School districts in our area made major budget cuts already. We asked what happens to Horry County schools if the governor never requests the $700 million in stimulus funds he controls.
The Horry County school board has already eliminated 169 positions from next year's budget. School officials tell us the stimulus money would help prevent any more staff cuts.
But if they don't get the money, they say they'll have no choice but to cut more teaching jobs.
Horry County is looking to get stimulus money from two sources.
One comes straight from the federal government, and it's targeted toward special education and title one programs.
The other part would go through the state, the part the governor controls.
For Horry County schools, that would amount to 10 to 13 million dollars, and if the district doesn't get that money, Teal Britton, spokesperson for Horry County schools said, "There's no way to take hits of that size without digging into personnel."
Fewer teachers = bigger class sizes.
School officials say those are their only choices, if the district doesn't get stimulus funds.
Britton said it helps that the Horry County district is so large,. minimal increases in class size can result in big savings.
She said the district is also looking to the internet for help.
"We're looking at expanding our offerings next year at the secondary level of courses that students can take online," Britton said.
Even if the district does get the stimulus money, officials are concerned about what will happen when those funds go away.
School officials say they don't want to use short term money for long term needs. "We'll have to make very, very wise and cautious decisions in terms of how stimulus funding is used so we don't find ourself in a worse predicament one, two or three years down the road than what we're currently in."
School board chairman Will Garland said what really needs to happen is for the state to change the way it funds public education, and there's a committee working with lawmakers on that right now.
He said the problem is, any fix is still at least 2 to 3 years away.
Horry County school leaders said 86% of their budget goes to pay salaries and benefits.
