Evening star., 1961-12-24
Board to Ask
Assembly Okoy
Of Formula
BY ALEX r. PRESTON
Star Staff Writer

adopt a new formula for dis
tributing State funds for
schools-a plan which would
give the four nearby jurisdic-
tons increases totaling $685.
682 in the next two years If
enrolment remains the same.
This amount probably would
be even higher because of rapid
increases in enrolment, par
ticularly in Fairfax County.
On the same basis, the four
nearby Jurisdictions would re-
.ceive a total of $711,315 more
than at present after the first
two years, even if enrolment
remained at its present level.
A breakdown on the effects Of
the proposed distribution for
mula was given by the State
Education Department at the
request of newsmen.
The reason why benefits
would be smaller during the
first two years is that 43
localities, which stand to lose
S1.2 million, would be guaran-
teed their present sums in State
aid during that period so they
could make plans for adjust
ment.
88 Areas Would Gain
Gaining would be 88 localities
which would receive $7.8 mil
lion.
If the new two-factor formula
is approved by the Legislature
to replace a complicated three
factor formula that has been
in effect several years, losses
would range from $235 for Cliff
ton Forge to $86,993 for Prince
William.
The gains would be spread
from $3,462 for Appomattox
County to $677,477 for Rich
mond.
The comparisons, as stated
earlier, do not take into &C
count any changes in enroll
ment-known as average daily
attendance-nor do they in
clude any upgrading of teacher
salary scales.
The proposed formula would
place much greater emphasis
on the effort of a locality to
meet its own school needs.
Under the present formula.
localities receive State funds
on three factors:
A basic appropriation for
each teaching position figured
at one teacher for each 80
elementary pupils and one
teacher for each % high school
pupils; salary equalization, set
up to enable teachers to be
placed on a minimum scale
when the locality fails to sup
port that minimum, and a
minimum education fund.
RevisiOns Proposed
The new proposal would
scrap the salary equalization
plan and revise the other two
in this>manner:
A basic appropriation for
each teaching position figured
on one teacher for each q ele-
mentary pupils and one teach
er for each 20 high school pu-
pills, the State paying two
thirds of the basic appropria-
ton.
The minimum education
fund would make school divi-
SlonS raise an amount equlva-
lent to a 60-cent levy on each
$100 of the latest evaluation of
locally-taXed property.
Here is how the nearby areas
would fare under the plan dur
ing the first two years and
afterWard.
Arlington, $337,648 the first
two years and $389,462 there
after: Fairfax County, $65, 5,436
and $75,477; Alexandria, $751;
ITS and $215,898, and Falls
Church, $26,423 and $30,478.
(No figures were available for
the new City of Fairfax
Here are how some of the
other localities in the northern
and valley areas of the State
would fare (gains unless a loss
is specified:
Albemarle, lose $6,150; Au-
gusta $39,242, and $34,O2l;
Clarke, lose $21,556; Culpeper,
lose $56,164; Fauquier, lose
$4,000; Frederick, lose $16,891;
King George, lose $10,872; Lou
doun, $12,515 and $1O,85O;
Madison, $27,961 and $24.241.
Also Orange, lose $11,886;
Page, lose $15,1O8; Rappahan-
mock, $2O,177 and $17,493;
Rockingham, lose $8,627: Shen-
andoah, $54,707 and $47,429;
Spotsylvania, lose $6,789; Staf-
ford, $5,617 and $4,870; Warren,
S5,638 and $4,888.
Also Colonial Beach, lose
$454; Charlottesville, $43,538
and $37,746; Fredericksburg.
$15,241 and $13,213; Harrison
burg, $7,21l and $6,252; Staun-
ton, $11,729 and $1O.169;
Waynesboro, $34,036 and $29,-
sos, and Winchester, $28,172
and $24,424.