Aiken County Board of Education Cuts 47 Jobs
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Aiken County Board of Education Cuts 47 Jobs
The Aiken County School Board is just two weeks away from its deadline to present a balanced budget to the District. Leaders say, in order to make ends meet, they've had to make some tough cuts, inclu...
The Aiken County School Board is just two weeks away from its deadline to present a balanced budget to the District. Leaders say, in order to make ends meet, they’ve had to make some tough cuts, including 47 job cuts…announced just last week. WJBF News Channel 6’s Joy Howe has the story.
Published: June 15, 2009
Updated: June 15, 2009
Aiken County, SC—School’s out in Aiken County, for now, but when the bell rings again in the fall, signaling the start of the 2009-2010 school year, there will be fewer faces in the classroom. The school board cut 47 aide positions.
Trey Traxler, Comptroller: “It’s a result of budget cuts we’ve been dealing with this year. So far, we’ve been cut in 08-09 about $12 million, and we’re anticipating cuts next year.“
Aides won’t be the only ones noticeably absent. An additional 50 people who were retired, but still working, are being told by state leaders not to return to school. Salaries make up the overwhelming majority of the district’s budget…but even with close to 100 jobs going away, this year’s budget is still $2 million less than last year’s.
Cuts have already been made in the bus shop, in the classroom, and extra travel has come to a halt.
School leaders say the latest job cuts were needed, to balance the budget…they don’t think they will have to make any more cuts between now and the June 30th deadline.
Aides who were laid off, are at the top of the list to bring back, if jobs become available.
Traxler: “If we have vacancies next year, these aids would be first in line to fill those vacancies.“
The board has two more weeks until that June 30th deadline. That means there could be more cuts made to the budget between now and then.
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