Community members and school officials in Berea gathered Tuesday to discuss the next steps for Berea Independent Schools amid a budget crisis.
The Berea School Board announced last week a budget deficit of $1.3 million. More than 30 school positions are being let go as a result. The board is currently undergoing a change in leadership after calls to remove Superintendent Diane Hatchett.
The meeting brought community members together to brainstorm steps on how to move forward.
Kyle French is Director of Pupil Personnel at Berea Independent Schools. He spoke about the importance of school attendance, which directly affects school funding.
“This year, our attendance percentage has gone up by 1%, which seems small, but it equals approximately $36,000. And if we can increase our attendance even more to pre-COVID levels, that's a teaching position.”
That could also include a new partnership with Berea College. School board officials discussed plans with Berea College President Cheryl Nixon to help make up for the staffing cuts.
“We have many faculty and staff, as I was just saying, very committed to seeing us through this moment, to the point where they are saying, ‘Can we go volunteer at the Community School?’” Nixon said.
That could also mean more dual enrollment programs or tutoring sessions with college mentors.
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