About 40 teaching and non-teaching positions are on the Jackson County Board of Education’s list of potential positions to be eliminated next school year.
The board spent an hour behind closed doors on Monday to discuss personnel — namely which jobs to trim from the school system’s cash-strapped 2011 general fund budget, which starts July 1.
The board didn’t take action on its layoff plan — called a Reduction in Force (RIF) — but anticipates taking a vote during its regular meeting on Monday, April 12, at 6 p.m.
The anticipated layoff plan will affect the entire Jackson County School System — from the central office to every school. It will also include certified and classified positions.
The Jackson County School System isn’t alone in its financial woes for the 2010-2011 school year. Amid dwindling state and local revenue, school systems across Georgia have resorted to layoffs, elimination of programs and even closing some schools.
The district has already had to implement one major round of layoffs. Last year, the school system eliminated 38 teaching and non-teaching positions in its RIF plan for the 2009-2010 school year.
And when the fiscal year ended on June 30, the district had a $908,600 shortfall — resulting in the board adopting a deficit elimination plan with the state.
At its recent retreat, the board looked at a proposed 2011 general fund budget of $85.9 million — compared to the current budget of $89.2 million.
Overall, salaries and benefits are expected to account for 88 percent of the school system’s 2011 fiscal year budget.
