A heated discussion between board members and the crowd, over the board-approved recommendation for $230,000 in school repairs for Clark Elementary, fueled a Selma City School Board meeting at Clark Thursday.

School board member J. Holland Powell opposed, saying the motion didn’t make sense.

“Our schools need newer books,” Powell said. “We shouldn’t focus on the repairs of just one school.”

Don Jefferson, Selma superintendent, said the $231,000 in repairs and renovations for the school is only an estimate.

“It could be that amount or a little less,” Jefferson said. “This building is age specific — equipped for 5-year-olds. Space is limited and the school has reached capacity at 66 percent. These funds will not be coming from the general budget fund.”

The Selma City School System was given more than $1,046,000 to maintain area schools. Funding for the new Selma High School used $700,000 of the reserve funds, leaving other schools with a little more than $280,000 to use.

School board member Brenda R. Obomanu, said her decision is reflective of the plight of all students.

“It doesn’t matter to me which kids have cars or who walks to school,” Obomanu said. “It matters to me about the kids; all kids should have a quality education.”

Jefferson also said if the state fiscal 2012 budget passes, more than $90 million in other current expenses would be cut from the state’s Education Trust Fund, which would affect the jobs of support personnel.

“Education in Alabama is facing a storm,” Jefferson said. “Many support staff, like janitors would be gone. If we have to reduce the force, it would be our last resort.”

Obomanu believes the reduction of force would lead to letting teachers go.

“It’s already hard for us to find teachers as it is,” Obomanu said. “If we let support staff go, it will carry over to teachers.”

If the legislation passes, Jefferson said he would let the public know of what cuts would need to be made.

Board president, Henry Hicks Sr., believes it’s a difficult road ahead.

“There’s some hard decisions that must be made,” Hicks said. “We have to do what’s best for our children.”

All but Powell voted in favor of 20 percent at-risk funds for the non-governmental agencies the Brant Center, Selma Disabilities Advocacy Program and Dallas County Children’s Policy Council, arguing the organizations had no proof of filed tax returns.