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GREENSBORO — Suspended students will again be able to participate in a church outreach program this school year after school board members pooled dollars Tuesday to make a dent on the district's discipline problems.

The Guilford County Board of Education voted 5-4 to balance its $162.5 million budget, while managing to save some previously targeted teaching positions. Altogether, the board approved spending:

l $140,000 on a suspension program at New Light Missionary Baptist Church;

l $420,000 on an unspecified number of elementary teaching and teacher assistant positions;

l $100,000 for Homefield Advantage, which aims to reduce student mobility in low-income communities.

The board agreed to several cuts to make up for a $3 million budget shortfall, including 20 new middle school teachers and several vacant central office and social worker positions.

Several school board members said they wanted to continue the New Light program, which aimed last school year to reduce repeat student suspensions in district high schools.

"To me, it's a no-brainer that we need to continue this program through this budget," board member Amos Quick said.

Sharon Ozment, chief finance officer for Guilford County Schools, said the district could afford to continue the pilot program through the next school year. The district learned it would face a smaller shortfall after the state budget was approved in late July.

That gain opened the door to fund the suspension program for a full school year. Superintendent Terry Grier had intended to expand the New Light program to other sites in the district as part of a comprehensive plan to improve discipline in schools. That plan lost steam when county commissioners approved less funding than the district requested.

Quick questioned ending the New Light program — which cost the district about $78,000 — after its short run from February to June.

"There's a real danger when we invite the community to help us and then eliminate them after four months," Quick said. "Despite what we think, this Board of Education and this school system will not be able to educate children by themselves."

The board reviewed an annual report of the New Light program earlier in the meeting that found 16 percent of the 153 students who participated were suspended again after leaving the program.

Districtwide, 47 percent of suspended students are repeat offenders, said Eric Becoats, the chief of staff.

Program director Kim Lilly said she thought the church met its goal of reducing repeat suspensions. Lilly also questioned principals who said they noticed little change in participants' behavior.

"To think that work habits and behavior are going to change in one to 10 days is unrealistic," Lilly told the board.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or mjosey@news-record.com