Bladen County Schools Plans to Eliminate More Than 25 Positions to Close $2.2M Budget Gap

Bladen County Schools Superintendent Jason Atkinson wants to cut over 25 jobs next year. This would save about $2.2 million. The school board got this report on April 13, showing how the district will fix gaps in local money, pay for higher costs, and keep things steady.

Teachers aren't on the list. Atkinson wants to cut one principal, four assistant principals, one district administrator, three guidance counselors, two media specialists, three academic coaches, one social worker, one payroll specialist, one accounts payable specialist, one administrative assistant, two general maintenance workers, one HVAC maintenance worker, four custodians, one receptionist, two in-school suspension coordinators, and one parent liaison.

"It does not indicate that a reduction in force will occur," Atkinson said, according to the Border Belt Independent. "We are in the very early stages of that review, and no decisions have been made."

School board members talked about this plan for over an hour at their April 13 meeting. They agreed to think about cutting jobs. School board member Anthony Thomas said future talks will decide which positions get eliminated.

The district has about 3,600 students now. Ten years ago, it had 4,600, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Fewer kids attend because more families pick charter schools, private schools, or homeschooling.

The system asked county commissioners for almost $9.2 million this year but got around $7.7 million, according to the report. Local money hasn't gone up since 2023-24. Charter schools got around $1.6 million of local money this year.

The school board voted in March to close East Arcadia School, despite pushback from people in the area. Officials said the building needed $2 million in fixes, and the school had fewer than 60 students.