School Board General Fund Budget Talks Begin

On Monday, the Board of Trustees of the School District of Pickens County met to discuss personnel issues and the enter into its annual general fund budget workshop.

Board Chairman Alex Saitta said fiscal management by the district and a firming economy have helped to the school district this year.

After three years of position elimination due to budget cuts, this year the district has managed to balance the budget and without a tax or fee increase.

"Last year at this time the board/district was eliminating 85 positions," Saitta said. "Quite an improvement."

Saitta said now he woud like to see the district add positions back.

"We still have some class sizes that are too big," Saita said.

Saitta said that Dr. Kelly Pew, who will take over as superintendent in July, would like to restore some of the 4K programs at area schools.

Saitta told the board that he would like to do so, if money permits. He also said that she wants to implement a K-12 reading program to bolster the graduation. A program Saitta said he would also support, if the funding was available.

The board also talked about supplement for coaching staffs at area school.

He said the supplements are very low, but it is unlikely there will be money in the budget this year to raise them for the 2012-13 school year.

"I do support giving the schools permission to pay additional supplements out of their own sports revenue," Saitta said. "It isn't a perfect solution, but it is something we should consider to help the athletic directors boost their supplements for coaches."

In other district news:

The school district is seeking public input regarding its 2012-2013 federal projects. A public meeting is scheduled at the Curtis Sidden Administrative Building from 5 to 6 p.m. May 8 at the administration building located at 1348 Griffin Mill Road, Easley.

The meeting will focus on the Title II project on Teacher Quality, the Title III project regarding English Speakers of Other Languages and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act and the McKinney-Vento legislation regarding homeless children.

Also to be discussed is a Title I project entitled “Improving the Achievement of the Disadvantaged.” This project serves students in schools that have a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch and who may, therefore, be at a disadvantage educationally in the areas of English language arts and mathematics.

Comments on these projects may be made in writing to Dr. Kelly Pew, 1348 Griffin Mill Road, Easley, SC 29640. You may also send comments by email to Dr. Pew at kellypew@pickens.k12.sc.us.