Cabarrus County Board of Education unanimously approved its proposed 2010-11 budget Monday night.
This is the third draft of the budget since it was first presented last month, but board members pointed out that it will change again after the state and county budgets are adopted. Those funds make up most of the school system's budget.
"It will be changed several times between now and when the real budget (is adopted) because we get surprises from the county and state," said Wayne Williams, board chairman.
Last week, the school board postponed adopting the budget because members still had concerns and questions about it.
Board Vice Chairwoman Cindy Fertenbaugh also asked the system's staff to look at putting the senior graduation project on hold to reallocate teachers and return money used for stipends and supplies to the system.
At this week's meeting, Fertenbaugh made a motion, which was approved, to place the graduation project on hold and be reevaluated in two years.
As a part of the motion, teaching positions will be reclaimed to high schools to be used for other purposes.
The board asked high school principals last week to list how they would otherwise use teachers currently serving as graduation project coordinators.
The principals said they would reallocate staff members for dropout prevention, distance learning and to teach Algebra I and additional English classes.
The board said it will consider these options and revisit how to reallocate teachers and use the money saved in supplies at a future meeting.
"This will not reduce teaching positions, but perhaps provide them in a more needed (role) and reclaim money for stipends and supplies," Fertenbaugh said.
Most of the board members said they agreed with putting the graduation project on hiatus.
"I have always love watching students do the senior project, but under these circumstances, this is the wise choice," said board member Andrea Palo.
Last week, Palo asked the staff to look at reallocating funds for band instruments and uniforms. Since then, the staff has moved that $90,000 request from priority number 48 in the proposed capital outlay budget to the higher priority number 10, which will make it more likely to be funded.
"We start at the top (of the priorities) with the amount of money given," said Carrie Cox, assistant finance officer for the system. "It doesn't guarantee (it will be funded)."
Another area the board was concerned about was the proposed facilities and operations budget and projects that included repaving parking lots and rubberizing tracks. Last week, the board asked the staff to examine putting these projects on hold for more critical needs at older high schools.
Since then, Joe Sides, director of facilities and operations for the system, found a way to add acrylic emulsion finish and new striping to the track at Jay M. Robinson High School. This change would save the system $65,000 and extend the track's life, Cox said.
If the school system receives appropriate funding, that $65,000 will be then used for adding new doors at several areas within Northwest Cabarrus High School; allow for softball field bleachers and computer lab wiring and data at Concord High School; and replace old restrooms and plumbing at Northwest Cabarrus High and Wolf Meadow Elementary School, Cox said.
Also as a result of previous requests from the board, projects like repairing the auxiliary gym floor at Central Cabarrus High School will now be done in-house to reduce costs, Cox said.
When the staff presented the proposed budget last month, members said they expected a $1.3 million shortfall between state and local funds.
Cox said that shortfall is still expected, but the staff will only be able to reevaluate funds after the county and state budgets are adopted.
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