JacksonHeraldTODAY

There’s no money for new textbooks. No cash for supplies at schools and other programs. And there’ll be no funds for students traveling to some events.

That’s the budget crisis the Jackson County School System is facing with its proposed 2010-2011 budget.

For district employees, there’ll be six furlough days next school year, and the elimination of at least four and a half teaching positions, along with a central office position.

Meanwhile, the board of education has directed superintendent Shannon Adams to recommend another round of layoffs in April with a Reduction in Force (RIF) plan.

The first — announced in March 2009 — included the elimination of 38 teaching and non-teaching positions.

“We can’t be all things to all people anymore,” said board chairperson Kathy Wilbanks on Thursday. “We really are going to have to really think about what it is we want to focus on — and then that has to become our priority, and then everything else has to go.”

The Jackson County Board of Education is considering a 2010-2011 budget of $85.9 million — compared to the current budget of $89.2 million. There is no proposal to increase property taxes.