Projected deep cuts in education from the state are expected to affect the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District with the loss of 12 licensed positions for the next school year.

Those cuts are expected to affect all levels of the school system, from pre-kindergarten to central services, Superintendent Dennis Sawyer said today.

"As you may be aware, North Carolina faces a multi-billion dollar budget deficit," Sawyer said in a prepared statement. "And education is the largest single line item funded by the state."

Governor Beverly Perdue released the budget that will cut public schools significantly earlier this year, Sawyer said. "Severe budget cuts will have a devastating impact on Roanoke Rapids Graded School District and our community."

While the state budget will not be adopted until later this summer, Sawyer said the school system, in planning for its upcoming fiscal year budget is using assumptions built upon what it sees from budget plans being discussed in Raleigh. "We anticipate a minimum 10 percent cut in state funds for 2011-2012. This reduction will be in addition to cuts made over the past two years.

"Through the efforts of proactive planning, we were able to make these cuts with minimal impact on the classroom (the last two years). By freezing vacant positions, retirements and resignations, our district was able to continue the employment of all individuals who desired to keep working for RRGSD."

Things, however, change in the upcoming fiscal year, the statement says. "The school district cannot absorb a 10 percent state budget reduction without drastic cuts experienced at all levels of the school system."

Federal stimulus dollars that offset some state cuts the past two years will not be available next year, adding $1.1 million to the 10 percent cut projected by the state and, the statement said, "makes our budget challenge even more difficult to manage."

Sawyer said the school system has taken all steps this year to conserve funds without it affecting schools. "It will be impossible, however, to absorb an additional 10 percent state reduction and to lose $1.1 million in federal stimulus funds and not see cuts in critical areas that directly impact the classroom."

The affects of the state budget cuts, Sawyer said, are also expected to continue into the 2012-2013 fiscal year, as the school will lose $600,000 from the Federal Jobs Bill that will fund 20 positions in the upcoming fiscal year. "If the current cuts in funding continue, excessive government job loss will occur, resulting in higher unemployment for our state and community."

In an interview at the central office today, Sawyer said it appears the General Assembly is on a fast track to approve the budget. "The House is finalizing their version and the Senate came out with their first iteration. Their version has deeper cuts than what the house version displays."

All this is happening as the school system waits to hear what it is expected to get from the county, in which $3,083,216 was requested, money that goes for operations and capital outlay.

The fund balance is used for non-recurring situations. "If we loaded up a lot of salaries we're going to deplete that contingency fund in a hurry," Sawyer said.

What positions will be cut is something the school system will continue to monitor. The school system will look at not filling retiree positions and the non-renewal of probationary or first year teachers. "This doesn't mean they are the least effective teachers," he said. "Some of the newest teachers are some of our most energetic and enthusiastic. It's just this budget is driving a lot of loss."

Sawyer is encouraging citizens concerned about the situation to contact the area's legislative delegation — Senator Ed Jones and representatives Angela Bryant, Glen Bradley and Michael Wray.

"I don't know in the history of the school district, it's ever faced these tough of times," Sawyer said.