Scotland County Board Chairman J.D. Willis suggested this week that the school system needs to take a hard look at its expenses, including the salary of Superintendent Shirley Prince, which at more than $214,000 a year is among the 10 highest in the state.

Willis addressed the issue of the school system's finances during a meeting of the county commissioners on Monday.

In a power point demonstration, Willis presented what he said were statistics that speak for themselves. Most of the information came from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, Willis said.

"These are not J.D.'s figures," he said. "This is a matter of public record."

Among the top 10 school superintendent salaries statewide, Scotland County ranked sixth, with Prince's salary at $214,736.

In the category of superintendents' local supplements, which according to Willis are county taxpayer dollars used to supplement the superintendent's salary, Scotland County led among benchmark counties at $92,324. The Columbus County school superintendent was second at $47,015.

Willis added that the school superintendent salary topped the list of public officials in the county, with two associate superintendent positions following at $127,889 and $110, 295 respectively.

Willis' comment was: "I don't know what to say."

Under the category of top 10 superintendents' local supplements compared to total teacher positions and student population, the county ranked fifth in the state at $92,324 for 627 positions serving 6,778 students.

"This is a $92,000 supplement for a system with less than 7,000 students," Willis said. "Forsyth County with 51,000 only has an $82,000 supplement."

Willis suggested that the big salaries had not produced big improvements. He showed a chart that compared end of course testing results over a two year period.

"English proficiency is down, and geometry is down, while civics increased, but if you notice there were only 15 students tested.

"These are non-honor students, the ones we should be most concerned with," Willis said. "If they don't perform, and their grades continue to go down, they will fill the jails, and they will be at social services. These are the ones we should be involved with."

A total of 213 students dropped out of classes during the 2007-2008 school year.

"Student numbers are decreasing, while spending is increasing," Willis said.

Willis also showed a chart comparing the funded expenses for counties with comparable student numbers. Scotland County ranked first with a county funded current expense of $10,317,106. Second was Duplin County at $7,347,646.

"We spent more local money per child than these other counties," Willis said. "If they can operate at $6 to $7 million, we ought to be able to run at $9 to $9 1/2 at least."

School board Chairman Jimmy Bennett deferred comment on Willis' presentation.

"I was not present at the meeting and cannot comment until I know more about what was discussed," Bennett said, offering to speak on the matter today.

But Willis said he had spoken with Prince and "all but one" of the school board members about the issue and advised them that he planned to make a public presentation.

"I am not out to pick on Dr. Prince or anyone associated with the school system in particular," Willis said. "I am simply concerned that because other county agencies are tightening their belts, and because of the fact that we are in a recession, it might be good if the school system did so as well. Since they receive the largest portion of taxpayer dollars, it would be good if they would give two or three cents of the property tax dollars back to the county citizens who pay taxes."

In a statement addressing the issue, Prince said school officials will work with the county.

"Since the new funding formula was agreed to by both boards, our board has been willing to negotiate during bad economic times," she said. "This year will be no different. Our board will look at ways to help the county out."

Still, Commissioner Clarence McPhatter questioned Willis' approach to addressing the matter.

"If you kick the mule ..." McPhatter began.

"I'm not kicking the mule," Willis said. "Like I said, these are not J.D.'s numbers."