Hometown News: » Newberry County School Board Budget Passes First Reading


	Talk to us
	Upcoming Promotions
	Local Governments
	High Schools

Site Search


	Blacksburg

	Boiling Springs

	Chesnee

	Greer

	Inman

	Middle Tyger

	Spartanburg

	Whitmire

	Woodruff

	Sports

	Links

	Archives

	Corrections

Who is your pick for S.C. Governor Nikki Hailey (Republican) Vincent Sheheen (Democrat) Morgan Reeves (Green/United Citizens) View Results

Newberry County School Board Budget Passes First Reading

By Donna Bumgarner
Contributing Writer

The stabilization funds provided by the Federal Government continue to be a problem for the Newberry County School Board. Governor Sanford and the Legislature do not agree on whether the governor should accept the funds.
Currently the governor has been given a budget that contains this fund that will allow for a Base Student Cost of $2324; however, without the funds, the proposed budget would only allow $2024, a marked decrease when multiplied by the number of students in the district. If this happens, the veto by the governor would have to be overridden by a 2/3 majority of the House and Senate. The issue would then go to the State Supreme Court; they would have to decide whether the Executive or the Legislative branch of government has the authority to accept the funds.
Therefore, the administration of the school system feels that a conservative approach is the better option for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Living in an unstable economy, the board members feel that they need to adjust the amount per student slightly below the proposed amount. During the 2008-2009 school year, the district has lost close to $3,000,000 and future budget cuts are almost certain. This base amount of $2,000 is a 22 percent decrease from the starting figure of $2578. That translates to a $3,280,652 reduction of EFA funds, leaving a big question in the minds of the board, administrators, and teachers.
The district had to come up with some ways of reducing the budget to keep it balanced as much as possible. They have to give the teachers and administrators the mandated salary increases as they progress up the experience ladder, and insurance goes up every year. This coming year alone the increase in insurance costs will be $100,000. More and more teachers are retiring, raising the amount paid out to retirees by $70,000. Utilities have to be paid, and they are also on the rise; therefore, the district increased the utilities to $302,188. To combat the rising costs and the cuts made by the state, the district will reduce the number of classrooms by 15 through retirement and resignation. Seven and a half certified instructional support positions will be eliminated, so four people will not be retained in that field. Two administrative positions will be eliminated. These two actions by the board will save the school district $855,688. Additional cuts of 7 classified employees will add to that savings $374,055. Altogether forty-one positions will be cut.
Under a flexibility provision passed by the Legislature, teachers will be furloughed up to five days, and administrators 10 days, with the stipulation that teachers not be furloughed on teaching days. Altogether, the furloughed days for classified employees, instructors, and administrators will help the district save 321,290 (this information is based on a two day furlough for teachers and a five day furlough for administrators and others. The salaries of active retirees in administrative and teaching positions will be reduced and save another $239,544.
Board certified teachers will receive their extra pay from the state, but not the district. Custodial services will be contracted and housed in two locations. Alternative schools will lose funds, and supply budgets, as well as travel money, will be cut. These cuts will apply to both schools and administration. Leased buildings under the proposed budget would no longer be used and cell phone costs would be carefully scrutinized.
The district plans to continue to monitor the current negotiations in Columbia and make changes as needed; they also plan to hold a public hearing June 8 to allow questions and comments about the proposed budget. Further votes on the budget will be taken at the next school board meeting.
All of those involved understand that everything is contingent on whether the governor accepts the funds or rejects them, but they continue to hope for the best and plan for continued budget cuts. That is all they can do until Governor Sanford makes a decision or it gets turned over to the State Supreme Court or the Federal Supreme Court.

Email This Post

Who is your pick for S.C. Governor