Decision expected Wednesday

The School District of Pickens County could learn today (Wednesday) whether it can count on federal stimulus funds to offset projected shortfalls in its budget for the next fiscal year.

The South Carolina Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in two lawsuits that will decide whether Gov. Mark Sanford can be forced by the legislature to apply for some $700 million in federal stimulus aid, much of which would be used to supplement education in the state.

Last week the school district’s board of trustees passed two versions of their proposed 2009-10 budget — one that includes the federal stimulus funds and one that does not.

In action at its last meeting, the school board of trustees approved a budget of almost $100.5 million, with a contingency plan to cover a projected $3.5 million shortfall the district will face if the federal stimulus package does not receive approval.

The new budget which goes into effect July 1 is based on a base student cost of $2,300 per student and represents an increase of more than $5.7 million over the current budget.

Items included in the increases are utilities, employer cost for health and retirement, insurance premiums, workers compensation, teacher certificate upgrades and possible reductions in funds from the Education Improvement Act.

To offset those increases, expenditure reductions of more than $6.5 million were made, including reductions in central service and satellite personnel, elimination of reading recovery and tutorial positions and changes in some instructional delivery models.

Reductions also were made in athletic funding.

Employee furloughs are not included under the budget approved by the board and will not be necessary if stimulus monies become available.

However, in the event these funds don’t materialize, it will become necessary to furlough administrators for 10 days and all other employees for five days, saving about $2.2 million; reduce school allocations an additional 25 percent; trim an additional $100,000 from athletic funding ; and make additional personnel reductions at the school and district level.

Gov. Sanford and the state legislature have been embroiled in conflict over whether or not he will apply for the stimulus funds.

But Sanford, who had filed lawsuits over accepting the stimulus funds, said earlier this week that if the court rules against him he will not appeal the decision.

Responding to that announcement, SC superintendent of education Jim Rex expressed relief that Sanford does not plan to file an appeal.

“It’s gratifying to hear that the governor doesn’t plan to delay a

resolution by filing an appeal,” Rex said.  “We need to resolve this

fiasco in a way that doesn’t hurt kids.  Every other state and

governor is getting this done, and we need to get it done here, too.”

“It’s gratifying to hear that the governor doesn’t plan to delay a

resolution by filing an appeal,” Rex said.  “We need to resolve this

fiasco in a way that doesn’t hurt kids.  Every other state and

governor is getting this done, and we need to get it done here, too.”

Rex has completed and signed South Carolina’s application, which now

requires only Sanford’s signature.  If that should occur, Rex said the

federal funds could be made available in two to three weeks.

“At this point, every day counts,” Rex said.  “The deadline to apply

is July 1, which also is the first day of the new fiscal year.

Many school districts have put their budget processes on hold because

they don’t know how many positions they’ll be able to afford.  But if

they know the money is coming, they won’t have to eliminate as many

positions.  They can avoid their worst-case scenarios.”

A South Carolina Department of Education survey of school districts

indicated that about 2,600 jobs, including 1,500 classroom teaching

positions, will be eliminated next year unless the state receives the

first half of stabilization funds.  If South Carolina draws down the

money, an estimated 700 jobs could be saved, including 500 teaching

positions.

South Carolina schools have been hit with nearly $400 million in cuts

this year, and absorbing those midyear reductions has left many

districts with few alternatives except to consider cuts to their most

important assets – their classroom teaching positions.  Eighty to 90

percent of a typical school district’s budget is salaries, with most

of those salaries going to classroom teachers.

Veterans and civilians alike took a day to honor those who have served America’s armed forces for Memorial Day Monday. Here, American Legion Post 11 member and World War II veteran C.B. Hayes salutes Old Glory at Post 11’s annual Memorial Day ceremony at Sunrise Cemetery in Pickens. Post 11 Chaplain Joe Board spoke at the service.

The City of Liberty Police Department recently initiated a bike patrol to better serve the community during the Liberty Idol competition held every Saturday night in Liberty.. Thousands attend the event and to help ensure their safety bike patrolmen Mike Constance and James Jackson are on patrol all night.

LIBERTY — A Liberty man was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill last Friday following an incident in which two people were stabbed.

Joseph Ben Marion, of 201 Kennemer Lane, Liberty, was arrested and charged in connection with the crime.

Pickens County Sheriff’s Deputies say they responded to a call to Marion’s home in Liberty in reference to an alleged stabbing on Thursday, May 21, at around 10 p.m. When deputies arrived they found two victims, a man and a woman, lying in a bedroom doorway with apparent stab wounds to their abdomen area.

According to arrest warrants, deputies believe the defendant had plans to spend the night with the female victim. Deputies believe the victims were alone in the bedroom for about an hour before the incident occurred. Deputies say jealousy played a roll in the attacks.

Policed searched the residence, but could not locate Marion, and called in the K9 and Criminal Investigation Units. Officers could not locate the suspect.

Marion was arrested by deputies around 3:30 a.m. on Friday morning. The Sheriff’s Office received a call from the residence at 3 a.m. telling deputies that the suspect was back at the home and wanted to give himself up to authorities.

Marion is being held at the Pickens County Law Enforcement Center. Bond has been set at $15,000.