By MONROE ROARK
mroark@TheCitizenNews.com

A windfall of nearly $400,000 has allowed the Fayette County Board of Education to fund several new positions in and out of the classroom for the coming academic year.

The Teacher Retirement System of Georgia announced in late May that the employer contribution rate would be reduced from 11.29 percent to 9.24 percent effective July 1, Superintendent John DeCotis reported at the July school board meeting. This means the board's contributions for the 2002 fiscal year have been reduced by about $1.6 million.

However, the Georgia Department of Education's revised allotment sheets for the coming year show a withdrawal of $1.2 million in retirement funds, leaving a difference of about $400,000.

DeCotis recommended that the money be reallocated to fund other needs not orginally funded in the 2002 budget, such as:

The addition of one psychologist, bringing the county's total to eight.

The addition of one locksmith in the Facilities Department (there was previously only one on staff).

The addition of four classroom teacher positions.

Funding of DeCotis' own pay increase, approved by the board in June.

Allotment of $107,798 for special projects in the Facilities Department.

All of the above recommendations were approved by the board.

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