These are some of the ways Wake County school board members and administrators used to describe the 2009 budget passed by county board commissioners: irresponsible, shocking. A lack of good faith. Disrespect for education in the county.

The Wake County Public School System is discussing ways to deal with a shortfall in requested funding.

"I can tell you I was very disappointed in what I heard," said Rosa Gill, school board chair, at the Wake County Board of Education work session.

The school board had requested $355 million in funding for fiscal year 2009, but Monday, the Wake County Board of Commissioners passed a budget that allocates the schools $319.2 million.

Three million dollars of that funding is dependent on whether actual school enrollment on the 20th day of school meets, falls short of, or exceeds, projected enrollment.

"I'm sure that we will come up with a great decision to deal with what we have and try to make sure it does not impact learning and teaching very much," Gill said. "But I know we are going to have to make some cuts."

According to Superintendent Del Burns, it's likely the school system will trim its costs by cutting funding for new programs or program expansions, in areas such as elementary foreign languages, special education, literacy coaching, special education, and gang prevention. School employees may not get as much of a pay raise as anticipated.

Gill said she was insulted by the county board's decision to allocate the school budget by purpose and function, rather than in a lump sum to be used at the school system's discretion.

"That says to me that they are trying to micromanage," Gill said. "I would have much rather they'd given us the money, and allowed us to decide how we can best educate our kids."

After the budget passed on a split vote among county commissioners Monday, Chair Joe Bryan cited the slowing economy as a reason for not being able to fully fund requested in many areas.

"We had to prioritize to keep the tax rates as low as possible and still meet the needs of Wake County," Bryan said.

The school board has scheduled a special meeting Monday, June 23, at 1 p.m. to discuss and possibly take action on budget cuts.