Several Lincoln County teachers will have a major worry easedwhen they find they have jobs once again.

Eight teachers whose contracts were not renewed two months agobecause of budget cuts received approval from the Lincoln CountySchool board Monday night to be re-hired.

“We were holding positions open because we were waiting forTitle I and class size reduction federal funding, and we have nowreceived notice that we will get those funds,” said Superintendentof Education Perry Miller. “That gets all of our non-renewals hiredback.”

The earlier cuts included five Title I teachers and threeclassroom size reduction-funded teachers.

School board members also approved other positions, along withpersonnel salaries for the upcoming school year. Board secretaryJerry Coon and board member James Keen abstained from votingbecause both have family members working in the schooldistrict.

In financial matters, a recent audit has resulted in therestructuring of the entire bookkeeping process in the schooldistrict.

The board gave permission for Frank Fortenberry, temporarybusiness manager, to close the old accounts payable and move fundsto a new account.

Fortenberry will also transfer a portion of the 16th Sectionspecial interest funds to an account for expenditures and allocatefunds to school districts with shared interest.

“That will help get us back in order some,” Fortenberry toldboard members.

Fortenberry was hired by the school district after formerbusiness manager Janet Smith resigned following the audit. He willcontinue to look for easier ways to track the district’s moneyuntil another full-time business manager is hired.

The school district will hold a public hearing on the 2001-2002school year budget on June 11 at the central office.

The next scheduled board meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. May21.