Leaders of Lincoln County’s two public school districts arekeeping a close watch on the education funding situation whilemaking preparations to cut up to 46 teaching and other positionsshould the budget battle worsen.

After looking at the possibility of the Brookhaven SchoolDistrict receiving $689,355 less than this year, Superintendent Dr.Sam Bounds recommended to the board of trustees that 31.5 positionsbe phased out for the 2004-05 year.

“This decision is based on the information we have right now.This is the worst case scenario,” he said.

Lincoln County Superintendent of Education Terry Brister said asmaller number of teachers could be lost in his district. Schoolofficials have looked at all areas, from maintenance to teachingpositions, he said.

“I can’t put a number on it now, but it’s in the neighborhood of10 to 15 employees,” Brister said.

In looking at possible reductions, Brister said experience plusyears with the school district were factors being considered.

Of the 31 positions targeted in the Brookhaven School District,17 are certified, Bounds said. Of those, eight will retire, tworequested to not be rehired and the other seven would be phasedout.

The other 12 full-time jobs and one part-time job are made up ofteacher assistants or classified positions and would be phased outfor “various and sundry reasons,” said Bounds. Two maintenanceemployees would not be rehired.

Brister said employee positions in the Lincoln County SchoolDistrict were not the only area that could be impacted by thebudget losses.

“We’re looking at other areas to see if we can cut,” Bristersaid, adding that the district will strive to keep as manyemployees as possible. “We may have to go without new buses.”

Brister said the district cannot afford to lose any of itsemployees.

“We’re in dire need of every person we have,” Brister said. “Wedon’t have this fluff that people think we have.”

Complicating the issue, Brister said, are conflicting reportsfrom Jackson regarding the budget situation. At times, it appearspromising while at other times, it is gloomy.

“One day we see sunlight, and the next day we see darkness,”Brister said.

Bounds added that if the House and Senate “come up with somepositive numbers,” some of the employees could be rehired.

“If the compromised bill is above the governor and LBR’s(Legislative Budget Recommendation), then we will take actionsaccordingly, which is we will hire back as many certified positionsas possible,” said Bounds.

Meanwhile, the districts’ leaders are trying to prevent a panicamong personnel.

“I don’t want morale in the district to go down simply becausepeople in Jackson can’t get together to get a budget right,”Brister said.

April 15 is the last day for school districts to sign intentforms informing certified employees that they will not bere-employed. According to state law, the certified employeesautomatically keep their jobs if not notified, explainedBounds.

Brister said he was holding off on personnel action and hopingfor signs from legislature before then.

“We’re trying to wait to the last minute before we make thosecontract decisions,” Brister said.

Bounds and other education officials are encouraging Mississippiresidents to support adequate funding for public education.

“For those of us who truly love K-12 and know the importance ofK-12, I would hope we would ask our representatives and senators toproperly fund K-12 education,” he said.