BOE offers answers to public concerns
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Members of the Jenkins County Board of Education (BOE) confronted a tide of public criticism during a called meeting held Monday, March 31, at the Jenkins County Agriculture Center. The controversy began several weeks ago after an announcement from the BOE that cutbacks in school personnel would be necessary for the 2007-2008 fiscal year due to a lack of funds.

A committee of local citizens was formed to present public concerns to the BOE. Numerous questions were submitted by the public to committee chairman Danny Bennett, a former school superintendent. These questions were then delivered to the BOE office so that the answers could be provided during the March 31 meeting. Additional questions from the public were not taken during the meeting.

Some of the numerous questions answered by BOE members that have not previously been publicized in The Millen News were as follows.

Exactly how many positions will not be filled in Jenkins County at each school for any reason in 2008-2009?

Professional educator positions, 9.5; paraprofessional positions, 4.0; and retiring positions (professional and paraprofessional) 7.0

What were the reasons for the cuts? If this is due to funding, please list approximate cuts in dollars from the 2007- 2008 budget?

Federal, $241,141 and state, $600,000

How many students have been withdrawn from the system since the 2006-2007 school year? What are the number for withdrawal per reason listed?

Superintendent Joan Blackwood said the following numbers were provided by the schools - enrolled in another public school by parent relocation of family from Jenkins County, 154; enrolled in another public school without family relocation, 7; enrolled in private school, 23; and dropped out, 9.

Art and Music are very important to some students. Were all attempts made to keep these programs before the cuts? Please explain what was considered and why these programs were cut.

We agree that art and music are important. Neither art nor music is funded by the state at the elementary level. The elementary school principal prioritized the positions that were not included in the zero-based budget, and positions were funded considering her priorities, available funding and system needs. At Jenkins County High School, art was not part of the zero-based budget. The CTAE classes were.

What happened to the fund balance left by the superintendent before Mrs. Blackwood?

The fund balance as of June 30, 2006 was $715,482.93. For the following fiscal year budget, which was FY07, the approved budget reflected more expenditures than revenues for that year by $521,939. The budget for FY07 showed an estimated fund balance of $128.061.

At the close of the meeting, Mr. Bennett encouraged those present to attend meetings of the BOE which are normally held 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the BOE office on Winthrope Avenue. Citizens should be aware, however, that if they wish to make remarks during any meeting, they must call the BOE office and ask to be placed on the meeting agenda.