COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Education Superintendent Jim Rex said public schools need flexibility to handle spending cuts.

State lawmakers asked Rex on Tuesday why highly paid agency employees are not taking pay cuts.

St. Matthews Rep. Harry Ott questioned Rex about agency plans to cut 66 bus mechanics and cut bus driver pay. School spending has been cut by $334 million since July.

The department backed off plans to cut the mechanic jobs. Rex said that would create too many problems.

Rex said bus drivers would lose pay unless schools get more flexibility to handle their spending.

Rex told Ott that flexibility would also allow him to order more furloughs for his agency's highest paid workers.