Armed with a recent proposed House budget summary, Clinton City Board of Education members met earlier this week to discuss possible budgetary actions; however, with nothing set in stone yet from Raleigh, membes decided to take a conservative approach, rather than seeking action.

“The house has approved its version of the budget,” Clyde Locklear, assistant superintendent for facilities and finances, told the board. “They (the House) looked at revenue packets to help reduce cuts.”

According to Locklear, the revenue packets call for no reduction in class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, and changed its original call of cutting 13 teacher positions down to only seven.

However, as noted in a prior meeting, the board was able to maneuver positions held with open positions to actually allow the hiring of two teachers; therefore, with the new proposed budget six additional teacher positions have been opened up, making the total number, according to Locklear, eight.

Unfortunately, with the House’s resolution to save these positions, Career Technology Education and CTE support will receive a combined cut of roughly $20,000.

“Other than that,” Locklear commented to the board, “everything stayed pretty much the same.

One area that “remained the same” was teacher assistants, which, as discussed several weeks ago, was going to take a cut of eight positions.

“The TA allotment remained unchanged,” Locklear clarified.

“Can you rely on this?” board attorney Albert Kirby asked Locklear.

“No, it is not the gospel,” Locklear responded.

With the board’s budget deadline steadily approaching, Locklear reminded members that a decision needed to be made as soon as possible and, at that time, he opened the floor for discussion.

“As we discussed (June 8), we worked out a gentle scenario to not have to eliminate teachers, but it was not clear enough to say that we could hire for the available positions at that time,” Locklear said.

“So,” asked board member Dr. Bill Starling, “you now have the addition of six teaching positions that don’t have to be removed?”

“Based on the House’s budget, that is correct,” Locklear responded.

“What is your objective,” Starling questioned Locklear.

“We need to get a perspective from the board (regarding hiring for the open positions). If we want to wait by Aug. 25 (to hire), the children are going to come back with no teachers. I guess we’re just looking for guidance from the board,” Locklear voiced.

“The WRAL article seemed to reveal that the Senate and House would save lower teaching positions, but cut them next year,” Starling said of a WRAL-TV online article he had recently read. “It is a little bit better this year, but next year it will go back to the original cut,” Starling explained, adding that due to this prediction, his personal opinion would be to adopt a reasonably conservative approach.

“But,” vice chairman Victor Fryar interjected, “we don’t want to move too late.”

“We (North Carolina board attorneys),” said Kirby, “are telling our governor to look toward saving teachers. We are going to take another hit, and it is going to be harder next year.”

“I understand the situation,” said Fryar. “I think we all do. The economy is not coming back, but it may come back enough to help save some areas. We all have the same concerns (saving jobs), and there is no way out. But, again, we don’t want to be cut short by being hesitant.”

“I say we operate this year in anticipation for what they will cut next year,” Starling again recommended.

Superintendent Dr. Gene Hales later confirmed that the board will follow Starling’s suggestion in anticipation of next year’s budget being worse and remain conservative with employment, holding off on hiring new positions until a state budget is finalized.

Locklear also revealed during the work session that the city schools could receive $891,683 in stabilization funding.

“They will reduce non-instructional and classroom materials out of the state budget, then they will give us the stabilization.” Because the stabilization will come as a federal funding allotment, Locklear shared that it is up to the board to decided where to allocate this funding; however, he reminded the board to keep in mind that areas such as classroom materials cannot afford to be cut out, which would happen if the board spent the stabilization funding elsewhere.

Jessica Wagner can be contacted at 910-592-8137 ext.122 or reached by e-mail at siphoto@myclintonnc.com