This year, $400 million has been cut from Alabama's state education budget, because of a loss of stimulus funds.

This has left school districts looking for new ways to stay afloat.

Because of recent cuts, the Linden School District in Marengo County has eliminated three teacher positions.

In an effort to help teachers with needed materials, the district has also started an initiative called 'The Dollar Plan'.

"We decided that all of us would participate, parents, the board of education members, teachers and students, to pay $1. We factor that to be about $8,000 a year, if everybody participates," said Dr. Tyrone Smith, superintendent.

Smith says the district actually kicked off the initiative near the end of last school year, and it was a success.