School efficiency review attracts few from public to comment, but comments may be submitted on-line
By James P. Gannon
A few Rappahannock County residents came to the state-sponsored Schools Efficiency Review open house at the Elementary School Tuesday afternoon, but the turnout was much less than the director of the review had expected.
A consulting firm hired by the Commonwealth of Virginia has a team of five specialists here this week conducting an efficiency review of the county’s public schools, with an eye toward finding possible savings and more efficient ways to operate the schools. Following widespread complaints last year over the rising school budget, Rappahannock County Public Schools arranged for the state-supervised efficiency review.
Dr. Simmie A. Raiford, who is heading the team of consultants from the firm MGT of America, Inc., told The Rappahannock Voice that this is the 17th such school efficiency review that MGT has conducted in Virginia. The same firm has conducted reviews in Culpeper, Winchester and other regional jurisdictions, and soon will be reviewing school systems of Loudoun County and the City of Norfolk.
The open house Tuesday was designed to gather public input on the schools from parents, teachers, employees and other citizens. But only a handful of people showed up at the elementary school cafeteria during the appointed hours of 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Raiford expressed some surprise and disappointment that more people did not attend, noting that she was encouraged to expect a large turnout when she saw the crowd that attended the Rappahannock football game Monday afternoon.
The event was not announced by School Superintendent Robert Chappell until Oct. 23, seven days before it was scheduled, and received relatively little publicity or advance notice.
Persons who attended the open house were invited to discuss their views, one-on-one, with one of the MGT consultants available, or to write their comments on cards set out on tables for that purpose. There was no public forum or discussion.
In an interview, Raiford said the deadline for MGT’s report to the governor is June 2008, which comes after the next school budget must be approved. “By December, we will have a draft report for the school administration,” she said, but this will not be a public report at that time. The draft will go to the school administration for “checking of facts” and for comment, then will go back to MGT for editing, the team leader said.
Following that, the draft will go to Gov. Timothy Kaine’s office for review, then back to the Rappahannock County Public Schools for a final review, she said. The final report will be presented in a public session to the county School Board, probably in May, Raiford said.
The report will be a highly detailed analysis of all school operations, from instruction and curriculum to food service and financial management. Such a report typically fills 300 pages, she said. It will outline findings and recommendations for change in each area reviewed. It will include comparisons with other school systems and cite “best practices” or industry standards on the various topics under review.
The review will look for ways to save money and to operate more efficiently. “Most of our reviews find savings, but sometimes there are recommendations that cost money in the short run but will allow more efficient operations and savings in the long run,” Raiford commented.
The consultant said that it appeared Rappahannock County was unlike any other Virginia jurisdiction in which they have conducted reviews. “This is probably unique” because of the small, rural nature of the county, the declining school enrollment, the relatively high tax burden upon property owners, and the low level of state aid to the school system, she said.
Persons who missed the review open house may submit comments on the schools on line. Comments may be submitted anonymously and will be treated as confidential input for the MGT reviewers only. To submit comments on MGT’s form, click here.
-- James P. Gannon
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