Driver’s education may come with a price tag for Rowan-Salisbury students beginning next year as funding could be cut completely by the state.

The Board of Education discussed funding for the program at its work session Monday.

“Our driver’s education fund has been reduced over the past few years,” said Assistant Superintendent of Operations Anthony Vann, adding that there’s the possibility that the state might completely cut funding for the program for next school year.

“It’s not in the governor’s budget,” said Superintendent Dr. Lynn Moody.

Rowan-Salisbury is one of 43 counties in North Carolina that does not charge for the program.

The district’s yearly fund for driver’s education is $319,000, a $21,000 reduction over the past few years.

Currently, North Carolina law requires school districts to offer driver’s education. While the state allows school districts to charge $65 per student, that doesn’t come close to covering the nearly $200 it costs for each student. Those funds cover teachers, classroom materials, fuel and maintenance costs, but does not account for replacement vehicles.

If funding for driver’s education is cut on the state level, the school system will have to secure funding on the local level.

The board will discuss adding a fee to its driver’s education courses at its next board meeting.

Moody also discussed teacher work hours and the consistency of school days with the board.

She said she wants to see Rowan-Salisbury schools to start later and at more consistent times.

Starting later in the day would allow two-hour delays to be more effective, she said. “We would like for our buses not to run before 6 o’clock.”

She also talked about how recent snow days have impacted teachers and other employees.

While students are required to have 1,025 academic hours, teachers are required to work 215 days each year.

Teachers are contracted employees and can make up any days missed until the end of the year, but hourly employees, such as bus drivers, food service workers and teacher’s assistants must make up their hours within the week hours were lost, and some of those employees can’t make up their hours at all.

“We’re very concerned about that as well,” Moody said.

Alesia Burnette, executive director of elementary education, reviewed the schedule for the district’s accreditation visit from AdvancED in April.

The accreditation team will arrive April 12, conduct a series of interviews and visit schools on April 13 and 14 and end with a called board meeting to share their findings April 15. A written report will be issued a month later.

In other news, the Board of Education:

• Discussed the possibility of using Thought Exchange, a software program that helps school districts gather input from the community.
• Clarified travel allotments for board members going to seminars.
• Discussed its audit contract for this school year. The school system will use the same company as last year.
• Decided to vote on whether or not to collect bids for the board attorney position at its next meeting.
• Discussed a professional development opportunity from the Southern Regional Education Board that will allow several Rowan-Salisbury teachers to receive 9 days of professional development. In order to take part in the program, the district must hire math and literacy coaches for the district.
• Discussed policies concerning student promotion and accountability, class rankings, graduation requirements, school volunteers and non-renewal for non-career teachers.