Published: August 19, 2008 07:32 pm         

School board prepares to make cuts

The Cumberland County Board of Education is facing the inevitable.

After the county commission displayed a lack of support Monday night, the school board must now figure out what to cut from its 2008-'09 budget. Though the commission proposed to use three cents from its debt service fund, the amount of money is still a far cry from the $3 million the board was anticipating.

"I think the time has come that we need to make a decision. I'm not in favor of cutting one single thing out of this budget," said Board Chair Shirley Parris, who received tremendous applause from the parents, teachers, students and concerned residents crowded in the boardroom.

Parris unexpectedly recessed the board's special-called meeting after five minutes in order to attend the county commission's meeting an hour later. At the time, she and Director of Schools Aarona VanWinkle were hoping the commissioners would give a dollar amount for the BOE's budget. More than two hours later at 8:50 p.m., the meeting called back to order and the two had looks of disappointment on their faces.

According to the DOS, the three cents leaves revenues for the school system at $41.4 million, which puts the county below the maintenance of effort level mandated by the state. She suggested Attorney Earl Patton start preparing a lawsuit.

"They mentioned tonight they were going to use debt service to make up that difference, but I don't think that is what the commission voted for when they approved the .5-cent sales for buildings. They did not vote that that would be supplemented for instructional programs for the Cumberland County school system. I think we need to check out the legality of that," she said.

VanWinkle explained approximately $7.3 million is what the BOE needs to cut if the county commission does not provide the revenues that are needed. If $2 million from the fund balance is used, the deficit will be $5.3 million, and of this amount, $3.2 million must be cut from last year's appropriations.

"I honestly don't know where we are going to come up with the money," she said.

Mary Smith, 7th District representative, explained the commission must fund it.

"That commissioner said it was their job to fund it," said Smith, who referred to the comments made by 8th District representative Jeff Brown at the work session Saturday.

Victor Randolph, 6th District representative, agreed and made a motion to start school without making any cuts. He said it would be no different from last year when the county came up with funds right before schools would have been forced close. Rick Smith, 4th District representative, supported the motion.

Brian Houston, 1st District representative, said he would not be comfortable with the idea of sending teachers back to their classrooms without knowing if they would still have a job. VanWinkle also worried about the decision affecting students' credits.

"I'm scared because I know we're going to have to cut this money from our budget," she said. "It's going to be instructional programs. I know it's going to be people's jobs…I said it over and over again that I trust the county commission to come up with the money, but from what I saw tonight, I don't have a lot of confidence in that happening. So I'm worried if we start today or tomorrow, we are going to have to cut those programs."

The motion failed with only Randolph and Rick Smith voting in favor of it.

With no more motions on the table, Dan Schlafer, 9th District representative, said the board had two more options—to come up with a budget around the three cents or develop one based on the maintenance of effort level.

As it approached 10:30 p.m. the BOE decided to hold off on more discussion and have a work session Thursday at 5 p.m. to review the options and make whatever cuts are necessary. The work session will be held at Stone Memorial High School to accommodate the public.

Before adjourning for the evening, the board tackled the idea of allowing practice to take place at Cumberland County schools.

Robert Safdie, 2nd District representative, motioned to allow just the sports teams that have physical contact, such as football and soccer, to practice. It died for a lack of support.

Schlafer then made a motion to allow all fall sports and activities to practice on school grounds effective immediately. Rick Smith supported the motion.

Attorney Earl Patton reminded the board that because of the teachers’ contracts the BOE could be obligated to pay full supplements if their programs are cut.

The motion passed, with Schlafer, Rick Smith, Houston, Parris, Randolph, Safdie and 5th District representative Gordon Davis voting in favor for it. Mary Smith voted against it, citing her constituents' opposition to the idea.