By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
April 3, 2002
After a marathon closed meeting to discuss possible personnel cuts, the Lauderdale County School Board restructured the district's central office and eliminated the director of curriculum for next year.
The school board did not recommend or vote to cut teachers or programs next year.
With the possibility of big funding cuts looming from the Legislature, the board instructed Superintendent David Little in February to recommend trimming up to $1 million from the district budget including the elimination of at least one central office position.
But Little wouldn't make any recommendations for cuts during the special board meeting Tuesday because he said funding approved by the Legislature this week will put the district in about the same financial position as it was last year.
The board met behind closed doors at 5 p.m. to discuss the personnel cuts and reconvened in open session three hours and 40 minutes later.
District 4 board member Scott Sollie then suggested the board restructure the central office and "do away with the position of director of curriculum." It passed by a 3-2 vote.
Board members Robbie Hales of District 2, Jimmy Gibson of District 5 and Sollie voted yes, while board members Barbara Jones of District 1 and Pam Frazier of District 3 voted no.
The board plans to discuss more budget cuts and more central office restructuring at its next regularly scheduled board meeting on April 18.
The director of curriculum position is held by Clara Godine, who has worked in the school district for 31 years. According to Ed Mosley, assistant superintendent, Godine will take the curriculum specialist position held by Lisa Hull in accordance with district and state policy.
Mosley said Hull could possibly move into an administrative opening within the district. Godine's salary is $58,944. Hull's salary is $46,554. But Mosley did not know what effect the moves would have on their pay next year.
Little said he had spoken to principals at a meeting Tuesday morning and told them he would not make any recommendations to the board that would be detrimental to the district.