Cumberland County School Meeting-John Dunn

Major cuts are on the table in Cumberland County.

The start of school has already been delayed for nearly 2 weeks as a budget battle rages on.

The school board needs to cut $5 million from its budget.

Football practice is about as close as students get to being in school.

The classrooms in Cumberland County still sit empty.

Football coach Tony Shultz says, "They're ready to go to school the kids want to go. They're over summer, they are ready to go."

Ever since Cumberland County decided to delay its school year, frustrations have been growing.

Parent and teacher Kim Nelson says, "The kids are anxious, the staff is anxious, the community is anxious. I think we're all just ready for a resolution."

The business at hand is cutting the school budget by about $5 million.

School Board Chairwoman Shirley Parris says, "The cuts were are going to be forced to make are going to effect the students, they are going to effect the staff."

The county school board and commission have been locked in a fight for funding.

A property tax increase has been rejected so the schools must trim.

School Board member Brian Houston says, "Its just very sad, I mean Cookeville can raise their property taxes. It;s sad our county can't."

Parent and teacher Leeann Sherrill says, "I hate to say I'm embarrassed to be a Cumberland Countian because I'm not. But I'm embarrassed of the process."

The school board is now considering cutting instructional materials, support staff, maintenance costs, insurance benefits and field trips.

Nelson says, "I think that's the scariest part of the whole thing, knowing that their may be huge cuts of programs that are really needed."

Just this week, the school board allowed extracurricular activities to resume but there's still no date for classes to begin.

Even third grader Bethany Royston is ready to go back to school.

Parent Loretta Royston says, "She asked me if she could stand up and say something tonight and I said what are you going to say? And she said "I want to tell them to get me back in school."

Both Cumberland County High Schools have already canceled Friday night's football game.

It's hoped they won't have to cancel any more.

Shultz says, "And that's what we're hoping they can work out their problems for the sake of the kids."

The school board still has to vote on the proposed cuts, and then take their budget to the county comission.

Many parents are hopeful that school will begin sometime this week.

Cumberland County School Meeting-John Dunn