Bibb School District Says It Had to Prioritize When Making Job Cuts

MACON, Ga. (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County School District says it had to prioritize when cutting 53 positions after grant cuts last week.

41NBC asked the district Friday if any thought was given to using any of the district’s reserve fund to cover the $4.23 million it would cost to keep the positions.

School spokesman Donny Porter released this written statement:

“Although the District believes these discontinued 53 positions serve important roles in the education of the students of Bibb County, there simply is only so much money in the budget to allocate for these purposes.

Grant funding is applied for and made available to provide for positions the District feels may ultimately help enhance student achievement and success. Unfortunately, as the funding sources come to an end, the District administration must make difficult decisions about the sustainability of the grant-funded positions.

The financial reality is that the District is not in a position to assume these discontinued positions within the General Budget due to other instructional priorities. The District, in diligently striving to be good stewards of public monies, must prioritize where these dollars are allocated and that is where we are today.”

Affected grant-funded positions include seven targeted positions involved in GEAR UP/AVID, 22 staff members supported by School Improvement Grants, and 24 Instructional Coaches.

Those employees were notified of their position cuts on Thursday and met with the district Friday about what options to take in the future.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Kelley Castlin-Gacutan tells us the district values its employees and is working alongside those affected to make sure they have smooth transitions either out of or within the school district.