Possible cuts for programs, positions and supplements were among the topics discussed during a lengthy meeting Friday afternoon of the Banks County Board of Education.
Dr. Sandy Addis and Dr. Dennis Fordham, as well as attorney Phil Hartley, discussed options for handling budget concerns. Contracts for teachers are due by May 15 so the BOE needs to make a decision soon on any budget cuts. The board needs to wait until legislators approve the state budget to determine how school funds will be cut.
“Right now, we are just in a projecting date phase based on what they vote on in Atlanta,” superintendent Chris Erwin said.
Hartley said: “We will at least know what the proposed budget is on April 29. The odds of the governor making substantial changes to it are slim.”
Hartley also discussed education cuts already made by the state.
“This is not something you created,” he said. “The amount of money the General Assembly is admitting they are not funding for public education is almost one billion dollars. That is just incredible. Whatever Banks County’s portion of that it is, it has as much of an impact on Banks County as the billion does for the state. It’s all in proportion. The money looks smaller but the impact is sometimes bigger.”
Board member Bo Garrison said: “We did not put ourselves in this situation.”
Banks County-155,983 plus 3480 (travel expenses)=159,463 TOTAL (2901 students).
Commerce City-158,714 plus 2631(travel expenses)=161,345 TOTAL (1495 students).
Rabun County-165,222 (0 travel expense)=165,222 TOTAL (2035 students).
Lumpkin County-154,407 plus 2576 (travel expense)=156,983 TOTAL.
Franklin County-140,958 (0 travel expense)=140,958 TOTAL.
Hall County-188,431 plus 2240 (travel expenses)=190,671 TOTAL.
Habersham County-127,991 plus 3390(travel expenses)=131,381 TOTAL.
Jackson County-167,585 plus 521 (travel expense)=168,106 TOTAL.
Jefferson City-135,576 plus 1319 (travel expense)=136,895 TOTAL.
Elbert County-140,000 plus 2244 (travel expense)=142,244 TOTAL.
White County-138,876 plus 9410 (travel expense)=148,286 TOTAL.
Towns County-134,967 plus 6402 (travel expense)=141,369 TOTAL
As you can see Mr. Erwin's salary is very comparable to other superintendents in the area. Especially superintendents who watch over approx. the same number of students.
We are not the ONLY county facing hard times right now; in fact the entire state of Georgia is facing dramatic cut backs in education.
Instead of asking for board members who "show Erwin we mean business," you should be praying for board members who are knowledgeable and will be patient and thoughtful in their decision making. Pray that they will put the students first and enter the office with a dedicated heart. This is going to be a tough office to enter. I hope we get two board members who walk in the first day on the job with a positive attitude and no vengeance in their heart. This is a difficult time for everyone, and working together for a better future is the only answer.
2.Until the economy in Banks County improves a lot, forego some of the extras like the meals provided for employees and drawings for prizes.
3.Force RETIREMENT FOR THOSE THAT ARE RETIRED. How many school employees do we have that are already drawing a decent retirement and yet jobs have been created and they are still working yet discussions are going on about people losing their job and it is their only source of income. It is almost like double dipping because all monies come from the same source.