Cumberland schools adopt $16.4 million budget

CUMBERLAND -- Cumberland County school district has adopted a $16.4 million budget, Superintendent James Thornton said.

The school budget, adopted Thursday night, calls for $10.6 million from the state, $1.9 million in federal funds and $3.9 million from the county. Cumberland supervisors had hoped to provide $4.1 million -- the same amount as last year -- but recently ended up having to reduce the county's allocation by $150,000, Thornton said.

"I understand the local economic shortfall and I appreciate them not making the cuts any deeper and continuing to work with us, and actually involving me in the conversation before the cuts were made," Thornton said.

The proposed school budget is $400,000 less than last year's budget, but the system was spared deeper cuts because of about $600,000 in federal stimulus funds it will receive over the next two years, Thornton said.

Before learning about the stimulus funds, the system was expecting to have to lay off six employees.

The system is eliminating an elementary school assistant principal position and 16 assistant coaching positions in 17 sports programs, and mandating a 20 percent across-the-board cut in supplies. No one is being laid off.

Thornton said school officials are waiting for more details about the stimulus money. "It's still kind of gray," he said. "It's starting to clarify."

Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 392-6605 or .