The Lincoln County Board of Education looked at proposed budget reduction alternatives for FY 2011 at its regular meeting held Wednesday, March 3.

During the board’s planning session on February 10, the group voted to ask Dr. Randall Edmunds, superintendent of schools, to develop proposed alternatives for budget reductions of three percent, five percent, and eight percent for FY 2011.

The proposals presented to the board on March 3 called for measures such as eliminating teaching supplements, reducing other supplements by 15 percent, cutting paraprofessionals and other positions, leaving the positions of teachers who retire or resign vacant, eliminating Saturday school and morning detention, etc. These represent some of the items the system could possibly cut to save money in FY 2011.

Following a lively discussion, Dr. Edmunds addressed the board, saying, “You asked to see what the worst would be – let us work on it. The powers that be in Atlanta are the ones you need to talk to.”

He went on to say, “For Lincoln County, salaries and benefits are around 80-percent of General Fund expenditures. Therefore, to make any substantial savings in expenditures, salaries and benefits must be reduced.”

In other business, after Superintendent Edmunds recommended that the board schedule an additional oneand a-half work reduction days, the board voted to designate Friday, March 12, formerly a teacher in-service day, as a work reduction day. The vote changes the number of designated work reduction days teachers have taken to five for the current school year.

“The governor has withheld an equivalent of six days in state funds as well as a 4.5-percent decrease in QBE (Quality Basic Education) funding,” said the superintendent. “He is even talking about more cuts in this fiscal year that will carry over to next year.”

One teacher furlough day saves the school system approximately $39,000.

The next budget committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 22, at 6 p.m. at the board office. The public is invited to attend.

In further business, the board heard a presentation made by Carolee Hobbins, choral music teacher at LCMS and LCHS, concerning an offer from Turner Keyboards in Augusta to trade a $6,995 Kawai CP- 137 digital piano for the school’s 1936 Steinway.

“The average lifespan of a piano is 70 years – this piano is 74 years old,” stated Hobbins. “It has two problems. The soundboard is shot – it’s old, and it hasn’t been taken care of. There are cracks in the metal. Once it starts to crack, there is no fixing it.

“The second problem has to do with the piano being restrung,” she continued. “When it was restrung, it was done so with non-Steinway parts. I was told this was like putting a Ford Escort engine into a Rolls Royce. The piano is not playable; it’s no good to us.”

To restore the piano to a useable condition would cost from $15,000 to $18,000. It would be cheaper for Turner Keyboards to rebuild the Steinway because the company can obtain parts at cost.

As part of the “L” series, the piano has been described as “the least desirable Steinway.” In fact, the series was discontinued in the early 1940s.

In other comments, Hobbins noted that the Kawai digital piano never needs tuning and is easy to move. “I don’t see how we could lose.”

The matter was tabled until Hobbins could provide more quotes for the piano that would replace the Steinway.

Also during the meeting, the board:

.. Was informed by Superintendent Edmunds that LCHS was named an AP (Advanced Placement) Challenge School by State Superintendent Kathy Cox. The designation is given to those schools that offer AP classes in the four core areas of English, math, social studies, and science.

.. Was informed by Edmunds that UGA is looking at closing half of the extension offices in the state and cutting out the 4-H program in its entirety.

.. Reviewed the financial reports for the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) Summary Fund through February 28; the Construction Fund through February 28; and the General Fund for the period from July 1, 2009, through February 28, 2010.

.. Heard Dale Bowles discuss the benefits of art education and encourage the board to make cuts in other areas of the budget.

“I think we can do more creative things than let teachers go,” he said. “We need to look at other options.”

Bowles received a round of applause from the audience.

.. Heard J. B. Matthews discuss the difficult times the nation is experiencing and the need for the board to find more efficient and less expensive ways to provide services.

In his remarks, he suggested the delay of the purchase of some of the new furnishings for the high school, a reduction in staffing levels, adjusting teaching and staff assignments, the suspension of financial incentives for recruitment and retention, etc.

.. Heard Margaret Beard recommend that the system implement an ROTC program.

.. Heard Louisa Rickerson discuss the accomplishments and importance of the fine arts program at LCMS/ LCHS. She encouraged the board to support the program.

.. Discussed a “community online auction” fund-raising proposal for the various classes, clubs, etc. in the Lincoln County School System.

Byron Baldwin, owner of The Corner Café, was on hand to answer questions from the board.

At the conclusion of the discussion period, the group decided to table the matter until Dr. Edmunds could consult with the board’s attorney to determine the legality of the proposal.

.. Voted to approve a fund-raising request made by the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). The club will be selling Pizza Hut coupon books.

.. Voted to grant a request for editors of the “Panorama” (the yearbook) to embark on an overnight field trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, to attend a Josten’s yearbook workshop June 22-24.

.. Agreed to table the Local Facilities Plan.

.. Heard the second readings of revisions to the Family and Medical Leave Policy, the Student Support Services Policy, and the Visitors to Schools Policy. The policies were approved as read.

.. Postponed the first reading of revisions to policies and the review of policies until the group’s next meeting.

.. Voted to grant a request for FFA members to participate in the “Success Conference” at the Georgia FFA Center in Covington March 5 and 6.

.. Was reminded by Superintendent Edmunds that pre-K registration is set for Wednesday, March 17, beginning at 8 a.m. at the board office on Metasville Road.

.. Was informed by Edmunds that Lincoln County Family Connection has applied for another grant to establish a 21sth Century Community Learning Center at LCHS.

.. Was informed by the superintendent that the Lincoln County Health Department is offering free immunizations as a wellness benefit for those who have insurance through the system.

.. Voted to enter into executive session to deliberate upon the employment of personnel. Upon returning to regular session, the board:

.. Voted to accept the retirement of Linda Cooper from her teaching position at LCES, effective at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

.. Voted to accept the retirement of Michael Fogarty from his teaching position at LCES, effective at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

.. Voted to accept the retirement of Paul Reviere from his teaching position at LCES, effective at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

.. Voted to accept the retirement of Ficklen Guin as assistant superintendent for support services, effective July 31, 2010.

.. Voted to approve Amy Wheeler for a teaching contract at LCHS for the 2010-2011 school year. Board member Denise Freeman opposed the motion.

.. Voted to approve Stephanie Jordan for a teaching contract at LCHS for the 2010-2011 school year.

The meeting was recessed until Wednesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. at which time the board will make further personnel decisions and deal with tabled agenda items.