Board approves special-education reorganization as state budget cuts threaten positions; parents may pay for driver's ed

The Lenoir County Board of Education on the June 2014 meeting approved a reorganization of the Exceptional Children (EC) department after administrators said American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) carryover funds are exhausted and the state senate budget under consideration would reduce local allotments.

Administrators, led by Miss Roach and Julie Hill, presented a plan that Superintendent Dr. Mazingo said was designed to preserve required services while reducing costs. The presentation listed a projected reduction in positions and months of employment totaling $276,197, and recommended eliminating two psychologist positions, eliminating one occupational therapist position (leaving three OT positions), reducing months of employment for three compliance specialist positions to 11 months, eliminating a vacant EC teacher assistant position, and eliminating one office support position.

"This is devastating for the school district," Dr. Mazingo said when outlining the combined effect of the projected state cuts. He urged community members to contact legislators about the budget, saying, "I hope that those of you who had access or will gain access to your legislators now go now go do what you need to do." The district also reported a…