NHC confirms budget cutbacks for schools

The economy has the attention of the New Hanover County school system as well.

School officials gathered in a budget meeting Thursday to discuss cutbacks. The county has already reduced the budget for schools by more than $300,000.

The board also discussed possible state level cutbacks, which accounts for 30% of the budget.
Proposals to freeze hiring and reducing unnecessary expenses were all on the table.

“We’ll look at each vacancy and what we have determined as critical vacancies will be filled. Certainly all classroom vacancies anything directly related to instruction. We are just trying to see where we can save funding by delaying to fill positions so that we can save money so that if there is a cut we don’t have to cut positions,” said Mary Hazel Small, chief financial officer.

Officials say layoffs are not in the future for New Hanover County employees. A final decision from the school board regarding the budget is expected to be final by next month.