BENNETTSVILLE — The Marlboro County School District Board convened a special meeting Monday evening to discuss a looming financial crisis: a projected $6.8 million shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year.
No final decision was made during the meeting, but board members reviewed three possible paths forward, each with varying levels of cost-saving measures. A final decision is expected at the next board meeting scheduled for Monday.
Three Options on the Table
Superintendent Helena Brockington presented three budget-balancing options, each involving significant operational changes.
Option A: To maintain current school structure, but cut internally. This option preserves the existing school configuration but reduces staff costs through shortened work calendars. For example, assistant principals and bookkeepers would change contracted days from 240 days to 220. Guidance counselors for both middle and elementary schools would go from 240 days to 210. Receptionists would drop 20 days as well.
Additionally, there would need to be a reallocation of 14 positions from the general fund to federal funding sources.
Brockington outlined a savings breakdown as follows:
• Staff Day Reductions and Reallocations: $1.5 million
• Potential Service Reductions: up to $1.9 million
• Remaining Deficit:
— Without service cuts: $5.3 million
— With service cuts: $3.4 million
Option B: Close Bennettsville Intermediate School (BIS)
This plan includes all elements of Option A, with the added step of closing BIS and consolidating students into Clio Elementary. District officials emphasized no job losses, stating that displaced teachers would be reassigned to existing vacancies. Additional Savings would include $500K from the school closure.
• New Deficit:
— Without service cuts: $4.8 million
— With service cuts: $2.9 million
Option C: Major District Restructuring
The most drastic and potentially most effective option involves consolidating the district into grade-level campuses. McColl Primary would host Pre-K – second graders, Blenheim Elementary would take all third through fifth graders, Wallace Middle would house sixth, seventh and eighth grades, and Marlboro County High would have Freshman through Seniors.
In addition to staff day reductions and position reallocations, this plan would close three school buildings, MCSD officials said. Additional Savings would include #3.71 million from restructuring and staff reallocation and another $1.4 million from facility closures.
However, even the most ambitious plan still leaves just under $250K in a remaining deficit. Officials said the potential to eliminate the remaining $249,167 deficit entirely might be possible through service cuts and natural attrition (retirements, transfers, etc.)
Parents, staff, and community members are encouraged to attend the next board meeting on Monday, June 3, when further discussion and possible action are expected.