In The News

School Board recognizes Budget and Custodial employees

(June 28, 2011) - Newport News Public Schools’ budget has earned two prestigious budget awards: the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, and the Association of School Business Officials International Meritorious Budget Award for excellence in budget presentation.

The awards were acknowledged at the June 21 school board meeting.

The awards follow many changes made to the budget in recent years. The budget development process has been revised to include the input of more stakeholders, and to identify ways to reduce spending, ensuring the district’s financial resiliency.

In addition to changes that have been made to the budget process, the budget document has evolved—it is more user-friendly, understandable, and it includes more historical and statistical information.

This year marks the first time the school district has earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

The budget was reviewed by a committee of association members and outside reviewers with experience in public-sector budgeting.

Awardees must meet the highest principles in governmental budgeting, and the public body’s budget must meet nationally recognized guidelines including how well the budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device.

The awards were presented to Pearl Tow, senior budget analyst.

Custodial Recognition

Fifteen Newport News Public Schools custodians earned an advanced level Custodian Technician Certification, and were recognized at the June 21 school board meeting.

The certification was achieved through the Cleaning Management Institute—a professional organization that provides education, training and career improvement opportunities for building cleaning and maintenance professionals.

The certification program, which is designed for front-line custodians and supervisors, includes new industry technologies and procedures, best practices, “green” cleaning solutions, and teaches advanced skills in all areas of commercial and public building cleaning.

The employees are the district’s first custodians to receive the advanced level training.

Earning certification: George Barrett, Hidenwood Elementary School; Mark Bennett, R.O. Nelson Elementary School; Valerie Bryant, Greenwood Elementary School; Tammy Davis, B.C. Charles Elementary School; Dianne Hawkins, Dozier Middle School; Alexander Hill, Woodside High School; Velmaree Hill, Menchville High School; Oscar Jonathan, Jenkins Elementary School; Ann Kates, Denbigh High School; Patricia Lassiter, Newsome Park Elementary; Melissa Record, Denbigh High School; Mark Smith, An Achievable Dream Elementary School; Shavonda Smith, B.T. Washington Middle School; Teresa Walker, General Stanford Elementary School; Donald White, Warwick High School.