Pee Dee educators look for new ways to save money

While state legislators are working on the state’s budget, Pee Dee superintendents are researching ways to “trim the fat,” if needed, to lessen the impact on classrooms.

Rick Reames, executive director of the Pee Dee Education Center, said a list of cost-saving strategies that districts could use was created by superintendents during the center’s board of directors’ October meeting. Some of those strategies include consolidating some administrative services, complete flexibility from all funding sources, four-day work weeks, and reducing energy costs.

School district officials are expecting another state budget cut in the spring and are cutting back on everything from supplies and travel to leaving vacancies unfilled.

School districts received the first round of budget cuts in the summer when state agencies had to cut an additional $188 million from their spending because of decreasing state revenues.

Florence School District 1 Superintendent Larry Jackson said the district had to absorb about $1.1 million when legislators called for a 3-percent budget cut this fall.

The Florence 1 board approved setting aside about $1 million when preparing this year’s budget in anticipation of budget cuts.

Jackson said all signs are indicating an additional cut in the spring, but no concrete figure is known yet.

In the meantime, Jackson said, his staff already has implemented immediate cost-saving strategies.

A video of Jackson discussing immediate cost-saving strategies was sent to all staff Friday. The video also is available on the school district’s Web site, http://www.fsd1.org.

Some examples included some of the same strategies school districts across the state and, even families, are beginning to use. That would include trying to reduce energy costs by making sure to cut off lights and computers before leaving.

Dillon School District 3 Superintendent Dr. John Kirby said districts always have stepped up to the plate when there have been budget cuts, and the last thing a district tries to do is do anything that will have a negative impact on students and parents.

Kirby said the focus shouldn’t all be on cost-saving strategies, but on funding and a broken financial system.

“What the focus needs to be (on) is our tax code in our state,” he said. “The way our tax code is just puts too much up for guessing on budgets.

“We’re depending on sales tax. That fluctuates so much and you can’t properly budget. You’re always going to have these kind of situations.”

Kirby said there’s a need for a “solid taxing and funding system in (the state) where (government agencies) can build proper budgets.”

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Jim Rex also calls for “possible cost-saving measures” for the state’s public schools and comprehensive changes to the state’s overall tax structure, as well as reforms that would guarantee fairer and more equitable funding for local schools, according to a press release issued by the education department.

Marion School District 7 Superintendent Dr. Everette Dean said many of the strategies discussed with other superintendents were similar or along the line of what Rex proposed.

Dean said his district had to absorb about $120,000 in budget cuts this fall and is uncertain of the impact future cuts could have on the district.