School system facing massive budget cut

By JIM TALBERT\Staff
TAZEWELL – Employees of the county school system will feel the pain of state budget cuts in the coming year.
The school board met in a work session March 1 to discuss the state cuts which still have not been finalized. There are four versions being considered and the county takes a cut in all of them.
The best case is $2.6 million and the worst is $3.7 million. While it is up to the board to make the cuts, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brenda Lawson did present a list of recommendations.
The list ranged from cuts that would not be invasive to instructional services to those that would be invasive. Lawson estimated the system could cut $891,072 with reductions ranging from not replacing four people she anticipates retiring to cuts in transportation, capital outlay and materials and supplies.
The system could save $560,147.80 by cuts such as making guidance at Graham High part time, reducing contracts for 11 and 12 month employees, eliminating the athletic director’s supplement and charging for driver education.
The bulk of the cuts would have to come in the areas Lawson labeled invasive. Those cuts would either eliminate some jobs or ask all employees to take a pay cut.
Board Member Randy Conn said he thought the fairest thing might be asking all employees to take an across the board salary reduction of either two or three percent. That would save either $1,047,669 or $698,446 depending on the percent.
Other options include part time principals at Abbs Valley, Dudley, Raven, Springville and North Tazewell. Assistant Principals at Cedar Bluff, Richlands Elementary, and Tazewell Elementary would be eliminated.
Clerical positions could be eliminated at all elementary and middle schools. The principal at the career and technical center would be eliminated and two high school assistant principals would be reduced to 11 month contracts.
The proposal also included options of eliminating two maintenance supervisors, two central office positions, two clerical positions from central office and two registered nurses. The option of eliminating middle school sports is also on the table.
The board also discussed the idea of having employees pay their own substitutes when they miss work and the option of starting school an hour later at the elementary and middle schools than they do at high schools.
While no recommendations were taken at the meeting the board will discuss the plan further at its regular meeting March. 8. Chairman Mike Dennis said the board has to notify any employee whose contract status might change by April 15.
Dennis asked that a letter be sent to all employees telling them their pay could change if the board chooses the option of an across the board pay cut.
The board hopes to have final figures from the state by mid March. They also indicated the current deficit is based on level funding from the board of supervisors and being allowed to keep any savings in the current budget.
Finance Director Jammie Lester said the system should have about $250,000 left at the end of the current budget year.  Lester told the board the current health insurance plan being used by the school system will not be available next year.
She said the system will have to choose from three plans with deductibles ranging from $250 to $1,000. She said the system’s cost for insurance will also be going up.