and an addi- operations and mainte nance, sep- public education. The county Hummingbird returns visors scheduled an adop tion tional $328,549 for the school arate from the bud get, could be administration projects that $10.8 session for the 2004-05 school cafeterias. forthcoming for items such as fuel, million in local funds will be following rescue budget for today, April 29, at 7 The instruction category heating and electrical service. needed for 2004-05, up nearly Dr. James F. and Debbie Hamilton of Lancaster last week p.m. at the court house. re fl ects $10 million in expendi- “Keep it level and as the $500,000 from last year. rescued this hummingbird and nursed it back to health. The $13.2 million school pro- tures. However, the board has increases come in, have Dr. Lati- Of the local revenues, $7 mil- Debbie said the bird on Satur day fl ew into the atrium of posal would require $8.5 mil- discussed reductions to in clude more and the school board come lion is expected from real estate their home where it remained trapped despite efforts to lion in county funding, up $1.3 some $118,000 less for a revised in and ask for those,” board taxes and $1.4 million more from fl ush it out. On Sunday, she convinced Calico, their cat, million from the current year. teacher salary scale adopted by chairman Patrick G. Frere said of personal property taxes. to release the bird from her mouth. As the bird re mained State revenues are pro jected at the school board earlier this the operations and maintenance A preliminary budget draft pre- motionless, the Hamiltons coaxed it to siphon sugar water $3.8 million despite the budget month and $56,927 less to fund funding. pared by county administra tion from a spoon. After about 20 minutes, the bird apeared quagmire at the Virginia General materials and sup plies for the With the projected reduc tions, earlier this month pro jected only to recuperate. “It fl uttered, so I handed it to Jim,” said Assembly. schools at last year’s level. the school funding need is esti- a small percentage of the state Debbie. “He held it briefl y and when he opened his “We were hoping that we Additionally, the board dis- mated at $12.8 million. The revenues expected for 2004-05 hands, the hummingbird fl ew away.” Debbie said she would hear something today, but cussed level funding for the oper- supervisors usually ap prove a bot- because of uncer tainty created im mediately fi lled her feeders and on Tuesday night the there’s nothing out there at this ation and maintenance category tom-line dollar amount for schools by the budget impasse in the hummingbird showed up for supper. point,” school superinten dent Dr. of the budget, which would fur- rather than an itemized budget. state legisla ture. Show and tell: Garden tour attracts queues Visitors to Camellia Cottage take a break on the lawn to of visitors for many reasons enjoy a “boxed lunch.” Far from actually boxed, the impres- sive gourmet lunches came neatly wrapped in burlap. by Lorraine Howard I know the event was held Visiting Reporter to celebrate the work and raise KILMARNOCK—They say funds for the Garden Club of the Scots are a nosy bunch. the Northern Neck. Well, let me tell you, as And the visitors were a Scottish visitor to Virginia’s cer tainly impressed as the Historic Garden Week tour, it ar rangements that used, at seems we may be a bit behind times, the simplest and, at when it comes to show and tell. others, the most exotic of First, I must set the record blooms, filled each of the straight about a matter before many rooms in these modern- I tell you about my day I spent day country mansions. touring some of the finest First on my list was The houses in Lancaster County. Boathouse, which has a won- Hailing from Scotland, we derful view of Carter’s Creek. may have castles aplenty, but This was an amazing house that shouldn’t make Ameri- complete with imaginative cans feel inferior. Believe me, contemporary folk art, and some of the homes included what was most impressive in the Water Views tour were The Garden Club of the North- were the lamps in each room. real palaces, and the lines of ern Neck will decorate just about These ranged from marabou visitors queuing up outside the anything, including a beam inside feathered black numbers to a front doors put our castles to this old barn on the Camellia giant poppy lamp. shame. Cottage property. The structure This contemporary style was But I wanted to know why is believed to have been Lan- very different from the others hundreds of people were des- caster County’s fi rst dairy barn. on the tour as Dymer Hall and perate to see inside these Blue Water Farm were more grand designs. cu riosity or is it a case of keen traditional styles. I have mixed feelings about interior designers taking part As I joined the queues to it— is it a case of sheer in a grand scale show and tell? walk through each room, I felt a little nosy and looked be yond the immaculate ar rangements and bouquets, drawn to the homeowner’s fur- niture, knick knacks and art- work. I felt as if I was sneaking Droves of curious sightseers toured five “Water View” homes in Lancaster County April a peak through the shutters 21 as part of Virginia Historic Garden Week activities spon sored by the Garden Club of while the householders were Virginia. Here, visitors wander the lawn of Blue Water Farm. Camellia Cottage, Dymer not in. It felt great. Hall, The Boathouse, The Miss Ann and Christ Church were also part of the tour. Similar I was not alone, as everyone tours statewide help generate funds to help restore historic gardens and grounds through- did appreciate the floral deco- out Virginia. rations but more often than not were busy pinching ideas for their own homes, be they grand or modest. So, what is it about other people’s homes we find fasci- Guests to Camellia Cottage were able to get a rare glimpse nating? of a white swan guarding her nest. I have come to the conclu- sion that we long to look into others’ homes to find out a bit more about our neighbours. And if it is show and tell on a grand scale, why not? This is Inside the land of opportunity where any dream can come true. ■ Right now, I’m dreaming of Election Day: the Boathouse and the excit ing Irvington, Kilmarnock, White Stone array of artefacts and art on voters go to the polls Tuesday.. B1 display. ■ I think I am set to redeco- Play Ball! Pickin’ for rate when I return to Scotland Little League games begin as three LookLandmark inside for VintageMenokin: Years! B1 this week after a month here join sports Wall of Fame.......