Lincoln County School District officials are taking an activerole in trying to ensure sufficient funding for the MississippiAdequate Education Program (MAEP).

Facing cuts over $800,000 this year and next, SuperintendentPerry Miller met Thursday with district faculty and staff todiscuss possible ramifications of the funding reductions.

“We put before the faculty and staff some possible things wecould have to do to trim the budget,” Miller said.

A list of proposed expenditure cuts and revenue increase actioncould generate $878,000 toward offsetting the funding cuts.

Proposed expenditure reductions include elimination of the TechPrep program and related teacher positions and services,elimination of the district’s music and GED program. Alsoconsidered are moving of driver’s education classes and athleticsto free up teaching positions, and personnel related movesregarding district-paid teacher assistants and in the bus shop,janitorial and maintenance areas.

Revenue enhancement measures include seeking additional localmoney from taxes and charging out of district students a tuitionfee.

Miller said he was encouraging teachers and citizens to lettheir feelings be known.

The superintendent recently wrote a letter seeking full fundingof MAEP to chairmen and members of the House and SenateAppropriations Committees. Miller said the state Association ofSchool Superintendents also asked if the letter could be used as anexample for other districts to follow.

“Anything we’re doing, we’re not hiding,” Miller said. “We’renot ashamed of what we’re doing.”

Miller’s message was apparently heard Thursday. One lawmakerreportedly received 80 electronic mail messages from countyteachers seeking a legislative commitment to education funding.

Miller said school districts have been looking forward to MAEPand it should be funded.

“We feel like that’s a promise the legislators ought to keep,”Miller said.