JEFFERSON — After weeks of discussions about the 2011 budget and finding places to save money, the Jackson County Board of Education will meet Monday and vote on a plan that could cut between 40 and 44 jobs systemwide.

Board members discussed the potential personnel cuts in executive session last week and in executive sessions following its two-day retreat in March.

Board Chairwoman Kathy Wilbanks said Superintendent Shannon Adams has spent time in the last two weeks talking to those who may be affected by the cuts, which are expected to impact all levels of personnel.

“Some in the central office, some support personnel, just a couple of teaching positions and some extra stuff,” Wilbanks said about the possible cuts. “We’re trying to stay out of the classroom as much as we can.”

In addition to the job cuts, Wilbanks said the system took into account nonpersonnel-related actions to save money.

The board voted on a reduction in force plan around the same time last year, which saved the system about $3 million by cutting positions, implementing a furlough plan and eliminating the regional evening school program at the Gordon Street Center in Jefferson.

Wilbanks said the system expects more cuts from the state level and will strive to keep its fund balance between $2.5 million and $3 million in order to handle those reductions.

“We’re at $2.6 million right now, and if we can manage that, then I think we can handle whatever’s coming down the road from the state,” she said.