COURTLAND—Southampton County Public Schools faces a $1.27 million deficit for next fiscal year’s budget.

Superintendent Charles Turner said Friday he will make suggestions to the School Board for balancing the budget during a 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, meeting at Southampton Technical Career Center. The meeting is open to the public.

Turner did not want to talk about his suggestions to The Tidewater News until meeting with the board.

“I have not met with the board,” he said. “I’m very cautious in terms of sharing information they do not have.”

Turner said, however, that he will not recommend closing any schools, laying off teachers or cutting programs.

Part of the deficit is blamed on Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposed budget for education, which calls for a $914,688 reduction in state funding to Southampton County Public Schools.

“That’s the projected,” Turner said.

The state House has proposed a budget that would give even less to the schools, while the state Senate’s option would give more than McDonnell’s proposal, Turner said.

The budget will be presented for approval during the School Board’s 7 p.m. Monday, March 14, meeting at the Career Center.