LAVONIA — School systems in Franklin and Hart counties could soon be getting some help from Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.

In a recent letter to all Georgia school superintendents, Perdue said he wants to give school systems more flexibility in how they use their funding and he wants to waive the strict rules regarding the student-teacher ratio. That’s good news for both the Franklin and Hart County school systems.

“It will help us tremendously, at least as it stands right now,” noted Hart County school Superintendent Dr. David Hicks. “Obviously, if there are future cuts, it will cut in to the help it provides now. If this is just a sign of more cuts to come, it will help us less if we have to make up even more money.”

The Hart County Board of Education recently laid off 12 employees and made $1.2 million in budget cuts to keep from raising the millage. Additionally, the school board froze salaries, all spending, and principals took a pay cut. Hicks also took a pay cut.

With regard to the flexible spending, Hicks said it would allow them to spread the money around.

“In education, things are categorized meaning 100 percent of the funds for one category have to be used for that category. For example, we get so much professional learning money from the state. If we could use part of that for salaries, that would help. We would still have to do without in other areas, but at least we would have the flexibility to preserve people,” he said.

In Franklin County, school Superintendent Ruth Odell said flexible spending will allow them to purchase needed materials and supplies for various areas, such as school media rooms and libraries next year.

With the 2 percent cut this year in state funding, the Franklin County school system is expecting to lose $400,000. However, Odell said the school board can handle that shortfall using money from their reserve fund. But up to a 3 percent funding cut is expected for the 2009-2010 school year and Odell said that’s when the flexible spending will come in handy.

“It looks like we’ll be getting at least another additional 1 percent cut on top of this 2-percent next year, but most in education are predicting even deeper cuts than that. In that case, having some flexibility in our budget is going to be very important,” she said.

A waiver of the student-teacher ratio will also help each school system by allowing more students in a class instead of having to hire more teachers.

“We’ve got very strict limits, especially in elementary school, on how many students can be in a classroom,” Odell said.

“You can go over one or two students and have to hire a new teacher. This past school year we had to hire three new teachers. So next year, we might not have to hire additional teachers if we have waivers,” she said.

But it’s not a done deal. The governor’s proposal will now be submitted to the Georgia Legislature and be passed by both sides of the aisle at the next general assembly in January.