News and Messenger from Woodbridge, Virginia • 4

MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2010 NEWS MESSENGER Manassas Park holds school budget hearing EDUCATION Parents fear fees will deter student participation By KATHERINE GOTTHARDT For the News Messenger Doug and Donna West came to the Manassas Park School Board hearing just "to listen." Doug teaches at Manassas Park High School, and Donna is a former school board member. Both coach basketball, and they are parents of students in Manassas Park Schools. The Wests are facing the upcoming budget cuts. "We all know cuts have to be made," Doug West said. "It's just a matter of where and how." Caroline Dumas, a parent of a ninth -grade student at Manassas Park High School, also came to listen.

Dumas is worried a sports and activities fee would discourage student participation. "A lot of students don't play sports because the family is in hardship," Dumas said. She believes the fees would make things worse. The school board confirmed that fees would be part of the cost -cutting initiatives for the school year, and that they probably would be $40. School Superintendent Thomas DeBolt said he thought that amount was reasonable, considering other school districts are charging up to $250 in fees.

Manassas Park has been generous, he said, in providing equipment and supplies for activities, and it was fair for parents to be asked to share some of the burden. But Dumas' bigger con.cern was increased class size. "To put more students in they're going to get lost in the shuffle," she said. DeBolt estimated that 12 to 15 positions will not be refilled, raising class sizes most likely by about one student. Between staff taking advantage of the recent retirement incentive plan and normal attrition, DeBolt said they should be able to avoid more painful cuts such as furloughs and reductions in force.

"We're not at the ideal," he said. But, "It could have been much worse." In regard to the budget that passed in Richmond, DeBolt believes it was "a little better than we had the right to expect," considering the economy. The General Assembly adopted a budget closer to the more generous state Senate proposal which, among other things, will keep funding for the Governor's School. Besides activity fees, cost saving efforts thus far will include cutting tuition for special programs at Osborne Park; leaving staff vacancies unfilled; applying savings from the retirement incentive program; reducing staff tuition reimbursement; eliminating one Tech Academy bus route; reducing mid-day, abbreviated bus runs; reducing after school buses at the high school and middle school; and consolidating summer school into four days per week at one school. MESSENGER HOW TO REACH US: NOVA con Formerly Messenger the and the Manassas Journal Potomac News insidenova.com Published since 1869 Volume 140; Number 365 703-878-8000 twitter.com/insidenova 14010 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192 9009 Church Manassas, VA 20110-5410 facebook.com/insidenova.com HOW DO I REPORT A DELIVERY ISSUE OR MANAGE MY SUBSCRIPTION: call: 703-369-5556 online: insidenova.com, keyword: subscribe e-mail: PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Call: 703-368-0156 online: insidenova.com, keyword: Classifieds e-mail: SUBMIT A NEWS ITEM: )) online: www.insidenova.com, keyword: Submit call: 703-878-8056 or 703-878-8057 after 5 p.m.

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440-300 Regional sales manager Woodbridge, VA: USPS No. 277-820 Mike Stalter, 703-878-8024 Manassas, VA U.S. post offices and additional mailing offices. Human Resources Postmaster: Send address changes to: Candi Johnson 703-878-8080 Circulation Manager, News Messenger P.O. Box 2470, Controller Woodbridge, VA 22195 Daniel Greene 703-369-7195 Member: 6 Audit Bureau or Circulations OBITUARIES "Deb" Deborah L.

Dunnigan On March 18, 2010, the Lord thought it was time for Deborah L. Dunnigan to be welcomed into his arms to be with him in her eternal resting place. Deb, as she was so lovingly known, was born October 31, 1965 in Long Branch, N.J. She graduated from Kent County High School on the Eastern Shore, Md. In 1984.

Before graduating, she was employed as a CNA at Magnolia Hall Nursing Home. This began her life's dream to work in the medical field. It was a natural fit, as indicated by her being the youngest person, to be Opening Speaker at the annual regional American Red Cross Convention. After high school graduation, she was employed as a respiratory therapist at her local hospital. Deb was extremely patriotic and joined the U.S.

Navy as a dental technician. She was stationed in Norfolk for her 6 yr. enlistment. She was intent upon re-enlisting to serve her country during Operation Iraqi Freedom until she was presented with the most cherished gift of her life, her daughter Casey Elizabeth Chauvenet. Deborah, her first husband David A.

Chauvenet and their lovely daughter made their home in Virgina Beach. During this period, Deb worked full time while also putting herself through the Sentara Nursing Program and achieved her life long goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. During her professional career she worked as Charge Nurse for Sentara, TriCare a Kidney Dialysis Center, and at Patient First. Deb was also employed by Dominion pictures acting in numerous TV Documentaries, usually playing her favorite role of a Nurse! In May 1998, she met the love of her life who absolutely adored her, Steve. While Deb was watching a Hockey game in which Steve happened to be playing, Steve looked up from the ice, their eyes met and it was Love at first sight! After a 7 yr.

courtship that was spent traveling, laughing many, many, times, a long spent time talking, laughing and loving each other, Deb and Steve finally romantically eloped and got married in Aruba in June 2005. While living in Hampton with her husband and daughter, she lived as a wonderful homemaker, an extreme fitness fanatic, and spent much of her time in constant contact with family and friends. When at home she also spent a lot of time by the pool reading spiritual, religious and fiction books. Our "Midge" "Rebby" and "Sissy" will be sorely missed as she touched and brightened and livened the lives of everyone she met. Her beautiful smile, her lovely green eyes, her giving heart, generosity and complete love of life has left those that knew and loved her many loving memories.

