Staunton City Schools may soon be getting some financial help in the form of a new $30 million budget.

The money is slated to go towards teacher pay raises, new equipment and the establishment of new student learning programs.

An early intervention program would also be funded under the new budget should it pass.

Students who need more time to learn how to read would be placed in a transitional class between kindergarten and first grade.

Superintendent of Staunton Schools, Dr. Steven Nichols says, "I want all of our kids reading at grade level by grade three, and while that is easy with some kids, with others that’s a major, major challenge."

The budget also calls for a four percent salary increase for all school district employees. Randall Simmons, the Principal of Bessie Weller Elementary, says increases are needed.

He says, "Each school division in Virginia has to set their own salary scales for their employees, so there’s a certain amount of competition for quality employees. So we have to do it from a sense of being competitive in our hiring process to attract the very best candidates."

Nichols says it took him months to look at every program in the school district to find ways to save money.

He comments, "We found one of our summer school programs has over the years kind of morphed into a baby-sitting services. No, no. So what we've done there is we've re-tooled it. It's now instructional. It'll be for at-risk children. It'll be an invitation kind of program and out of that, we were able to save about $50,000."

The school district now has to ask the city for $200,000 to help fund the budget.

Nichols adds, "I think, as we go through this process, I hope council will be impressed by the work we've put into making this the very best budget it can possibly be."

The school board will hold a public hearing on March 17 for city residents to come out and talk about the new budget. Nichols is hopeful the budget will remain intact in order to provide new amenities for teachers and students.