School redesign comes in face of widening budget shortfall

As Charleston County School Board members consider delaying plans to redesign the school system until they get more community input, they face the problem of a widening budget shortfall.

A new report from the district’ss Chief Financial Officer Michael Bobby reveals that state aid to Charleston County was even less than expected and they will have to make about 18 million dollars more in budget cuts this fiscal year.

The problem next year could be about 35 million dollars.

Pressed to delay the deadline for coming up with a system Redesign proposal, Superintendent Nancy McGinley say the district needs to start acting in February if they want to make transistions in time for the opening of next school year in August.

She says she’s considered suggestions from more than 1,600 residents, including written proposals from several school districts within the county.

She says all these things will be part of her next and final proposal present on Monday January 26th.

School redesign website:
http://www.ccsdschools.com/Departments_Staff_Directory/Office_of_the_Superintendent/School_Redesign/index.php

The board may choose not to vote on that proposal on Monday January 26 and instead listen to more options from the community.