In a past meeting, the board cut the position's funding by one third and several other positions completely to fit the district's salaries into the budget. The parent liaison position was left open for further discussion if more cuts were needed.
The parent liaison position, among other things, works with parents of at-risk middle and high school students to deter students from dropping out. It also oversees a mentoring program that promotes community volunteering in the schools.
Linda Johnson, who presently fills the position, urged board members not to cut the position any further in last month's meeting.
"I guarantee you will be sorry," said Johnson.
She said the position required a lot of time and dedication that the school guidance counselors would not be able to handle on top of their existing duties.
But with the requirement of making the budget balance, superintendent David Johnson recommended Monday night that the position be restructured from a coordinator position to a classified position, a move that would save the district an estimated $6,000 to $8,000, but possibly result in only one lost work day.
"Its our best effort to continue the services the best we can," said Johnson.
Board members, however, were reluctant to do the position any more harm.
"I don't see anyone stepping up to take care of this problem. I don't know who's going to pick up the slack," said chairman Joe Meadors, who added he feared the responsibility would fall on the principals.
"I don't think they can do much more. You cannot expect them to be out of the office doing home visits."
Board member Parker Boggs said for years he has heard everyone from the superintendent to the board to the teachers saying the schools need more parent and community involvement, and that through the mentoring program hundreds of hours have been volunteered to the school.
"We gave people a chance to really invest into the school," he said.
He said he would not vote for more cuts.
Meadors also agreed he would not vote for any more cuts to the position, as he didn't think "minimum wage" pay would get the results as the coordinator pay.
"I think we'll get a very mediocre job and very little progress in the middle school," said Meadors.
After much discussion, the decision was made to take surplus carryover funds from the district's general funds, money that is not guaranteed and is normally never used for salary, and fund the position as agreed at the last meeting.
The move is a one time fix that will carry the position over until next year.
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