Lawmakers seem to agree schools should be allowed to shift money around to patch budget holes between now and June 30.

But they can't decide whether teachers should be exempt from furloughs as a cost-saving tactic.

House members left Columbia Thursday unable to resolve the question, leaving cash-strapped school districts in limbo over how to pay bills over the next four months.

Midyear budget cuts totaling roughly 8.5 percent have educators worried about meeting their obligations, including payroll.

Superintendent Keith Callicutt told Newberry County's school board this week his district faces an $897,000 deficit and could be $1.6 million in the red when he begins writing next year's budget.

Callicutt named a committee to help him decide the fate of Whitmire High School, which next fall will have a projected enrollment of 150 students.

Rep. John Scott, D-Richland, fears other school systems face the same dilemma. "It's pretty bad out there," he said. "I'm really concerned about the impact on our smaller districts."

Rep. Ronny Townsend and Sen. Larry Martin, both Upstate Republicans, stepped forward Feb. 18 with a bailout proposal to relax rules dictating how schools must spend money state government provides for education.

Both believe "spending flexibility" resolutions will enable school districts to redirect state money into accounts that will keep them solvent. The measures would allow school systems to order furloughs -- time-off without pay -- but only as a final option.

Townsend is adamant that local trustees should decide how and when to order furloughs. Martin agrees, but Senate Democrats insisted his resolution protect teachers.

An amended Senate measure, which has the support of the state's largest teachers' organization, requires administrators to take five days off before a local school board can order teachers to do the same. All told, the Senate proposal says administrators could be docked up to 10 days' pay, and teachers, a maximum of five days' pay.

Townsend wanted to strip that language from the Senate version this week and replace it with less restrictive wording that treats all school employees equally when making furlough decisions.

House members on both sides of the aisle were uneasy over a potential backlash over legislation that might force teachers from the classroom during the school year.

Speaker David Wilkins adjourned the House for the week before members could debate a compromise put forth by Rep. Harry Ott. The Calhoun Democrat said he'll offer an amendment next week to make teachers the last group of employees susceptible to furloughs.

"We should try to do everything possible to keep these kids in class and learning," Ott said.

Wilkins, R-Greenville, said he allowed debate to stop just before noon Thursday because he realized House members' stamina was fading.

"I thought it justified another hour of debate," he said. The measure will be rescheduled for a vote next Tuesday.

Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg, was visibly angry when colleagues voted to adjourn.

"We needed to get this done (Thursday)," Walker said. "The schools need our help, and they need it right away. Some of them can't wait too much longer. They're in a crisis."