HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Hattiesburg Public School District Superintendent James Bacchus is looking at cutting $750,000 from next year's budget. To do that, he's asking district employees to help him start saving now.

In a memo Bacchus has posted on the district's website, The Hattiesburg American reports (http://hatne.ws/VLZ7KC ) he has asked employees to save $425,000 through a combination of energy conservation and wellness initiatives.

Bacchus has proposed saving $250,000 by cutting back on energy use in the district's buildings.

The district's energy education specialist, Richard Bennett, said last year district employees cut back on energy use by about 12.5%.

Bennett said he checks each school and building to see that lights and computers are off and thermostats are turned down.

Information from: The Hattiesburg American, http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com

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