The Moore County Board of Education was ecstatic Monday that the budget adopted by the county commissioners fully funded its request.

The news was greeted by applause at the school board's monthly meeting.

Superintendent Susan Purser thanked the county commissioners and the community for their support during the budgeting process.

"Our county commissioners have been very supportive of us, and I would like to underscore the kind of support we have had from our county," she said. "Also, I want to thank so many other people in this county. The kinds of calls, e-mails, letters, what have you, that I have received from folks voicing their support of education in this county has been very humbling."

The county's proposed budget had included a $440,000 decrease in the school district's operations funding, but ultimately the original request was honored. The district cut $773,000 from its budget in order to offset rising costs and keep the coming budget at the same level as this year's.

Purser reminded the school board that the state budget situation still remains a "changing landscape" and it may not know the outcome until August. To keep operating until a new state budget is adopted, the board unanimously approved a continuation budget resolution.

It also authorized Purser and her staff to write a letter on its behalf to Moore County's state legislative delegation about the effects of the proposed budget cuts on the school district.

Moore County is facing the possibility of a $5.7 million reduction in state funding. As a result, Purser announced last week that the school system will eliminate 90 jobs, or 5 percent of its workforce next year.

"That is really cutting very deeply into the core," she said, adding that despite the cuts, school employees have rallied together and remain upbeat. "People do have to understand that our classes next year will be larger. There will be things that we will not be doing that we have done in the past.

"Our educators are going to make it look easy because that is what they do. That's what brings me so much pride in working with Moore County Schools."

The board also received an update on the transformation at Pinckney Academy in Carthage. Eric Porter, the deputy superintendent for secondary schools, said Pinckney has suffered from an "identity crisis" because it offers both an alternative school and a career and technical education (CTE) track. There is also a perception that Pinckney is a school for "bad students."

The school system will enhance Pinckney by turning it into a true alternative school and moving CTE courses back into the system's three high schools. Because CTE enrollment at Pinckney has been steadily declining over the past few years, the move back to the high schools is expected to strengthen that program as well.

Purser also lauded this year's graduating seniors, who have accumulated $5.4 million in scholarships.

Contact John Krahnert III at 693-2473 or by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.