By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

Two Dallas County Schools are now without head football coaches, but on-field results are not the reason.

Dallas County High School coach Darryl Burns’ position was not renewed for the upcoming year and Southside High School coach Lemuel Jones turned in his letter of resignation and will retire.

Burns’ position was not renewed due to Dallas County Schools losing teacher units at the state level.

“Teacher units are allocated by schools,” said Dr. Fannie Major-McKenzie, superintendent of Dallas County Schools. “We reduced teacher units across the board at all of our schools.”

Teacher units are the number of teaching positions available to each school.

According to Dr. McKenzie, budget cuts are the cause of the loss of teacher units and it’s something that happens at schools all around the state.

She said, when teacher units are cut, electives are the first classes to be cut.

Burns was over the computer lab elective class, which was not renewed for the upcoming school year.

Elective classes are the first to be cut in order for schools to maintain core-teaching positions, such as math, history and science.

“Our first order of business is making sure we have enough teachers for our core areas,” said McKenzie.

McKenzie said the situation regarding the coaching positions is still being assessed, but nothing is being ruled out including whether the next coaches will be hired from within or outside the schools.

“We have to make a decision that fits our financial scheme because we don’t have a lot of extra money,” said McKenzie. “So, we’re going to have to work within the constraints of our budget.”

McKenzie said on-the-field performance played no part in the decision.

She said the same procedure will be followed to fill both coaching positions after the financial situation is examined.

“We’re not ruling out anything, whether it be an inside or outside hire,” McKenzie said. “Both schools will have coaches this year and we’re looking forward to another good year.”