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With a projected budget of nearly $1.7 billion for the 2011 school year — a $42 million decrease from the current budget — Prince George's County school board members say their final year in office might be their most challenging.

"We are down to the bare bones as it is, and there is nothing else to cut," said Board of Education member Linda Thomas (Dist. 4). "I don't want us to cut another person from the schools."

Last year, 600 employees, including parent liaisons, assistant principals and instructional staff were laid off as part of a reduction in force, and this year an additional 490 positions could be cut, according to the 2011 preliminary budget released Dec. 16.

Concerned about larger student-to-teacher ratios and fewer administrative staff members, Thomas said she is hoping to request internal departmental audits in January.

"There are a number of departments we have yet to audit since I've been here," Thomas said. "[An audit] would give us the opportunity to know where we can cut."

Thomas, who was elected to the school board in 2006, said she hopes to eliminate waste and middle-management positions from the school system's central services, as opposed to taking teachers or administrators out of schools.

However, Superintendent William Hite Jr. said classroom sizes likely will increase by one student, to 26 or 27 students per class, in grades four through 12 next year.

"Coming into this year, we knew this would be a difficult year for us," Hite said at a recent budget meeting.

The elimination of those nearly 500 positions would save the school system a projected $77 million, which could be put toward core services for classrooms, said Matt Stanski, the school system's chief operating officer.

The projected budget gap will force the board to make difficult decisions, Thomas said, as all nine members ready for their last year in office.

School board elections will be held next year for all nine county seats. Thus far, no board members have filed for reelection.

Board of Education Chair Verjeana Jacobs (At large) and Vice Chairman Ron Watson (At large), who were reelected Dec. 7 to serve as leaders of the board, agreed their final year in office will challenge them to provide an equitable and high level of education across the county.

Jacobs identified the ongoing boundary realignments as a perpetual challenge.

Over the last year, the school board oversaw a realignment of school boundaries and the closure of eight schools in southern parts of the county. The board is now focusing on elementary and middle schools in northern and central parts of the county. Next year's third and final round of the assessment will focus on high schools.

The current boundary proposal has drawn community criticism, as parents say it fails to address enrollment concerns at many of the 96 schools being reviewed. The proposal has been revised once, and additional changes will be made to the plan before the board votes on it in January.

The tightened budget also might affect potential projects for the eight schools closed last year, which include Berkshire Elementary in District Heights, G. Gardner Shugart Middle in Temple Hills, John Carroll Elementary in Landover, John E. Howard Elementary in Capitol Heights, Matthew Henson Elementary in Landover, Middleton Valley Elementary in Temple Hills, Morningside Elementary in Suitland and Owens Road Elementary in Oxon Hill.

Potential uses for the shuttered schools include a green jobs training center and expanding the French immersion program. However, it remains unclear whether these projects will be budgeted.

"We have all these facilities. We are not using these to the fullest extent," Thomas said. "We've tried to put together partnerships, but we need to do something a little bit more aggressive now."