By Betsy Finklea
Possible funding solutions for Dillon County’s alternative school were discussed at the Dillon County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday morning.
The alternative school has previously been operated at Dillon County ATEC. Students who have had problems are referred into the program. It had been thought earlier in the year that there would not be a way to fund the alternative school. ATEC Director Jerry Strickland said officials are looking at taking back a mill that is currently designated for Northeastern Technical College and using it to fund the alternative school. This would amount to about $60,000.
Strickland said Rep. Jackie Hayes said this could be done, and at the end, the balance of the money needed to fund the program could be paid by the districts on a per student per day basis.
Strickland said Rep. Hayes is looking into making the mill collection retroactive to July 1st. If not, Strickland said they will come to the county board with a funding request. Then next year, two mills—the mill from Northeastern Tech and a mill to repay the county board—would be designated.
The cost to run the alternative school program is approximately $145,000.
Chairman Richard Schafer deferred the matter to executive session.
The Herald was told after the completion of the meeting that no decision had been made on the matter.
The Herald contacted Dr. Ron Bartley, president of Northeastern Technical College, to see what the impact would be should the mill be taken away. Northeastern Technical College has had plans in the works to expand the Dillon campus.
Dr. Bartley said this local money is used to operate the  facilities on the remote campuses and it would hurt in terms of operating the facilities. Dr. Bartley further said that it could impact expansion plans, but he did not want it to come down to that.