Cobb School Board Resumes Budget Talks

Some Cobb Board of Education members aren't happy with proposed cuts to the projected fiscal year 2014 budget deficit of $86.4 million, and they've asked for other recommendations as they continue their deliberations.

The budget update is on the agenda of Wednesday's school board work session, which begins at 8:30 a.m. in the board room at the Cobb County School District central office, 514 Glover Street, Marietta.

The meeting also will be streamed live on the CCSD website.

At an April 3 meeting, board members David Banks and Kathleen Angelucci were especially vocal about some of the proposed cuts that they believe would affect the quality of classroom instruction.

They also were at odds with Superintendent Michael Hinojosa and Chief Financial Officer Brad Johnson, both of whom are advising against using more than a suggested $22 million from the district reserve fund.

"If we're not in a rainy day situation now, when will we be?" board chairman Randy Scamihorn asked in frustration at one point.

Johnson's 13-point cuts include the reduction of 295 teaching positions through attrition and cancelling a cost-of-living increase and imposing five furlough days for all district employees.

The last item on Wednesday's work session agenda calls for a tentative approval of the budget, primarily to advertise it as requred by law and to seek public input.

The board will hold a public budget hearing on May 14 at 7 p.m. and is scheduled to finalize the budget on May 16, also at a meeting starting at 7 p.m.

Also at Wednesday's work session, the board will get a legislative update and information on prioritizing cash flow for for the recently approved Cobb Education SPLOST IV.

Other items to be discussed Wednesday include:

• Proposed renovations and maintenance work at Bryant ES;
• New painting and flooring at Kemp ES;
• Renovations and modifications at Kennesaw ES and Mount Bethel ES;
• New playgrounds and resurfacing at Ford ES, Harmony Leland ES, Mount Bethel ES, Murdock ES and Timber Ridge ES;
• A request by the band at Wheeler High School for a $50,000 loan, to be paid back over five years, to purchase new uniforms.