KENANSVILLE — The contention between the Duplin County commissioners and the Duplin County Board of Education was the major focus of parents, students and educational personnel who spoke during Monday night’s commissioners meeting.

The commissioners, in an attempt to accommodate the expected crowd, had moved their regular meeting to the auditorium at the Duplin Commons Agricultural Complex however, the people more than filled the 300-capacity seating space and left hundreds standing outside peering into the meeting through the windows. Many were armed with signs calling for commissioners to “act as leaders,” “do the right thing” and “keep JROTC — JROTC helps kids.” The speakers were addressing the commissioners proposed budget which provides $7 million in school funding but limits how it can be spent to building maintenance, fuel, utilities and some custodial and maintenance staff.

Because of those funding limits, school officials met with staff last week, informing them that the JROTC programs would be eliminated, coaches would not get paid and teachers would lose their supplements.

The hundreds attending Monday’s meeting were there to protest the proposed cuts.

By night’s end, commissioners had reallocated $250,000 for the JROTC programs and another $300,000 for athletics, but they did not change the proposed way they would allocate the school system’s funding.

As expressed by Duplin Schools finance officer Joann Hartley, quoting N.C. General Statute 11C-429 section B, government officials can allocate local funds for a specific purpose, function or project at their discretion.

The county’s proposed budget allocates local funds to two purpose codes that restricts the use of those designated funds. The purpose codes proposed are 6000 which is Operational Support Services which is allocated $7 million and the 9000 code is set aside for capital outlay and totals $3,189,951 of which $1,239,422 is designated to debt retirement for three schools built 15 years ago. Those restrictions do not allow any funds for instructional use.

Before any presentations or discussions were given, board chairman Cary Turner addressed those in attendance. Turner stated that many of those gathered had come armed with misinformation and had been given false stories that school programs were being cut.

He said because commissioners were unaware that school athletic and JROTC programs had been funded through local money, the line item in the newly restructured local funding process proposed by the commissioners overlooked those two areas.

Just two weeks ago, it looked as though the Duplin County Schools would be spared any decreases in personnel, but as a result of more recent cuts from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, things have changed.

Bo Mullins, Duplin County Schools assistant superintendent, addressed the commissioners, saying that changes would be in store for the system’s personnel if the board’s budget restrictions were not changed. “Nothing is set in stone, but we met with the principals on Thursday to bring them up to date on what we feel is going to have to take place. We told them that those retired employees who had returned and were double-dipping would be eliminated. Secondly, the third grade teachers assistants as mandated by DPI would be eliminated, which would be a cut of 25 positions.”

Mullins went on to state that some programs may also have to be cut. “Because of your earlier action tonight, we will not see cuts in our JROTC and athletic programs, but we will see cuts in the School Resource Officer programs and (it) may put our Renaissance Program where we send students for in-school suspension rather than suspending them out of school, in jeopardy.” The assistant superintendent also commented that some of the assistant principals positions would be cut for a total loss in personnel of around 75.

“The supplements that have been going to both non-instructional and instructional staff members is also being purged due to the cutbacks in funding. We are trying to do every thing we can to save jobs. It is not an easy process,” shared Mullins. “If we have to cut 75 positions, then we will be affecting 75 families. That, in turn, will affect the county and its economic situation. It is a cycle we do not want to have to be a part, but the present situation is requiring us to take unpopular actions.”

Mullins said the reallocation of $2 million would save these positions and help restore the faith of the school personnel, parents and students. “Raleigh does not care for our children. It is up to us as parents, educators and elected officials to show our children we care. We have to go beyond just the meager requirements mandated by the state and provide the extra funds needed to provide for the needs of the future of our county.”

The crowd enthusiastically applauded and some even stood following his presentation.

Only one person spoke in support of the commissioners’ proposed budget and he was booed as he left the speaker’s stand.

The public outcry was for funding for teachers, teachers assistants, nurses, counselors, social workers, clerical and assistant principals. The speakers urged the commissioners and the school board to put aside their childish, political and petty differences. Overwhelming pleas were uttered for the commissioners to fund these positions by reallocating funds from the $7 million proposed in the budget in the Operational Support Services line item. These line item funds could only be used for building maintenance, fuel, utilities and some custodial and maintenance staff. According to the commissioners attorney that was all the local board was required to fund by the state. Many others also came to speak on behalf of the instructional and non-instructional supplements that would be lost under the proposed budget. Again the public in put was to fund these programs.

The most stirring comment came from a James Kenan senior who stated she would be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill next fall. She said, “I am not proud to say I came from Duplin County or attended a Duplin County school because of all the bickering between these two boards. I had to take a class online because there was not enough money for a calculus teacher. I beg of you to insure that teachers are funded so future students will no be ashamed to say they are from Duplin County or attended a Duplin County school.” The audience gave her a standing ovation as she finished speaking.

The commissioners did not reallocate any additional funds but did vote to meet with the Duplin Board of Education as soon as a joint meeting could be arranged. Although the school board was not a part of the proceedings, several members were in attendance and superintendent Dr. Wiley Doby informed the people gathered that he would with the school board’s approval move the regular school board meeting to a larger venue to accommodate those wishing to come to the meeting. The Board ofEducation moved its June 2 meeting to Kenan See that story in Thursday’s Sampson Independent.

To contact Billy Todd, call 910-592-8137 ext. 117 or e-mail sigeneral@myclintonnc.com.