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Highlands Today

Budget Cuts May Affect School Projects

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By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: May 19, 2008

SEBRING — The usual summer spruce-up and fix-up projects at district schools may be delayed this year as the School Board of Highlands County looks at ways to cut costs.

The requested 2008-09 project list totals more than $2.8 million, which includes a variety of improvements such as new flooring, doors and playground equipment, parking lot expansions, building covered walkways, etc.

Some of these projects are typically done during the summer, but with less money coming from the state, the school board may commit only to projects that are related to safety and security.

"We were going to try to minimize the summer projects list until we have a balanced budget for next year," School Board Chairman J. Ned Hancock said Monday.

After the 2008-09 budget is put together, the board and administration will have a better perspective on what projects can be funded, he said.

Some projects may still be done during the summer, but at the end, Hancock said.
"It's going to be a very tough budget year," he said, anticipating that the next two to three years will be difficult.

The school board is scheduled to consider approving the Summer Project List at a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. today in the Garland Boggus Board Room, 426 School, St., Sebring.

The board also will discuss the Career Academy at a workshop at 2:30 p.m. today.

Plans called for starting the technical trade/academic program in August at the Avon Park campus of South Florida Community College.

Budget concerns and a low number of applicants prompted Superintendent Wally Cox to recommend delaying the start of the Career Academy until August 2009. But some school board members continue to believe the program should start this year.

After discussing the Career Academy, the board is scheduled to discuss and review the 2008-09 Student Progression Plan.

Also, a school board public hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m. today on the redistricting plan for Lake Placid and Lake Country elementary schools.

The district plans to rezone the Sylvan Shores subdivision and the Lake Blue area (with about 100 students) from Lake Placid Elementary to Lake Country Elementary.

Lake Placid Elementary has a larger capacity for students, but the school has nearly 300 more students than Lake Country Elementary.

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