Bibb School Board President: At Least 8 Positions Affected by District’s Reduction in Force

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County School Board approved its anxiously awaited reduction in force of teaching staff Tuesday night.

Board president Dr. Wanda West told 41NBC at least eight positions will be affected by the RIF, which is broken down into two categories–performance evaluation and displaced positions.

West says at this time, none of the eight layoffs are based on performance evaluations, but the district just couldn’t find anywhere else for those employees to fit within the system.

Affected employees will be notified by letter on Wednesday.  The rest of the employees will receive new contracts.

“It breaks our heart to have to reduce staff,” says West.  “But we feel like this staff has done an excellent job in providing recommendations for a process for the RIF.”

The number announced Tuesday is significantly lower than the original number, which proposed laying off more than 70 teachers.

When asked to explain that difference, West referred us to the district’s personnel office.  We’ll check in with them and bring you the latest on this story.

Board Members Against Tax Increase

Also Tuesday, five of the board’s eight members said they aren’t in favor of raising taxes to help the district offset its $18 million budget deficit.

A millage rate increase of 0.48 has been thrown around in the board’s multiple budget worksessions, but board members Lester Miller, Thelma Dillard, Lynn Farmer, Susan Sipe and Jason Downey all publicly opposed a tax increase Tuesday.

Acting superintendent Susanne Griffin-Ziebart thanked the board members for voicing their opposition to a tax increase, and she said it will help the administration in its work on the budget going forward.