State Cuts Affect Jobs, Programs At School District

School Finance Officer Suzanne Carter gave a detailed financial report to School Board members.

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – A cut in the School District’s budget for next year is going to affect another 27 staff members, some of whom will be losing their jobs.

Superintendent Sammy Higdon made the announcement to School Board members at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19. He reminded Board members he had already talked with seven people in December who would be hit by the budget cuts.

“It is going to affect people in different ways,” he said. “Some will lose jobs and some programs will get cut.”

Program cuts will mean reductions in salary supplements for teachers and fewer hours for some workers.

Gov. Haley Barbour announced a third round of cuts in the state budget last Friday slashing another $216 million from state agencies including the Department of Education, affecting school systems statewide.

Higdon added that the local School District would have to prepare right away for a ten-percent reduction that would see about $640,000 to $650,000 cut from the budget. “You are going to have to prepare for that. And,” he warned, “you are going to have to prepare for it for the next two years.”

The Superintendent predicted that within two years about $1.2 million would be cut.

Higdon said that he would present the budget cuts for the next school year at the Feb. 1 meeting. He told Board members he had given permission for all 27 people to call the Board or to come to the next meeting.

The decisions have been very difficult because they affect people’s livelihoods, Higdon said. “I know it is going to be very difficult. Most of us in here have a family member somewhere who has lost a job. I certainly have because of these times.”

Higdon added that the reason he wanted to let the affected staff members know now is to give them the opportunity to find another job. “The problem is there are not going to be very many other opportunities,” he said. “Every district in this state will be laying off and not replacing positions.”

Higdon cited Desoto County as an example. Desoto County, considered the richest school district in the state, is laying off staff and not filling positions even though they gain several hundred students a year. “They are expecting to loose up to $20 million over the next two years.”

Among other actions at the Jan. 19 meeting, the School Board:

• Approved a trip to the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) national competition in Chicago contingent upon sufficient funds being raised by the Water Valley group. The club has already been approved to attend the state competition in Jackson this February.

• Adopted a policy requiring written permission from parents or guardians for a student to drive their vehicle for school related activities other than their regular daily routine. The policy also covers students riding in vehicles for those activities.

• Approved a trip by the junior high baseball team to play Marshall Academy. Board action is required because Marshall Academy is not a member of the MHSAA. The vote was 4 to 1 with Burgess against.

• Approved a field trip by the French Club contingent upon sufficient funds being available to pay expenses.

• Tabled action on bus quotes.

• Approved the claims docket that included a detailed financial report by School District Business Manager Randy Goodwin and School Finance Officer Suzanne Carter.

Goodwin and Carter explained that the claim docket was a little higher than expected because of an order for textbooks and some general supplies from July were finally fulfilled.

“We’re caught up to date on all bills out of the district maintenance fund,” Goodwin said.

“We made it through December without having to take out a note to meet payroll,” Carter added. “We made it through with cash in the bank and a positive fund balance.”

“We’re in the black,” Goodwin said.

“I think this is such a big improvement,” said Board President Lamar Burgess.

• Approved the amended budget for fiscal year 2009.

• Agreed to try for a Qualified School Construction Bond for roof repairs.