Budget battle won't stop Gainesville schools

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville school board's budget deficit battle continues, but schools will open on Thursday.

Board Vice Chairman Kelvin Simmons wanted to make that clear during a called board meeting Monday evening, even though much has been said this summer about system finances.

"We've been dealing with the budget over the whole summer," Simmons said. "We've been talking about things that need to be taken out of the budget, but now its time to open the schools.

"I'm pretty sure that some people were concerned, but we're assuring them that our children will be in the building and our teachers will be teaching."

Interim Superintendent Merrianne Dyer said staff planned on board operations cuts, but it's going to be a "thrifty" school year in Gainesville.

"Anything that affected the school system operationally would not be a consideration by the board," Dyer said.

KEEP THE 'E BOARD'

Board members decided that holding on the system's 'E-Board' was cheaper than going back to old fashioned paper work.

Dyer said 'E-Board' is a ready and timely electronic reference to a variety of information.

"It is a reference for school law," Dyer said. "The initial set-up was $12,000 but the renewal for this year was $10,500."

Dyer said 'E Board' also provides access to local, state and federal policies and requirements.