Gainesville City Schools started the fiscal year with the anticipation of 10 furlough days to try to soften the financial blow on the system.

But Monday night, the board of education restored three of those days to the calendar and will bring the topic back up in November.

“We need to get our students back in the classroom the full number of days and we need to get our teachers back on full salary,” said Delores Diaz, board member. “We can’t continue to operate with such a skeleton crew, as we have been.”

In June, the board adopted a budget that was based on 10 furlough days, but voted Monday night to finalize the millage rate roll-up, now set at 7.59. The original budget was set with a 7.39 millage rate.

The roll-up will add a projected $1.4 million into the general fund, which now stands at $52.5 million.

The roll-up, however, was not unanimous. Board member Sammy Smith voted against the roll-up — the only dissenting vote.

“We did approve the budget back in June that was built upon the premise of a 7.39 millage rate,” said Smith. “So, that took months and months to build and we had good, healthy debate, so I hope my vote was consistent with maintaining the 7.39 rate.

“I understand the roll-up business and I understand the debate in terms whether or not it’s considered to be a tax increase, I understand that. I also understand we have about 8.5 percent unemployment.”

Smith did vote in favor of the restoration of the furlough days, however.

“I do feel for teachers and staff who are really penalized moreso from the lack of state revenues,” he said.

“One vote was over with and we accepted it and moved on, so let’s go to the next vote.”

Without the restoration of the furlough days, the estimated fund balance at the end of the fiscal year was around $4.4 million.

Each furlough day restored is anticipated to cost the system about $200,000, dropping that ending balance to about $3.8 million.

“It’s something that’s needed to be done and we’re glad we’re finally in a position to do something, even if it’s just three days, it’s a start,” said Diaz.

The board restored May 21, 2013, and Dec. 20 and 21 of this year.

Additional days may be restored in November depending on how the tax digest looks at that time.

The board may also consider various ways to address the overcrowding in the system’s classrooms, a concern brought up by some parents Monday night.

“We need to look at the big picture,” said Diaz. “We have needs in all of our schools with overcrowding and we need to do something about it.”

That, she said, may be moving people around or adding positions, if the money is available.

“We’re all in agreement that we need to do something, we just don’t know what that something is,” Diaz said.

David Syfan, board member, said he’d “be willing to trade a furlough day if we can help that situation.”