Teacher and staff positions vacated from Bryan County schools during the current academic year may not be refilled in order to save money on next year’s budget, but some schools with growing populations may get new teachers for 2011-2012.

The Bryan County Board of Education met Thursday evening for a called meeting to discuss the proposed fiscal 2012 budget and take a close look at personnel expenditures.

“Our intention at this particular meeting is to look at staff, which accounts for 80 percent of the budget,” said Superintendent John Oliver at the start of the discussion.

Melanie James, the school system’s finance director, went over staff cost projections for the coming school year.

James said that – due to a 51 percent increase in health insurance costs, a 4 percent growth in the student population, step increases for teachers and eight new positions created during the year that did not exist in last year’s budget – the total personnel cost would increase by just more than $1 million if the school system remained as is with no changes to programs or staff positions.

Bryan County schools paid out about $33.2 million in staff salaries for the 2011 fiscal year, which ends June 30.

James proposed not refilling locally funded positions vacated during the current school year, which could save $372,000 in the coming fiscal year when factored into proposed additions to the budget.

“These numbers are very tentative,” she explained.

For more, pick up a copy of the April 16 edition of the News.