Coweta County School Board in a meeting Tuesday responded to $4.036 million in state funding cuts by imposing a three-day furlough to nearly all school system staff, foregoing the purchase of school buses and using un-budgeted increases in property taxes to offset the shortfall.

Bass said the $4,036,073 cut in state funding comes from several sources. Those include $1.313 million in furlough days, $2.505 million in the three percent cut in state QBE (Quality Basic Education) funds, a five percent cut in transportation funding totaling $112,309, Equalization cuts of $88,072 and a $17,950 cut in funding for nurses.

The School Board agreed to offset the state cuts by implementing the furlough days at a savings of $1,673,728, using $2 million in funds previously budgeted for the replacement of school buses and using $432,217 from un-budgeted growth increases in the tax digest.

Nearly all school system staff, with the exception of bus drivers and some school support staff, were included in the three-day furlough.

“The Board of Education voted to adjust work calendars for certified staff, teachers, central office personnel, building level administration, Education Technical Support Specialists, and all 230-day employees,” Superintendent Blake Bass said after the meeting. “In order to adjust the work calendars, three furlough days were approved. This action was necessary due to the three percent funding cut from the state plus a funding cut equivalent to three days pay for certified teachers. On my recommendation, the Board of Education also modified the work calendars to accommodate these furloughs.”

The non-instructional furlough days will be spread over the first school semester, while the reductions in pay will be spread over 12 pay periods from September 2009 to August 2010.

Bass said the announced cuts came on top of austerity cuts for education which had affected school system’s 2009-10 budgets. He also noted that the state had warned that further four, six or eight percent cuts may be possible later in the school year.

“I don’t have to tell you that the status of the economy in Georgia is fragile. The Governor has asked that state agencies prepare for possible future cuts,” said Bass. “It is my sincere hope that further cuts are not needed.”

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