Hampton School District One absorbed a $1.2 million funding cut by approving a 2009-2010 budget that would eliminate 11 positions - mostly teachers - and institute at least two furlough days for all district employees.
The board Monday night gave its final reading to a $22,934,451.91 budget that is approximately $1.2 million less than last year's budget. The new budget took effect Wednesday.
"We basically took last year's budget and put cuts on it, that's the big picture," said Superintendent Dr. Doug McTeer. "The quick and dirty of it is that we lost 11 teachers in last year's appropriations that won't be in this appropriation. But that means 11 positions that we won't fill. Nobody's getting laid off, nobody is losing a job."
But things could have been worse, says McTeer. The district was originally facing a $2 million shortfall in funding, but much-anticipated - and much-delayed - federal stimulus funds provided an additional $800,000 for the district in the nick of time.
"The stimulus was worth $800,000 to us," said McTeer. "It would have been devastating if we would have had to take $800,000 more in cuts."
In order to absorb the $1.2 million in cuts, the district set about balancing a budget with three strategies:
- Eliminating 11 positions, including teachers, school nurses, and a resource officer.
- Transferring six staff members from the district's General Fund payroll to federally funded positions, mainly Title 1.
- Implementing two district-wide furlough days, on August 10 and 11. Teachers would then come back on Aug. 12 and students on Aug. 17.
"Those three items are sufficient to make up the cuts," said McTeer. "That, along with restricting travel and overtime, should do it."
The district adopted the budget Monday with the understanding that they may be allowed to make some amendments or changes as they review line items during an upcoming planning session.
But there is another piece bad news ahead, warned McTeer.
"There may be another budget cut before you have your next planning meeting," he added. "If that case, you may have to have two more furlough days."
McTeer and the board praised staff members Wanda Proveaux, Jack Hutto, and Marilyn Murdaugh for finding clever ways to balance a tough budget.
"My hat's off to you all with this budget," said board member Libby Murdaugh.
"Wanda, Jack, and Marilyn did a wonderful job of finding ways to move money around," added McTeer. "It was a staff effort throughout."
In other business, the board:
- Agreed to appoint a committee to review the district's current policy involving the ranking of students. The board members appointed to that committee were Charlie A. Grant, Jr. and Theodore Murdaugh.
- Accepted the resignations of teachers Barbara Moomey and Bentresa Taylor.
- Approved an out-of-state field experience for elementary students enrolled in Camp LEAP to visit Stone Mountain, GA., and the Beaufort beach area.
- Agreed to allow district employees to have Monday, July 6, off for the July 4 holiday.
- Approved a motion to extend the contract of the district's auditor, McGregor and Company, for one more year.