The Anson County Board of Education started its April meeting Monday night by recognizing numerous students for academic and athletic achievements, before getting down to business to discuss the upcoming budget.
Superintendent Michael Freeman called the recognition “the most fun part of our meeting.”
First up, the Anson High School varsity men’s basketball team and Coach Brandon Rains were recognized for reaching the second round of the playoffs. The varsity girls basketball team and Coach Delores Covington were also recognized for reaching the first round of the playoffs.
In addition, the AHS wrestling team also advanced to the regional and state tournaments. Wrestlers Rayvon Kirkland, Nicholas Leak, Sedarious Barrett and Justice Leak were recognized, along with Coach James Wall.
As far as academic achievements, the following seventh-graders were honored for being selected to participate in Duke’s TIP program: Asia Baker, Destiny Barrett, Bianca Berry, Ethan Emmerich, Nathaniel Greene, Caroline Thacker and Amber Walsh.
High school students Erin Thomas and Max Martin also received certificates in honor of being accepted in to the the N.C. Governors School.
Budget preparations
After the students were recognized, the school board returned to its agenda, which included preparations for the fiscal year 2015-16 budget.
“We are rapidly approaching the deadline to submit our budget to the county commissioners,” Superintendent Freeman told the board. He praised the commissioners for consistently keeping the school board’s budget the same or increasing it, when many school boards throughout the state are losing funding at the local level, as well as the state level.
Freeman informed the school board of a looming budgeting shortfall. “There is a situation we’ve managed to avoid,” he said. “But we may need to start charging a fee for driver education. We are operating on a budget that expires June 30.”
He added that the General Assembly may have found a solution to fund the program for one more year, but if the necessary funding isn’t found, driver education fees could go up to $400 per student.
The Anson County School System is also close to having to replace its fleet of cars, the maintenance for which isn’t provided in state budgeting.
“There is a law that public school systems must provide driver education,” Freeman explained. “So it’s become what they call an unfunded mandate.”
Freeman said he’s talked with other school systems around the state, many with similar demographics to Anson, and said, “In most cases, students find a way to pay the fee.” If not, the school systems work with local churches and civic organizations to ensure that each student’s fee is paid. “I anticipate our community being supportive, as they are already with other needs,” he said.
Freeman added that the school board will be getting a report in the next month or two on human resources and teacher recruiting. “We are visiting other states that have a high number of minority graduates and encouraging them to apply here,” he said.
However, the school system is still in need of reducing 20 teacher assistant positions. “We’re working to have a budget that will get us through the next year with few reductions in staff,” Freeman said. “I will say this about our staff. Educators certainly know how to do more with less.”