The Haralson County Board of Education passed a spending resolution for July in the recent board meeting held Monday night. The move comes after the state recently pulled back money from June’s allotment that was already designated for school system operations throughout fiscal year 2009, which expires June 30. Therefore, the school board has decided to put a hold on spending for next month until their allotment for June is confirmed.

The board is currently waiting on allotment sheets they must resubmit to the state outlining projected expenses they need for this month. School system officials said the short notice changes have also delayed their budget plans for next year because their current financial status has not been finalized.

A couple of weeks ago, the state lowered the revenue estimate again by $274 million after seeing a continual decrease in revenue. As a result, Governor Sonny Perdue issued a 25 percent cut schools’ budgets for June, though he committed to replacing the money with a portion of federal stimulus funds from the balance that was originally set aside for 2011. State officials contended schools will still get the money they were already budgeted for, although it is undetermined how long the process will take.

Meanwhile, the school board awaits their share of the money generated from local property taxes as part of the Homestead Tax Relief. The school system expects to receive $553,000 in the upcoming weeks to apply to the general operating fund.

In other business, the school board discussed the possibility of raising the school drop-out age from 16 to 17 in an effort to improve the graduation rate. The school board stressed the importance of earning a high school diploma and also noted the long-term benefits of increasing the drop-out age requirements, such as students acquiring more credits toward getting a GED if they stay in school for another year.

A social worker for the school district added the current age requirement can put a burden on the court systems as well because they have to hear more truancy cases, which can also be taxing for the school system.

According to last year’s reports, Haralson County produced a 66 percent graduation rate, while school system officials expect to see an increase for this year.

The school board later announced that reorganization plans are underway. If plans go according to schedule, the central office in Buchanan will solely house transportation and technology personnel before next school year begins. Superintendent Brett Stanton and most of the central office staff will relocate to the annex building in Tallapoosa.

Stanton mentioned reorganization plans in a board meeting several months ago while presenting cost-cutting efforts within the school system. Some of the benefits of relocating to the annex include a spacious conference area to hold board meetings, instead of undergoing a costly expansion of the Board of Eduction facility in Buchanan.

The trailers that presently accommodate the finance department at the board office will be moved to make way for a bus a barn, funded through part of the Special Option Local Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds.

The school board agreed to update the board operations section of the policy review, as a requirement of the school board’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) improvement status. This section of the policy review covers guidelines for called meetings and public participation procedures during school board meetings.

The school board must meet another goal set by SACS: arrange a committee comprised of teachers, administrators and others in the community to evaluate the school board’s performance. The results will help determine if the school board has earned a standards board and later board of distinction status based on the SACS requirements.

The school board also approved the distribution of financial handbooks to bookkeepers in the school system and gave nods to surplus designated computer equipment and library books at the schools.

In addition, they discussed Haralson County Middle School’s request to attend an aquatic field trip to Florida in December. School board members advised that HCMS seek sponsorship and fundraising opportunities to make the trip affordable to all students.

Haralson County Middle School teacher June Sanders was recognized for receiving a master teacher certification after demonstrating her positive influence in student achievement. Haralson County High School graduate Amanda Haley Wilson was also commended for her hard work in academics. She spent her senior year at the Advanced Academy of Georgia early college entrance program at the University of West Georgia campus.

The next Haralson County School Board meeting will be held Monday, July 13, at the Haralson County of Education Office in Buchanan.