JACKSON — They came divided, but left united.

A little less than one month after the budget dispute process began, the Northampton County Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners reached an agreement on Thursday. In late June the Board of Education began the dispute process after county officials cut the schools’ current expense budget by $393,462.

According to the 2011-12 Budget Agreement, provided to the media by Judge James D. Llewellyn, who served as mediator, the commissioners, upon written request from the Board of Education, will authorize an immediate transfer of $200,000 from the school system’s approved fiscal year 2011-12 capital outlay budget to the current expense fund.

That transfer increases the school system’s current expense fund (fueled by local tax dollars) to $3,361,538.

Meanwhile, the transfer leaves $145,000 in the capital outlay budget, money set aside for use for building and grounds improvement projects for the schools. There was $345,000 available in that account for the 2011-12 budget year.

But there was more to Thursday’s agreement than a transfer of capital outlay funds.

“The Board of Commissioners does further authorize an additional $100,000 payable to the Board of Education during FY 2011-12,” the agreement reads. “This $100,000 may be paid in a lump sum or increments as determined by the Northampton County Manager and Finance Officer; however, the additional $100,000 will be paid in full to the Board of Education, above and beyond the FY 2011-12 budgeted amount of $3,506,538 (which included the $345,000 in capital outlay), bringing the new total for FY 2011-2012 to $3,606,538 on or before June 30, 2012.”

The agreement also states that the two boards agree to hold at least three joint meetings during this fiscal year with the dates and times being the second Mondays in August, December and April, all beginning at 5:30 p.m. It was noted that the August and April meetings were to take place in the commissioners’ room while the December meeting to take place at the Board of Education’s facility. 

The agreement was the result of nearly two and a half hours of closed door mediation between the two governing entities, their respective legal representation and Judge Llewellyn.

A few minutes after the joint meeting convened, Judge Llewellyn immediately set the ground rules.

“Once I sign that agreement you guys have to operate under the rules of that agreement for at least the next calendar year until budget time comes. I hope we can resolve in such a fashion that we don’t have to do this again,” he said. “It’s spending your time and the county’s money when both of you, in my opinion, more than likely, have the good of the county at your heart and on your minds.”

Judge Llewellyn directed the two boards to convene their governing entities and then go into two separate closed sessions. The Board of Education met in their closed session in the small courtroom at the back of the building while the commissioners met in their board room.

“When you’re in a private session the open meetings law does not apply,” said Llewellyn. “That is when things are said in an effort to get matters settled.”

Judge Llewellyn noted the benefit of a settled agreement.

“Once I sign this agreement I want you to know that this perspective lawsuit that hangs over our heads like a big dark cloud will be gone,” he said. “And that’s what you all should be striving to do.”

The two boards were in the separate closed sessions for more than two hours as approximately 15 citizens and school employees waited in the hallways outside of the two rooms

In the end, the two boards along with Llewellyn seemed pleased with the agreement as they reconvened in open session.

“I would commend both boards for bending without breaking,” said Judge Llewellyn. “You’ve saved the taxpayers of this good county a great deal of money; you saved yourselves a great deal of anguish, uncertainty and anxiety.”

School Board Chair Donald Johnson extended comments and his hand to Commission Chair Fannie Greene.

“We need to keep this open line of communication,” he said.

Greene said the Board of Commissioners appreciated the comments.

“We look forward with working and meeting with you as set out (in the agreement) and more if needed,” she said.  

“I’m going to be the first one to admit that the only thing that I did was build the fence and they kept the ball going in between,” said Llewellyn.

After the meeting, County Manager Wayne Jenkins said the agreement was an example of the strong leadership in the county.

“We look forward to working through and completing the terms of the agreement,” he said. “And the action today on behalf of both boards was in the best interest of the taxpayers of this county and in continuing to protect education.”