Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four trustees have approved taking out a $1.5 million short-term loan to address cash flow issues that could arise in the near future.

Finance Director Tom Ashley said the tax anticipation note would be "mainly a safety net" to ensure the district can continue operations in the face of state funding cuts and the expected late arrival of property tax revenues.

"We were very caught off guard with the economy," Ashley said during the trustees' meeting Tuesday night.

OCSD 4 Superintendent Dr. Darrell Johnson said the district may not even need to use the money. If the money is used, officials say it will be paid back in full by late March 2009.

The $1.5 million would cover exactly one month of the district's payroll, Ashley said.

He also announced the district has lost $777,690 in state funding this year because of two mid-year cuts.

The S.C. Board of Economic Advisors recently reduced the state's revenue estimate by another 2 percent. If the state decides to make another across-the-board cut, the district could lose an additional $186,000.

That would slash OCSD 4's operating budget by just shy of $1 million, or 3.5 percent of its 2008-2009 budget.

"I see some principals shaking their heads," said trustee Mary Brant.

Trustee Paul Bidwell asked Ashley if current economic conditions will lead to more delinquent property taxes locally. Ashley said there probably will be an increase in delinquent taxes.

The board was scheduled to conduct their annual evaluation of Johnson Tuesday night. However, the absence of trustee Dr. William O'Quinn prompted Chairman Aaron Rudd to delay the evaluation until next month's meeting.

The board also gave first reading approval to a policy establishing guidelines for student field trips.

The new policy states the superintendent and individual school principals must approve schedules for all athletic and band events. Also, all student field trips must be academically related to be approved. All expenses for field trips must be funded by either the school, organization or club that is going.

In addition, any request to start a fundraiser for a field trip must be approved by the superintendent and submitted at the beginning of the school year.

In other business:

* Nine Lockett Elementary School students gave a presentation on the Orangeburg County Community of Character Trait of the Month: generosity.

* Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Planning Larry Wolfe said the construction of a new wing at Carver-Edisto Middle School should be completed by Christmas.

* Ashley reported the district took in $5.4 million in revenue and spent $7.5 million in October.

* Johnson introduced Marlyn Westbrook as the new assistant principal at Branchville High School.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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