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Savannah-Chatham school board cuts jobs(Savannah Morning News (GA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Dec. 11--Lower-than-expected revenue has forced Savannah-Chatham public school officials to cut $3.4 million in jobs and spending from this year's budget. School officials, acting at Wednesday's school board meeting, unanimously approved a hiring freeze and the elimination of several vacant positions to offset a $3.4 million budget shortfall. "I think we are facing the most serious time we have ever seen," said school board President Joe Buck. Property tax transfer funds came in $3 million below what the board budgeted, reported school system Chief Financial Officer Rebecca McClain. The district also lost $393,958 in state funding because 51 special-needs students used the new state law that allows them to take their public education allotment from the state and transfer to private schools. In addition to the hiring freeze, all future travel must be pre-approved, and band uniform purchases were postponed. These positions were eliminated: --Central office: four vacant positions. --J.G. Smith Elementary: three paraprofessional positions. --Marshpoint Elementary: one paraprofessional position. --Hubert Middle: one assistant principal position, one media clerk position. --Myers Middle: one counselor clerk. --Savannah High: information specialist. --Corporate Academy: information specialist. --Windsor Forest High: information specialist, ROTC instructor. --Woodville Tompkins: in-school suspension position. --Teenage Pregnancy Program: nurse. Superintendent Thomas Lockamy said anyone in good standing whose job will be cut will be offered another job within the system. But employees eventually will feel the pinch. "In the coming months, I will bring forward a plan for central office reorganization," Lockamy said. "There are some things coming that might impact people." The economic slowdown also has had a big impact on education sales tax revenue. Voters approved a penny sales tax to build and revamp the district's school buildings and technology. But sales tax revenue collections are trickling in at lower-than-expected rates. District officials proposed an $11.5 million reduction in spending toward voter-approved education sales tax projects. None of the promised projects will be eliminated. However, plans have been adjusted to complete some projects at a lower cost. The bulk of the cuts -- $10 million -- will be in academic technology. But renovation plans at Groves High School were altered to cut costs by $1.5 million. "Please encourage your friends and family to come in town and spend some money," operations chief Otis Brock said. To see more of the Savannah Morning News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.savannahnow.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Savannah Morning News, Ga. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |