Douglas County School System leaders asked state lawmakers last week to consider the financial effects of legislation on the system while seeking support for programs which may require additional future funding.

System officials met with legislators including District 67 State Rep. Bill Hembree, R-Winston; District 30 State Sen. Bill Hamrick, R-Carrollton; and others as part of a series of meetings to discuss requests for local legislation.

Among the legislation Douglas school officials discussed was House Bill 713, which would delay for one year implementation of state law requiring ninth-graders to declare a career path in a variety of subjects ranging from agriculture to logistics. County School Superintendent Gordon Pritz said the board was supporting the delay because of uncertainties in the plan.

“We’re asking for a delay so we can do it right,” Pritz said. “It does entail … sitting down with parents and the student, and discussing how to bring counselors up to speed on this.”

Other issues discussed included legislation to overhaul juvenile crime and punishment laws.

District 1 board member Mike Miller said he had concerns about any “unintended consequences” in revisions to the laws which could affect the Douglas County school system financially.

Pritz said the board’s concerns included lack of funding for job positions the law might require within the school system.

Board member Sam Haskell said he hoped lawmakers would consider helping Douglas County fund schools that specialize in specific subject areas.

Hembree called the magnet school concept a “great idea.” Pritz noted it was a two- to three-year process to determine the demand for such programs from students and parents.

Douglas County High School houses an International Baccalaureate magnet program, Pritz said. Hembree asked if the Legislature could do anything to help increase enrollment in the programs.

“It all comes back to funding,” Pritz said.