Despite a projected $1 million cut, Cherokee County Superintendent Dr. Bill James said the district is well-positioned to cover budget cuts without hurting its education programs.

James cited a favorable financial report on district tax collections and savings generated while planning this year's $61.7 million budget (see related story, page 9A).

The upbeat financial forecast was not enough to prevent a heated exchange Monday between school trustees and the superintendent over filling two recent staff vacancies.

James unsuccessfully lobbied for the school board's permission to fill vacancies left by the untimely deaths of Ewing Middle assistant principal Tim Phillips and district preschool coordinator Kathy Kirby last month.

School board chairman Billy Blackwell and Donnie Lee Smith questioned the wisdom of adding staff right now with the district dealing with a 4 percent state budget cut. This comes on the heels of $3.6 million in state budget cuts during the 2008-2009 school year.

"I think we need to save all the money we can right now," Blackwell said.

The school district has chosen not to fill 13 positions funded in the present budget.

James said the district is seeking a replacement for Kirby because it could lose federal funding if it does not provide enough local matching funds for special education services.

Research director Chad Hudson was temporarily moved from the district department to help cover Phillips' assistant principal duties at Ewing Middle, James said. School budget cuts along with Hudson's move have left the district with three open positions used to support technology programs.

The salaries for the Ewing Middle assistant principal and preschool coordinator positions are already funded in the school district's budget, James said.

"We are three people short in the information management department," James said. "This has made it difficult for us to do some of the projects we had planned this year."

School board members were in a cautious mood after learning the district could lose $945,000 in state funding in a recent budget cut.

"The district administration should be commended for the job they have done with the school budget," Smith said. "We need to take a close look at any nonessential items in the budget and see if there are positions in the district which can be eliminated."