Griffin-Spalding County Schools Superintendent Curtis Jones will be meeting with faculties and staff of all local schools, beginning today, to discuss face-to-face the progress on meeting the funding challenges the school system is facing for the 2012-2013 school year.

Jones had met with staff at all schools during four cluster meetings last fall in which he first addressed the projected funding shortfalls in the general fund budget.

According to a news release by the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS), the upcoming series of meetings is intended to share the progress made by cost containment committees and provide information on the education SPLOST on which Spalding County residents can vote on March 6.

Jones’ meetings with staff have been arranged in coordination with school principals, taking into consideration education SPLOST presentations that are also scheduled at local schools for school councils and parent-teacher-organizations.

“We have a strong desire to make certain our employees have factual information on both the upcoming school SPLOST and the suggestions and options on cutting cost for 2012-2013 and beyond,” said GSCS Director of School and Community Services Anna Burns.

“We know as the cost containment process moves along decision points during February, the information, too, will transition from cost containment options at first to recommendations near the end of the series of meetings. We intend to keep (faculty and staff) as informed as possible, no matter when (their) meeting is scheduled,” Burns said.

In addition to school meetings for employees, there will also be information meetings for central office and transportation staff.

Jones upcoming meetings are scheduled as follows: Beaverbrook Elementary (today, 2:45 p.m.); Cowan Road Elementary and Cowan Road Middle (today, 3:45 p.m., at Cowan Road Middle); Moreland Road Elementary and Program Challenge (Feb. 1, 3 p.m.); Carver Road Middle (Feb. 1, 3:45 p.m.); Moore Elementary, Atkinson Elementary, A.Z. Kelsey Academy, Mainstay Academy and Taylor Street Achievement Center (Feb. 7, 3 p.m. at Taylor Street Achievement Center); Rehoboth Road Middle (Feb. 7, 4 p.m.); Jackson Road Elementary (Feb. 8, 3:30 p.m.); Crescent Elementary (Feb. 9, 3 p.m.); Kennedy Road Middle (Feb. 9, 3:45 p.m.); Spalding High and Futral Road Elementary (Feb. 15, 3:15 p.m.); Orrs Elementary (Feb. 16, 3:15 p.m.); Griffin High (Feb. 16, 4:15 p.m.); and Anne Street Elementary (Feb. 27, 3 p.m.).