The Cumberland County School System has a balanced budget after federal stimulus funds were used to cover expenses in the special education department, textbook expenses were trimmed and various areas of the budget were "nickel and dimed." The $44.5 million budget calls for using $1.25 million of the estimated $2.5 million fund balance.
"The county told us we need to stay within that 52 cent tax frame," Director of Schools Aarona VanWinkle told the Cumberland County Board of Education Thursday. "I was disappointed that there wasn't any more [local] money available. We need so much more in this county than just a basic education plan. I would truly love to offer all the programs that are important."
The school system is slated to receive $1.8 million in stimulus funds that can be used for special education purposes. That will allow the school system to use some of those general purpose funds in other areas.
"We're not cutting anything in special education," VanWinkle said. "What we're suggesting is moving it from our general purpose budget to the federal budget. It's a one time allotment and we can do that this one year. But it will help us tremendously."
Keena Inman, special education director, said, "We're still going to have enough stimulus money to do the things I wanted us to be able to do — increase our support for inclusion and also technology."
A total of $400,000 was moved from the special education general purpose budget. Those funds would go toward purchasing textbooks, though not for as many subjects as school administrators had previously hoped.
Textbooks had been budgeted at $610,700 to purchase social studies and science textbooks for grades three through 12. That was dropped to $468,280 and will not include new textbooks for some high school classes, such as physical science.
Bruce Simmons, director of curriculum and instruction, said, "I felt we could find good books that would last a couple of years if we couldn't buy new ones. Most of those subjects have not changed that much."
Board members questioned if that would be adequate, especially since textbooks were cut from last year's budget, as well.
Simmons said he believed it would suffice for the coming year.
"We needed four million dollars, but we've got to do what we've got to do," VanWinkle said. "I feel we can still have a quality program with the $468,280 for textbooks. Maybe next year we can pick up some more of the needed books."
Throughout the budget, funding was cut for staff development, but VanWinkle said stimulus funds could be used to pick that up. Also cut was a requested vocational teaching position and a teaching position budgeted in case teachers take sick leave or additional teachers are needed due to class sizes with cuts to equipment and services throughout the budget.
"We nickel and dimed it all the way through," VanWinkle said. "We had already pulled quite a bit out."
The budget does include eight additional custodial positions. This was a top priority for principals following 11 positions cut last year.
"It truly put them in a hardship last year," VanWinkle said.
VanWinkle reiterated the benefit of stimulus funds to the school system, which totaled about $3 million in special education and federal Title funding.
"If we hadn't received the stimulus money, we would have had to cut millions more from this budget," VanWinkle said.
Victor Randolph, 6th District representative, moved to approve the budget, seconded by Richard Janeway, 2nd District representative. The motion was unanimously approved with Mary Smith, 7th District representative, absent.
Area News
Stimulus funds used to balance school budget
- Area News
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One dead in shooting near PH
One person is dead, a homeowner slightly injured, and at least a third person is in custody following a fatal shooting that may have been sparked by a home invasion near the Pleasant Hill community. And a fourth person might be connected with the incident.
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Stamping out hunger
The 20th annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive, held May 12 and sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers and U.S. Postal Service, collected 70 million pounds of food across the United States for more than 1.2 billion pounds over the past 20 years.
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Husband, wife enter guilty pleas to drug charges
A husband and wife who were facing a host of charges in Cumberland County Criminal Court pleaded guilty to drug-related charges and were sentenced late last month.
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Nonprofits get nod for county funding
The Cumberland County Commission's budget committee approved more than $111,500 to non-profit agencies during its meeting Thursday, including $2,500 in new funding to pay for utilities at the Lake Tansi Village security building, which houses a county fire station, EMS post and Cumberland County Sheriff's Department substation, as well as the the Tansi security office.
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Long-time coach, teacher granted diversion
A long-time Cumberland County elementary school teacher and coach indicted in March on a charge of assault in connection with the paddling of a child has been granted diversion in the case and will be eligible to have the charge removed from his record once he completes terms of the sentencing agreement.
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Honoring fallen heroes
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Laurel Hills POA action questioned by State Attorney General
The Laurel Hills Property Owners Association on Renegade Mountain recently notified Renegade Mountain residents and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that, effective July 9, 2012, it would no longer provide water service to any party other than itself with its water system.
The action has caused a hearing, scheduled Monday, May 21, before the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA). -
Looking Back
A weekly historical news feature.
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Homestead named Lighthouse School of Excellence
Although they call themselves the Bulldogs, students at Homestead Elementary School did not mind Principal Robin Perry describing them as butterflies last week.
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Suspect faces multiple charges in burglaries
A Cumberland County man was arrested in connection with two burglaries during which thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and tools were stolen. Some of the property has been recovered, according to arrest warrant affidavits.
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