On the heels of a predicted $2.2 million budget surplus, a financial consultant has also found $280,000 in unspent federal money which the Cherokee County School District could use this year.

The federal money was discovered in the district’s Title VI account this past week while interim finance director Charles Tillotson was working to close out the school financial books for the 2009-2010 school year. Title VI is a rural education achievement federal program that provides grants for districts serving low income students in rural areas.

The money was originally earmarked to purchase interactive Promethean whiteboards for classrooms from a district Title VI grant this past school year. Due to economic reasons, the district did not spend the $280,000 and carried the federal funds over to this school year.

The school board voted 5-4 Monday against a motion by Billy Blackwell to issue all teachers a $275 check for school supplies. This would have cost the district $150,000 from the budget to reinstate teacher supply money used by the district towards salaries in this year’s budget.

School trustees Ron Garner, Alan McEntire, Donnie Lee Smith, Barry Bailey and Willie Crosby voted against a motion from Blackwell to provide the teacher supply money. Following the vote, Blackwell angrily told the school board audience, “Well, now you see who wants to give you your money and who doesn’t.”

School board members voting against the teacher supply motion took exception to Blackwell’s suggestion they weren’t interested in helping teachers.

School board chairman Donnie Lee Smith said he has no reservations about reconsidering the teacher supply proposal once the district documents the existence of the $280,000 in Title VI money.

“I want to see a printout where we have the money and then we will bring it back for a vote,” Smith said.