Marshall BOE looks for ways to boost budget

Sand Mountain Reporter

By Elizabeth Summers
The Reporter

Published December 12, 2009

Members of the Marshall County School Board know the financial outlook for the system is bleak and are looking for ways to make what funds they do have last.

Chief Financial Officer Laura Smith told board members the October general fund balance decreased by $306,041, leaving an ending balance of $1.4 million.

Smith anticipates November will show little change, but fund balances in December, January and February should increase.

“During those three months, we get the bulk of our property tax money,” Smith said. “But we will have to make that money sustain us to the end of the year.”

Teresa Henry, the Alabama Education Association representative for the district covering Marshall County schools, said she has been told the financial outlook is “bleak.”

“The AEA can always put a spin on it to make it sound better than it really is,” Henry said. “But it is really, really bleak right now.”

Superintendent Tim Nabors said he knows of 67 school systems within Alabama, about half of all systems, have been forced to tap into credit lines to finance the systems’ needs.

“We are hanging on for dear life,” Nabors said. “We are barely hanging on, but we are hanging on.”

In other business, board members approved numerous personnel items.

• Accepted the resignation of Joel McConnell, varsity boys basketball coach at Brindlee Mountain High School, effective immediately.

• Leaves of absence were granted to Carolyn Conley, instructional aide at Union Grove Elementary School from Nov. 30 to Jan. 10, 2010; and to Jan Sims, special education instructional aide at Douglas High School for maternity leave from Jan. 28 to March 12, 2010.

Transfers

• Debra Todd from 10-month bookkeeper at Douglas Elementary School to 10-month secretary at DES, effective Nov. 24.

• Shirley Gunter, from 10-month secretary to 10-month bookkeeper at DES, effective Nov. 24.

• Shirley Galloway, transferring from a split assignment child nutrition program employee at BMHS, DHS and Douglas Middle School to full-time CNP employee at DMS.

• Laurie Ballew, from Grassy Elementary bus driver to Union Grove bus driver, effective Jan. 5, 2010.

Employments

• Debbie Adams, part-time special education instructional aide at UGES.

• Bradley Lett, special education instructional aide at Claysville Junior High School.

• Miranda Emanuel, instructional aide at Asbury School, effective Nov. 30 through the end of the current school year.

• Matthew Bone, instructional aide at Asbury High School, effective Nov. 30 through the end of the current school year.

• Brian Pool was assigned additional duties as varsity boys basketball coach at BMHS, effective immediately.