by AnnGardner Eubank
HEATHSVILLE—With just over a month before the first day of the upcoming school year, the Northumberland school board continues to field criticism regarding its $21,529,064 budget for 2024-25.
Among public comments at the Tuesday, July 2, meeting, Ginny Barnes shared concerns related to a 50% funding cut made to the gifted program.
Barnes said her children benefited from the program and had great experiences with it, but she is concerned that gifted children will not be challenged in the classroom with the cut in funding.
Stephanie Spain, a parent of two gifted students, echoed Barnes’ sentiments and said she is disappointed in the decision.
Board member Dana O’Bier later said she appreciates all of the hard work of gifted program coordinator Katie Wilkins. The board had a lot of cuts they had to make and had to make a lot of tough decisions when the supervisors cut their budget, she said.
O’Bier encouraged community members to research how the composite index works and to contact supervisors and let them know….
