Leon County School Board debuts budget

By TaMaryn Waters
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Leon County Schools will have $470 million to work with for the 2008-2009 school year, down $70 million from the $540 million it had this year.

During tonight´s meeting, the School Board will have a procedural vote to advertise the 2008-2009 budget to the public. The first public hearing will be July 29.

Merrill Wimberley, chief-financial officer for the school district, said this budget will have $16.6 million less in the general-fund portion, which makes up nearly 80 percent of the district´s salaries.

In light of an uncomfortably tight budget, the district had to cut several positions, which include 56 jobs at the district and nearly 190 annual-contract teachers who didn´t get renewals.

“We have to do the same amount of work with less people,” said Wimberley, adding that the reduction in money from the state “gives us pain.”

Also today, School Board members will have a workshop regarding how to improve the way black history is taught in schools.

The board decided to have a workshop on the subject after hearing concerns from members of the Inter-Civic Council of the Southern Christian Leadership Council during the June 10th meeting.

The council´s president, the Rev. William Foutz, said he wants to make sure the board is honoring the state law passed 14 years ago that requires black history to be taught in schools. He, along with members of the group, feel there´s room for improvement in the way it´s taught locally and throughout the state.

He said black history is “deeply rooted” in American history, and he said it should be exposed to children, regardless of their race.

“It will help all kids.” Foutz said. “We want them to obey the law and teach this history so we can better our citizens.”