Academy Heights Elementary School will likely close next year -- that is, the building itself. But its year-round kindergarten through fifth grade program could live on at Pinehurst and West Pine Elementaries.
During a meeting with parents and supporters of Academy Heights on Thursday, April 7, Moore County Schools [MCS] Superintendent Dr. Susan Purser outlined a modified recommendation that she will present to the Board of Education that, if approved, would allow the year-round program to continue by splitting the student population between Pinehurst Elementary and West Pine Elementary.
Previously, Purser had suggested Academy Heights students could join the year-round programs in Southern Pines schools.
As now proposed, kindergarten through second grade year round students would be educated at Pinehurst Elementary, with third through fifth graders placed at West Pine Elementary. In addition, both facilities would continue to accommodate students enrolled in the traditional K-5 program.
Purser did not provide specific financial information on how much money would be saved by closing the facility while continuing to maintain the program.
New budget will be presented Monday
Nor has the Superintendent revealed any details about a new MCS budget she is expected to roll out at the Monday, April 11, meeting of the Moore County Board of Education in response to news from the General Assembly that the county's schools may lose an additional $3 million in state funding next year.
The "best case scenario" on which Purser's original budget was based anticipated $8.2 million in funding cuts. But that figure climbed alarmingly this week as word came down from Raleigh to anticipate even deeper reductions. MCS may now have to make do with $11.5 million less than last year, including an anticipated loss of $5.2 million in federal stimulus funding; a $4.8 million, eight percent cut in state revenues; and approximately $1.5 million additional in new "pass through" costs from the state.
Purser’s original budget proposal recommended the elimination of ninety positions, including teaching, central office, and instructional support staffing. Other strategies for saving money included consolidating bus routes, which will require staggered school opening and closing times; reductions in middle school athletic funding; realignment of orchestra and band programs; and increasing the formula ratio at each grade level by one student, which means more students for each teacher and teacher's assistant; and other measures.
Altogether, those cuts represented $5 million in savings. Purser recommended pulling $3.2 million from the MCS fund balance to cover the rest of the $8.2 million shortfall.
Now faced with another $3 million in revenue cuts, Purser will present a revised budget proposal to the Board of Education on Monday, April 11 at 7:00 pm at Union Pines High School. The public has an opportunity to comment at the meeting, which is expected to include a vote by the Board on Purser's proposed budget.
