A state decision on funding of five career academies has been delayed.  Four area school systems have filed an application for a regional career academy located at Southeastern Tech in Vidalia.

STC President Dr. Cathy Meehan-Mitchell was enroute to the board meeting of the Technical College System of Georgia Thursday morning when she got the word that funding of the career academies had been removed from the meeting agenda.

Board member Allen Rice of Vidalia says the state's overall economic condition is one of the factors delaying a funding decision.  The state budget includes $15 million to start the five academies which supporters say reduce the high school dropout rate by providing job training.

Schools systems in Vidalia, Toombs, Treutlen and Montgomery partnered with Southeastern Tech in filing an application for $3.2 million to start the school.  

Mike Light, the spokesman for the Technical College System, says he expects the career academy project will be back on the board's agenda at its December meeting.

State representative Butch Parrish of Swainsboro also attended the board meeting to express his concerns about the board's decision to save money by merging 14 of the state's technical colleges including the ones in Swainsboro and Vidalia.