All three of the county’s school boards will meet today to make final decisions about staffing for next year. State law requires schools to pass out pink slips prior to the last day of school.

The Opp Board of Education is meeting at 8:30 a.m. today; Covington County Board of Education meets at noon; and the Andalusia Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m.

All three are expected to make personnel cuts, either through retirements, or non-renewals. The state education budget for 2011-2012 calls for a reduction in 1,200 teachers statewide.

Both the Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate have approved similar versions of the budget, which came out of conference committee last night. The budget was expected to be approved last night. However, it was sent back to conference committee after some House members were upset over provisions dealing with liability insurance for teachers. One observer called it “the most tense moment in the session.”