ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. — After talks of potential layoffs, Alamance-Burlington School System officials said a solution may be in sight that will allow more than 60 employees to keep their jobs.
ABSS Superintendent Dain Butler said there will be a special meeting on Monday to recommend a proposal to the Board of Education. The meeting was pushed back from its original date for Friday. The proposal will allow employees to remain in their roles for the rest of the school year, according to the superintendent.
"No job losses, months of employment, or salaries will be impacted with this new plan. All programs will currently remain in our school district, including Dual Language programs in grades K-8," Butler said in an emailed release.
ABSS said it was able to recoup federal ESSER funds to help with the local budget for the remainder of the fiscal year.
"This will put an estimated $4.6 million back in state and local funds, avoiding a reduction in force and sustaining us through June 30. In other words, everyone will remain employed and be fully paid," Butler said.
We spoke to ABSS School Board Chair Sandy Ellington-Graves she told us if approved, the money should cover all expenses.
"We are confident that we will be able to continue our operations without disruption. Our staffing without sending anyone home or reducing salaries," Sandy Ellington-Graves said.
To remain compliant with the federal funds, ABSS said the Board of Education will need to approve the closing of the Alamance Virtual School at the end of the school year. The school was designed out of the pandemic using the ESSER money, which meant it was intended to close when the funds expire in 2024.