Harrison County Schools outlines plan to cut up to 47 positions after 429-student drop

Harrison County Schools officials on Tuesday presented the board with a plan to reduce staffing after a steep drop in enrollment that has left the district carrying hundreds of positions beyond the state-funded formula.

Tammy, the staff presenter, told the board the district currently employs 884.4 professional staff but is state-funded for 722.92, leaving an excess of 161.12 professional positions. She said service employees total 580.63 while state-funded service positions number 502.48, an excess of 78.15.

"Harrison County Schools currently employs 161.12 professional and 78.15 service personnel in excess of the positions funded by the state," Tammy said, summarizing figures distributed to board members.

Why it matters: State funding follows enrollment counts. Tammy and finance staff warned that the district’s second-month headcount of 8,926 students — a loss of 429 students from the previous year — reduces the number of positions the state will fund and increases the district’s local share of personnel costs.

What the plan would do: Staff proposed using the…