The Butler County Board of Education voted Thursday night to reduce technology supplements by 30 percent.

The reduction mirrors the 30 percent cuts to coaching supplements that the BOE approved at its June 16 meeting.

Butler County Schools Superintendent Darren Douthitt’s original proposal to the board Thursday night was for coaching supplements, which were eliminated at the BOE’s May 20 meeting, to be added back with a 30 percent decrease while the technology supplements remain unchanged.

Board members Billy Jones and Joe Lisenby expressed concerns about cutting coaching supplements and leaving technology supplements untouched.

“If we’re going to make cuts, I believe we need to make cuts across the board where we can,” Lisenby said. “… I don’t want to cut anyone’s supplement, but if we do, we need to make sure we are fair about it.”

According to Douthitt, coaches will have an opportunity to recoup the 30 percent loss in their supplements through tickets sales and fundraisers.

“I believe that all of our coaches can get back 100 percent of what is being lost with the cuts,” Douthitt said. “I’m a little concerned for McKenzie (School coaches) because it’s a smaller school and there are fewer boosters, but it’s my hope that their fundraising efforts and ticket sales will help them offset the 30 percent cut.”

Douthitt said he felt the board made a “logical decision” in cutting the technology supplements, but did express concern in cutting supplements that “go hand in hand” with academics.

“Academics have to be put before athletics all day,” Douthitt said. “Technology supplements directly impact academics. I’m just glad we didn’t eliminate them all together, and I’m hopeful that we will be able to put the money back.”

In other action:

* The BOE voted to enact a reduction of force.

The BOE also approved a request by Douthitt to lay off 26 instructional aides.

According to Douthitt, most of the 26 employees being laid off are expected to be hired back.

“We stand to lose two or three employees out of all this shuffling,” he said.

* Approved the transfer of Joseph Dean from Georgiana School to Greenville High School. Dean will replace Brad Cook as GHS principal.

* Approved the following bids:

• Milk – $70,373 from Dairy Fresh Corp.
• Bread – $34,304 from Sara Lee/Earthgrain
• Ice Cream – $14,931.6 from Blue Bell
• Serving Lines for Greenville High School – $62,386 from BRESCO

The BOE also voted to schedule a special meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday.