Petruzielo: Hire More Teachers, Cut Furlough Days

If the Cherokee County School Board approves the fiscal year 2014-15 budget based upon the recommendations of Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo, class sizes could slightly shrink due to the hiring of more teachers.

Petruzielo has released his recommendations, which are based upon what's expected to be a "significant reduction" in state budget cuts and "anticipated growth" in the local tax digest. 

Some of those recommendations include:

• no increase in the district's milage rate;
• continue restoring the school district calender to a full 180 instructional days;
• hiring an additional 49 teachers, which would mean a reduction in class sizes for students in kindergarten through third grade;
• eliminating three furlough days for district employees;
• increasing the time school nurses are available from five and one-half hours to a full six hours each day;