In a called budget workshop Tuesday, May 29, the Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education members saw "the light at the end of the tunnel," as Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones, likes to say, when members learned that the financial condition of the school system would allow two school days and three professional learning days be added to the school calendar for 2012-13.

 The change in revenue, that makes it possible to add back five days to employees' work schedules, comes from several sources:

• cost reduction proposals of $3 million adopted earlier by the board of education
• better instructional models in 2011-12 that brought also increased state funding, mainly in the Early Intervention Program and gifted services areas
• funds saved by positions not filled in central office and schools
• step raises not given to employees in several years
• changes to the state equalization grant formula driving more funds to lower wealth systems
• positive changes in the local tax digest

Jim Smith, Assistant Superintendent and CFO, said, "School system employees who work more than 180 days have had a total of 15 days cut from their work schedules over the past three years. For the 2012-13 school year, the previously adopted school calendar had 10 more days cut."

"It is gratifying that careful planning and conservative spending by our leadership and every employee have paid off so that we are able to begin to reinstate school days in a manner that is sustainable financially."