Published: 9:07 PM, 09/14/2009

Last updated: 12:52 PM, 11/17/2009

By: Scott Nicholson

The Watauga County Board of Education approved its 2009-2010 schools budget of $41.2 million.
The total budget includes a reduction of about $9 million from last year, mostly due to state budget cuts. School board chairman Lowell Younce said the school system was about students, but money affected education decisions.
"We've maintained most of the personnel but we lost some, sadly," Younce said. The system has 50 fewer positions this year but retirements and resignations allowed the system to reduce the number of terminated employees to eight teaching assistants.
The budget includes $12.3 million in local current-expense funds, a decrease of nearly 4 percent. The state portion is $23 million for the current school year, with $3 million in federal funding. Stimulus funds will arrive later this year, said school finance director Ly Marze.
Marze said the state was releasing lottery money to the school system, with about $420,000 available for request from the state. The board has requested $85,000 for emergency repair of the Bethel Elementary roof, which was paid out of a county capital-projects fund.
The board reviewed the 2009-2012 safe-school plan, which advocates a strong sense of community and mutual respect. "The example of high morals and values will be modeled by all adults, including those inside and outside the school setting," the vision statement reads. "A consistent and fair discipline plan with appropriate consequences will be maintained to ensure an orderly and safe environment for all students."
The plan is essential unchanged from 2006-2009, with more specific details on bullying, on-campus security and community surveys. It lists responsible contacts and individual plans for each school, with specific incidents of crime and violence reported to the school board. Programs for at-risk students cost about $2.8 million, with about two-thirds funded by the state.
Superintendent Marty Hemric reported on the updated school-system Web site, with more student blogging, video conferences and interactive elements. He also said the effort to reduce energy costs, with a 12.5 percent cut in electricity costs for July. Hemric said the plan would continue in order to lower fuel costs in the winter while still keeping students warm.
Clarrisa Schmaal presented an application for Title IV funds, for safe and drug-free schools. The system will document prevalence of student drug, tobacco and alcohol use, violence and truancy.
Mountain Alliance announced its 20th year, facing a 25 percent cut in United Way funding. Director Todd Nolt said an alpine tower had been in development for about a year. The tower was dismantled by Appalachian State University Outdoor Programs and donated, with a site under exploration at the new high school facility in Boone.
Nolt said the goal is to have the structure set up through volunteers and donated resources, integrating it into the school programs and forming partnerships with ASU recreation management programs.
Construction on the school is 70 percent complete and it's scheduled to open in August.

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