MADISON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The Madison County School Board is working to resolve the district's financial problems at a public workshop.
There's a possibility the district will resort to "furlough" days, something you can imagine the teachers' union would like to avoid.
The financial difficulties at Madison County Schools are not a new topic.
The school must come up with a way to save or make a half a million dollars by the middle of June. Just last month, there was a discussion about whether to close Greenville Elementary School in an effort to cut costs.
A report on the district's finances recommended the closure, but the community rallied to keep the school open.
Now, the district is open to other suggestions including forced, unpaid leave, even though that option is not popular with employees.
"Some of our employees work pay check to pay check, so all of a sudden if you try to put a furlough day or 1 or 2 furlough days in one paycheck that’s going to be a burden, a finical burden on our employees," said Karen Pickles, Superintendent of Madison County Schools.
Each furloughed day would net the school district about $50,000.
The school board has suggested the school district implement four furlough days, but the union is hoping for only two.
Monday night's meeting is a discussion and the school board will hear other suggestions about how the district should move forward.
While nothing will be finalized Monday, the purpose of the meeting is to get everything set for the Feb. 19 school board meeting.
