$2 million bookkeeping error forces teacher layoffs in Giles Co. - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

When classes start in Giles County, Tennessee on August 1, the school system will have more than 80 fewer teachers and staff than last year. A $2-million mistake began the job cuts.

A bookkeeping error led Giles County officials to believe the school system had $2-million more coming from the county than it really did. With school officials thinking there was extra money in its fund, the school system started making capital improvements.

When the county discovered the mistake, it left the Giles County Board of Education with difficult financial choices, and they began cutting teachers and staff. The cuts started in May.

On short notice, school employees were made aware that a wave of layoffs was coming. But then there were more in the middle of June, a surprise to teachers and staff who were let go.

When state funding fell short of expectations, more surprise cuts came down last week.

Pulaski Elementary School 2nd grade teacher Shannon Shirey said she was shocked when she found out she'd been laid off on June 14.

"I was very upset. I wasn't expecting it all. The first thing I thought of was the kids and how I might not be in the classroom come August. And I'd actually already been in my room working for the upcoming school year," Shirey said.

Shelly Goolsby, a teacher at Bridgeforth Middle School and the Giles County Education Association President-elect, survived the cuts. She said she and her fellow teachers are hoping the staff cuts are done.

"We hope the County Commission funds our budget they way it is and we can start school with as much smiles on our face as we can muster and we're going to do it. And we're going to teach our children," Goolsby said.

State consultants have been commissioned to audit the Giles County Financial Management Department to find out how the mistake happened. The results are expected within the next two months.

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