Institute losing $700,000 in budget

By Bernard Baker

Published: October 9, 2008

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s call for drastic cuts in the state budget were felt Thursday in the Dan River Region.

Kaine’s decision required the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research to cut its budget by 10 percent or close to $700,000.

“I want to assure our faculty and staff here, our Board of Trustees and Foundation Board, our many partners and stakeholders, and the people of Southside that I will work diligently to ensure that this budget reduction will not impact our work here more than is necessary,” Liam Leightley, the Institute’s new executive director, said. “I will be working with our management team to dili-gently keep our expenditures in check while continuing to be productive.”

Leightley said Kaine’s office directed state agencies to submit plan cuts ranging from 5 to 15 percent.

The Institute is cutting staff — primarily administrative staff — and will not fill positions that became vacant.

“This consolidation of administrative services is intended to improve efficiency and continue the development of the core areas of the mission of IALR in research and education to revitalize the economy of Southside Virginia,” Leightley said. “I am confident that IALR will be able to continue to function in an effective manner and believe that, working as a team, we can demonstrate inno-vation and strengths which will enable us to continue our important work to help revitalize the economy of the region.”

Leightley said these are tough times and Southside is not alone in these cuts.

“Throughout Southside and across America, sacrifices are being made, and we will make the best of it,” he said. “I believe that in such times we must look to the future, whilst dealing with the present. The Vision and the Mission of IALR provides us with direction and a position of strength.”