The Richmond County Board of Education unanimously agreed Monday to provide teachers and counselors days off to compensate for state-mandated pay cuts.

Previously, county teachers' pay had been cut the equivalent of five furlough days, but they were only allowed to leave 15 minutes early each day.

Monday's decision, recommended by Superintendent Dana Bedden, allows all 190-day certified staff and middle and high school counselors to take a half day off on early release dates -- Oct. 20 and Nov. 10 -- and full days off on what had been professional learning dates Oct. 21 and Jan. 19.

A furlough day Feb. 15 had been established in July for all school system employees.

Dr. Bedden said the days off would replace the 15-minute early departures.

"This is compensation for lost wages that they have not received already," he said.

Dr. Bedden said there was discussion about giving 190-day certified staff time off at some point in the school year when the decision to cut pay was made.

"I believe they deserve the time off," he said after the meeting, but he was waiting to get a better picture of what further state cuts might be on the horizon.

He said his recommendation Monday followed many "negative and nasty" e-mails suggesting that teachers should be getting days off. He said most of the staff appreciates the absence of layoffs.

Dr. Bedden said more tough days could be ahead for the school system, and he couldn't rule out the possibility of layoffs. He said area legislators have told school officials that more state cuts could come in January.

He said at Monday's meeting that the size of the cuts could determine whether layoffs are needed. He said there might be other money-saving options, such as shortening some school days, but he added, "I'm running out of tricks."

Furloughs involving school bus drivers also came up at Monday's called board meeting.

Dr. Bedden told the board that bus drivers had been given a pay reduction equivalent to a four-day furlough. He said state law requires bus drivers to work each day students attend school, negating the possibility of off days.

Board member Jimmy Atkins then mentioned how some bus drivers had said they weren't aware of the cuts until they recently received their paychecks. Dr. Bedden said they were told of the cuts and didn't voice concerns. Mr. Atkins also was told that there were meetings with about 90 bus drivers about the changes.

Mr. Atkins encouraged Dr. Bedden to get with school board attorney Pete Fletcher. He said employees spreading erroneous information should be disciplined.

"It's time we take a stand," Mr. Atkins said.

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-3851 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.