The Mississippi Legislature is once again being called on toprovide funding for public school systems throughout the state asschool districts face more cuts this year.

Lincoln County School District board members passed a resolutionTuesday during the regularly scheduled meeting to write a letter toarea representatives and legislators requesting they support actionto fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program(MAEP).

The resolution was made after Perry Miller, the district’ssuperintendent, reported on the statewide superintendent’s meetinghe attended in Jackson Monday.

“They called us there to tell us the bad news. We’re going tohave more cuts,” Miller said. “In the worst case scenario, based onthe available funds, Lincoln County could sustain around a $300,000cut this year, unless the Legislature comes up with somemoney.”

The announcement comes less than a year after the schooldistrict suffered a $150,000 cut, resulting in many teachers havingto pay for their own supplies.

“The cuts would put us in a financial crisis,” Miller told boardmembers, explaining that 15 teachers would possibly have to be cutfrom the district’s payroll.

Miller said the Legislature is bringing good news to teachersaround the state with a salary increase, but turning around withbad news by cutting the budget for public schools by 7 percent.

“They’ve given the teachers a raise, but basically looked at usand said, ‘You finance it,'” he said.

The Lincoln County School District made changes to the budgetlast year when cuts were made without firing any employees, butdistrict officials pointed out that the amount is too large thistime to not let some employees go.

Board member Joann Holmes suggested having less teacherassistants, but Miller pointed out how state law requires teacherassistants in the classrooms.

Miller said this year’s budget cuts may not be the end of thedecrease in funding for public schools. Since 1992 when 46.6percent of the state budget was designated for education, theamount has fallen 3 percent.

“That’s not the end of the bad news. We’re looking at possiblyhaving a $500,000 cut next year,” Miller said.

The extreme cuts may eventually fall to the responsibility oftaxpayers to make them up, Miller said.

“If these kinds of cuts go through, we don’t have anywhere tolook but locally,” he said, mentioning possible tax increasesneeded to keep schools running.

Board members agreed the best avenue to take would be to writelegislators and hope they fund MAEP, but prepare for the worst ifnecessary.

In routine discussion, the board looked at the possibility ofbringing more funding to the district by allowing Denbury OilCompany, the biggest oil production company in the state, accordingMiller, to look into retrieving oil from part of the Mallalieu OilField.

Company representatives plan to meet with the board at the March4 meeting.

During Tuesday’s meetings, the board entertained a proposal byDana Smith to help children in the district start and maintainhealthy lifestyles.

“I am wanting to start a physical education program. I know withthe budget cuts it will be hard, but eventually childhood obesitywill go down and the sedentary lives that children have will, too,”Smith told board members.

At least one of the four attendance centers in the schooldistrict has a physical education program, but more are needed,Miller said.

The board decided to take the proposal under consideration andcontact Smith about it later.

The next board meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m., Feb. 15, atBogue Chitto Attendance Center where the board will continue theirannual tour of the schools.