NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — New Hanover County Schools received millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funding but that money is about to dry up and the start of the new fiscal year is approaching.
WWAY recently reported that it’s been suggested that 279 positions will need to be cut from the payroll to balance the budget.
On Tuesday, board members met and discussed requesting an additional $4.6 million from county commissioners. They voted on it and it passed 4-3. This brings the total to a now $10.1 million ask.
The district is facing a $20 million budget shortfall due to loss of these COVID-19 relief funds. Positions at risk of being cut include academically or intellectually gifted teachers and exceptional children’s teachers.
You may be wondering why this shortfall is having such an impact and how these teachers were paid pre-COVID-19 relief funds.
Board member Josie Barnhart said it all stems from what enrollment numbers were pre-COVID-19. She said more children equals more staff and more money to pay those employees. Currently, those numbers are down.
“Pre-COVID we had more students. So, naturally, you’re able to have more positions and post-COVID we do have less and so, it’s really trying to think outside the box of how we can meet our student’s needs,” Barnhart said.
Barnhart said one plan in place is to apply for several grants as a source of funding. But currently applications for many of those have not yet opened.
Board member Stephanie Walker said the clock is running out and decisions must be made. She shared that it’s difficult to come to a conclusion knowing that its impact can and will be felt.
“The losses we’re looking at could be detrimental to our district and our students. We really want to have a good school district. So, we want to fund it properly and we want to have staffing, adequate staffing, for our kids,” Walker said.
Walker said she stands by her decision to save all positions from being cut.
New Hanover County Commissioners are scheduled to meet on Monday, May 20th. Discussing the approval of New Hanover County Schools’ Board of Education budget is currently on the agenda.