Limestone County school board members voted early today to layoff 70 employees in order to meet its budget for the upcoming school year.

The board approved a list of other cost-cutting measures today, all aimed at slashing $4 to $5 million from the 2011-2012 school budget. That is the amount the state will likely prorate the school systems budget due to lower than expected tax collections.  Limestone had to cut $1.3 million midway through this school year due to proration.

The employees cut included 46 certified employees — most of them teachers and 24 non-certified employees such as custodians, bus drivers and aides.

In the spirit of fairness, Superintendent Dr. Barry Carroll recommended an across-the-board cut of all first-year and one-year certified and non-certified employees and one-year substitutes. 

Board members voted 6-0, without discussion, on Carroll’s recommendation. Voting yes were Board President Earl Glaze and board members Charles Shoulders, James Shannon, Anthony Hilliard, Bret McGill and Marty Adams voted for the cuts. Board member Darin Russell was absent because he was helping restore power lost due to overnight storms.

Some of the employees could be rehired before August.

“We will do all we can, but we make no promise to hire people back, ” Carroll said. “We will have to replace some,” he said, specifically mentioning a custodial position.

Although school officials are trying to cut $4 to $5 million from the budget, they won’t know precisely how much until the school system receives its projected annual allocation from the state. State lawmakers have passed a budget, so that estimate should be forthcoming.

The list of cost-cutting measures approved today by the board is expected to save $5,327,000 in 2011-2012 compared to the $1,411,900 saved this school year. Here is the list:

1.     Buying no new buses — will save $120,000;

2.     Freezing spending (other than required and emergency) — expected to save $2.2 million compared to $1.1 million saved this year.

3.     Leaving buses at the schools during the day (except for some special-needs buses) — expected to save $63,000 compared to $11,900 saved this school year;  

4.     Putting student handbook online rather than printing so many paper copies — expected to save $10,000;

5.     Reducing energy consumption, including asking employees to shut off lights, eliminate personal refrigerators and microwaves  — expected to save $120,000 compared to $60,000 saved this school year;

6.     Asking Limestone County Commission to start covering the cost of having sheriff’s reserve officers in the schools  — expected to save $275,000;

7.     Cutting 30 local teacher units and 10 support employees — expected to save  $1.8 million and $300,000 respectively;

8.     Eliminating Aspiring Administrators Academy for 2011-12 — expected to save $8,000;

9.     Eliminating professional development and training at the Central Office — expected to save $100,000;

10.  Cutting one assistant football coaching supplement from each school — expected to save $21,000;

11.  Eliminating travel — expected to save $60,000 compared to $30,000 saved this school year; 

12.  Moving Owens Elementary School sixth graders to West Limestone High School for the 2012-2013 school year — savings not yet estimated;

13.  Moving Piney Chapel Elementary School sixth graders to Elkmont High School in the 2011-2012 school year — expected to save $60,000;

14.   Reducing student and janitorial spending — will save $200,000 compared to $100,000 saved this school year.