Deep cuts

A school at Kennedy Memorial Home could close this year if a Lenoir County Schools' plan is approved by the Lenoir County Board of Education next month.

The school is located at 2557 Cedar Dell Road and serves Lenoir County Schools' K-12 students. Superintendent Terry Cline announced this week the move would impact about 40 students who attend the school at the Kennedy Memorial Home campus.

Kennedy Memorial Home opened its Kinston campus in 1914. The site serves as a Baptist Children's Home. There are 14 Baptist Children's Homes statewide.

Baptist Children's Homes President Michael C. Blackwell said Monday that the home's residents would attend a school off site if the Lenoir County School is closed on the campus.

"There has been no official decision made yet," Blackwell said. 

As with school systems statewide, Lenoir County Schools will face local, state and federal budget challenges for the 2009-2010 school year.

"Superintendents from across the state met last month and are all facing the same problems," Cline said. "Especially, in eastern North Carolina."

The school districts overall proposed budget for the 2009-2010 school year is for $97.5 million. Cline discussed the proposed budget's highlights with school board members late last week during a work session. The budget allocates $51 million from state funds, $11.9 from local funds and $6.6 million from federal funds.

As with the school at Kennedy Home, several programs and positions are on the chopping block for the new school year. The school district has also planned for a state budget cut for up to 5 percent, which would eliminate 44 positions.

Federal stimulus money has already saved 17 positions in the school districts Exceptional Children Program, Lenoir County Schools Exceptional Children director Danielle Parrish said.

The ECP will see nearly a $500,000 cut in its budget next year, if the proposed budget is approved.

Overall, the school district plans to save nearly $825,000 through state-funded program cuts and $1.2 million through locally funded program cuts.

For 2009, summer school will not be offered, which will save $175,000. The Child Nutrition Program has also worked to cut its budget by $215,000. Cafeteria workers will transition from salary to hourly employees and could be required to buy their uniforms but will still retain their benefits.

Child Nutrition director Pam Smith said cafeteria workers could see a 10 percent cut in their monthly pay, if the proposed budget is approved.

School board members Garland Nobles Jr. and Keith Seaforth objected to cutting the cafeteria workers' pay. Smith said 78 cafeteria workers are employed by the school district and nearly half also drive school bus routes for Lenoir County Schools.

"I have a problem with attacking the lowest-paid people," Nobles said. "There has to be another way we can find a way to save."

The school system raised its students' lunch prices last year to offset its losses. Each meal costs the district $3.25 while $1.75 is charged for each meal.

Seaforth said the district should seriously look at raising the lunch prices again.

"We should spread the pain to the parents and raise the prices of a meal 25 cents," Seaforth said.

Cline and Smith said they preferred to wait at least another year before raising lunch prices again.

As with child nutrition, funding cuts are also planned at the central office up to $53,000, while transportation will see a $173,000 cut, classroom materials funding cuts could be $46,000 and academically gifted programs could see a $36,000 cut.

"We are at a point where we have to make tough decisions to keep the system afloat," Cline said. "We have to be fiscally responsible and not do business like it has been done before."

The school district will know by July how much local funding will be available from the Lenoir County commissioners. Cline said if local funding is not fully met, deeper cuts would be necessary in the coming months.

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.

Lenoir County Schools proposed budget cuts for 2009-2010

• $447,000 for exceptional children program
• $215,000 for child nutrition
• $173,000 for transportation department
• $53,000 for central office
• $46,000 for classroom materials
• $36,000 for academically gifted programs
• Close school at Kennedy Memorial Home
• Eliminate 44 positions district-wide