AUGUST 13, 2009 ISSUE
Watauga Commissioners Approve School Board Budget Change
Move Could Save Eight Teaching Positions
On Monday, August 3, the Watauga County Board of Commissioners approved a fiscal year 2009-10 budget amendment with the Watauga County Board of Education to transfer $250,000 from the designated Capital Outlay Fund into the Current Expense Fund Revenue. According to Schools Superintendent Dr. Marty Hemric and Board of Education Chair Lowell Younce, the $250,000 will be applied toward supporting teacher and staff salaries and benefits in order to prevent the loss of additional positions during the current state budget crisis.
The fund transfer will most likely save eight teaching positions in Watauga County Schools during the 2009-10 school year, said Hemric.
The transfer of funds is necessary because of specific guidelines and restrictions associated with the use of American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds in the area of Exceptional Children. Regulations prevent the direct usage of ARRA funds for salary support and benefits, but the guidelines do allow for the purchase of instructional technology to improve learning support for Exceptional Children. The transfer of funds will allow for Watauga County Schools to apply $250,000 of ARRA funds toward instructional technology and therefore provide the $250,000 in the previously allocated instructional technology category of the 2009-10 Capital Outlay Fund to be transferred to the 2009-10 Current Expense Fund Revenue to prevent the loss of additional positions this year.
“This is a one-time event and does not have any effect on next year’s budget,” said Jim Deal, commission chair.
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