JEFFERSON — A lack of revenue is causing the Jefferson City Schools System Board of Education to seek out alternative funding sources.

During Thursday’s meeting, the board approved establishing a line of credit with Northeast Georgia Bank. The line of credit is necessary to allow the system to cover operating costs until they receive funds from local tax collections.

"We have a situation where we need a line of credit available to us to cover operating costs until local revenue starts to flow," said John Jackson, school system superintendent.

"We won’t use any more (credit) than we have to; when we start receiving revenue we’ll get out."

The established line carries a cap of $1 million, but system officials say that they won’t need that much credit from the bank. The contract expires on Dec. 31, said Ron Hopkins, school board chairman.

The board also approved Title 20 and Title 50 waiver requests to be submitted to the Georgia Board of Education. The waivers would give the system flexibility on various state requirements related to things like class size, direct classroom expenditures and personnel numbers. The system cites "substantial hardships as a result of the decline in state revenue and the cuts to state QBE funds and state grants" as the reasons why the waivers may be necessary.

"We’re not saying that we would be using the waivers," said Hopkins. "This just gives us the wiggle room if we need to."

During the meeting, the group also discussed progress with the renovation of the Cooley House on Martin Street. The board recently purchased the property, which will be used as office space once the renovations are complete. So far, some interior demolition has been completed and the board is in the process of reviewing bids for HVAC work and replacing a rotted doorway.