Orange County Schools will be returning $367,000 to the state, per the Department of Public Instruction’s request as part of the effort to address the state’s budget shortfall.

What’s interesting is the source of the money Orange is returning, as described by Superintendent Patrick Rhodes in The News of Orange County (emphasis is mine):

Superintendent Patrick Rhodes said the $367,656 will come from the textbook carryover fund. This would allow the school system to cut funds without cutting classroom dollars or positions.

Member Debbie Piscitelli asked whether this option would have the least impact on students in the classroom.

“Yes, it’s excess money,” Rhodes said. “It’s money that’s not been allocated to any schools.”

The school system has been saving money on textbooks by purchasing fewer books, selling used textbooks back and by scheduling the same class during different semesters at OHS and Cedar Ridge High School, thus allowing books to be shipped between schools.

Kudos to school officials who have found a more efficient way to use textbooks.

What I wonder, however, is whether there is more “excess money” sitting with Orange schools and other systems across the state. “Excess money” belongs to the taxpayers.