The world was a better and brighter place for everyone she met and she will be so greatly missed. Deborah L. Dunnigan is survived by her husband Stephen A. Dunnigan, Esq. and her daughter, Casey Elizabeth Chauvenet; step- children Elizabeth Lauren Dunnigan and John P.

Dunnigan and David Chauvenet and Robin. Also surviving her with loving memories and a heavy heart include her mother, Marybeth Miller of Worton her father David J. Clark, Sr. and his wife, Arlene of Panama City, sister Cheryl M. Luchento and husband Michael, special nephew Mikey and special niece Amanda of Manalapan N.J.; brothers David J.

Clark Jr. and wife, Debra of Panama City, Fla. and James L. Clark and wife Renea and special nephew Justin of Panama City halfsiblings Jerry L. DeVito, Dana M.

Odom, Aeric David Clark and their families of Panama City Fla. and loving parents-in-law Richard L. and Sally A. Dunnigan of Virginia Beach, brother-in-law Richard T. Dunnigan and wife, Linda and family of Norfolk sisterin-law Deborah Dunnigan and family of West Virginia, Brian T.

Dunnigan and wife, Pastor Cheri and family of Chesapeake, sister in law Cynthia M. Rodriguez, husband Don and family of Va. Beach, Laura Gerber and husband Freddie and family of Leslee Hamilton and husband, Alan and family of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., sister-in-law Susan M. Anderson and husband, Chris and family of Virginia special friends Michelle, Kora, Sapria, Ellen and over 20 other nephews and nieces.

The family will receive visitors during the viewing from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday March 23, 2010 at Peninsula Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday March 23, 2010 in the Peninsula Funeral Home lead by Pastor Cheri Dunnigan. In lieu of flowers Deb and her family would ask you to consider donations to Fallen Soldiers Scholarship fsscholarship.org Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments.

WELCOME TO YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS InsideNOVA.com Continuous News Desk FUNERAL NOTICES Shirley Margaret Constantine, 81, died Feb. 6, 2010. interment: April 28 at Arlington National Ceretery. Mariel Mae Summers Flory, 91, died March 20, 2010. Visitation: March 22,6 to 8 p.m.

at Pierce Funeral Home, Manassas, Va. Funeral services: March 23, 11 a.m. at the Nokesville Church of the Brethren, Nokesville, Va. Interment will follow at Valley View Cemetery, Nokesville. Russell Sidney Gill, 77, died Feb.

3, 2010. Memorial service: April 3,11 a.m. at Union Grove Christian Church, Eheart. William H. Gilkerson died March 16, 2010.

Service: March 22, 11 a.m. at Mountcastle Funeral Horne, Woodbridge. Interment: Mount Comfort Cemetery, Alexandria. Bernard Edward Grant 68, of Bealeton, died March 18, 2010. Visitation: March 23, noon to time of service at 1 p.m.

at St. James Baptist Church, Bealeton. Interment: St. James Baptist Church Cemetery. Shirley Mae Miller, 65, died March 17, 2010.

Service: March 22,11 a.m. at Ashelawn Funeral Home. Interment: Pennington Cemetery, Jefferson, N.C. Emmanuel Isal Navarro, 16, died March 18, 2010. Visitation: March 23, 6 to 9 p.m.

at Baker-Post Funeral Home Cremation Center, Manassas. Mass of Christian Burial: March 24, 1 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church. Interment: Buckhall Cemetery, Manassas. Leslie Carleton Ralford, 89, died March 10, 2010.

Interment: March 24, 2 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. "Joe" Wilmot Stevens, 83, died March 16, 2010. Interment: March 31,2 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery.

Retired Crndr. Bruce Wallisch died Feb. 15, 2010. Interment: April 29, 11 a.m., Arlington National Cemetery. Joseph Thomas Wanzer 43, of The Plains, died March 17, 2010.

Visitation: March 27, 10 a.m. to servicetime at 11 a.m. at Joynes Funeral Home, Warrenton. Interment will be private. Paul Vernon Welcher, 48, of Bealeton, died March 16, 2010.

Visitation: March 22, 11 a.m. to servicetime at noon at First Baptist Church, Warrenton. Frances Virginia Wood, 81, died March 17, 2010. Service: March 22, 10 a.m. at Pierce Funeral Home, Manassas.

Interment: Stonewall Memory Gardens, Manassas. Learn how easy it is to get your free hearing screening. Medical professionals believe it is important for everyone to have their hearing evaluated annually. Your free hearing consultation is sponsored by a licensed hearing care specialist and is intended for those who have difficulty understanding speech in noisy situations. Free hearing consultations are only available at a location listed below and will be offered for one week only: Manassas, VA Woodbridge, VA Crestwood Professional Center Woodbridge Professional Center 10565 Crestwood Drive 14904 Jefferson Davis Highway (703) 368-8200 (703) 368-8619 VA Falls Church, VA Rolling Valley Office Park Rock Spring Professional Center 9312-D Old Keene Mill Road 5657 Columbia Pike, Suite 100 (703) 455-1431 (703) 533-8008 An inspection of your ears with a video fiber optic otoscope may reveal excessive ear wax or fluid accumulation, factors that may contribute to difficulty hearing.

Your free hearing consultation is painless, takes less than an hour, and you are under no obligation. Our hearing care specialists are licensed by the state and will be the first to tell you if you do not need a hearing aid. If you do have a hearing loss, we will explain your results and provide you with a list of options, including solutions to match your financial need, lifestyle, and virtually any type of hearing loss. 8:30 a.m. to Monday, 4:30 p.m.

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