Citizens of McKenzie donned their school colors and brought their signs to the Butler County Board of Education work session Thursday night in an effort to persuade the Board to keep their community school open.

An estimated crowd of more than 1,000 people crowded into the R.L. Austin Gymnasium on the Georgiana School campus to hear the options presented for finding the funds to make up the deficit currently found in the General Fund.

The District ended FY10 with $1,126,854 in the fund, $609,521 less than the one month’s operating balance required by the State Department of Education.

The BOE is now “looking under every rock,” said president Linda Hamilton, to find ways to come up with those needed funds in order to send the State Department concrete plans for making up the deficit by April 15.

Possible solutions that were presented including use of bus hubs in Greenville to reduce transportation costs by $50,000 to $100,000; an elimination of Central Office positions for a savings of $173,685.78; a 50 to 75 percent reduction of support staff positions for a savings of $567,855.93 to $851.783.90, and energy cost reduction plan to save $150,000.  Also brought before the Board during the session including restructuring long-term debt with a possible savings of $380,00 over the next two years, an option still in discussion; use of PSCA Funds for debt services for a savings of $410,000 and a reduction in athletic supplements by 50 percent to save $106,996.50.

Board member Joe Lisenby added another option to the list, a reduction of the board member stipend by 50 percent for a savings of $18,000 annually.

The last option, consolidation of McKenzie and Georgiana Schools, would save $151, 591.44 in operational costs and coaching supplements. With a reduction in workforce, the total savings would be $334,262.08.

The final option,the school consolidation, brought the greatest response from the audience, with an outcry of “no” resounding in the gymnasium. Three individuals-former BCSD CFO Sherry Bennett, McKenzie teacher Patty Cook and McKenzie principal Randy Williams—spoke on behalf of keeping the school open.

Bennett, saying the Georgiana School was already at capacity, questioned where the additional 300-plus students from McKenzie would be placed if consolidation took place.

“Our foundation program is K-12, what takes place between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. That is our main purpose,” said Cook.

“If we cut anything, let us look at cutting extra-curricular activities. Let them fund themselves. Allow us to keep our school.”

Williams said the entire school was working toward coming up with solutions to help the district save money.

“We’ve brainstormed with our students and teachers and we are willing to do our part in helping the district. We do not want to be a part of the problem, we want to be a part of the solution,” said Williams.

Hamilton said the various options presented were just some of the possible solutions to their financial crisis the BOE will be considering in the coming days.

In a telephone interview on Friday, Douthitt said he was going through a list of cost-cutting suggestions sent in by students, and was heartened by their interest in helping McKenzie School and the District.

“We certainly will be looking into more options; we are not done yet. I am anticipating using several options-reduction in workforce, energy-saving measures and other things that will have an across-the-board effect on the system,” said Douthitt.

He said no dates and times had been set up yet but additional meetings could be expected in the near future.

“I was very pleased to see such a large turnout of people at the meeting. I think it was an excellent opportunity to educate the public on how a district is funded,” Douthitt said.

Williams said he was thrilled by the solidarity shown by the community of McKenzie at the work session and meeting.

“I felt like the support we had last night had to have an impact on the Board and their decision. I hope it weighs in our favor, of course,” Williams said.

“I know this is not over, but I do hope we will be the very last option to be considered, or not considered at all. Closing our school has never been a fix-all for the District’s finances. We really need to sit down and take a hard look at what the results and costs will be for a consolidation. I believe it could end up costing the District instead of saving it money.”

He said McKenzie School is already trying to be “part of the solution.”

“We’ve got the majority of lights turned off in the main building. Our goal is to save $2,000 a month on our light bill.”