By Beth Cassidy
Enterprise Record

As the economy struggles to turn upward, Davie school officials are once again hopeful they will be able to retain as many employees as possible, dealing with cuts through retirements and resignations, rather than lay-offs.
They have begun the task of creating the 2012-13 budget with a draft deadline of a May 1 presentation to the board of education and a May 15 deadline to the county commissioners.
Superintendent Dr. Darrin Hartness shared with the board members at their meeting last week a history of budget trends from 1969, from a time when public schools received 52.5 percent of the state’s general fund. That allotment dipped to an all-time low in 2010-11, to 37.4 percent, rising slightly last year, to 38.5.
“If our public schools were still funded at the same percentage as in fiscal year 1969-70, we would have an additional $2.7 billion for our students,” he said.
Instead, the state is ranked 42nd in terms of how much is …