Matrix Staff Writer

Volume XXXVIII: Issue 5: Page 4

With the recent news of Chauncey Elementary School’s closing still echoing in community members’ ears, it is little wonder the new—and greatly reduced—budget is big news. Although threats of school funding cuts have been news for a few years now, it is only recently that students have begun to see the effects of these cuts.

This school year, the school’ family and consumer sciences program and computer classes were cut. While some students did not mind the sudden changes, others were upset.

“Those classes teach you basic skills,” senior Tiffany James said in response to the cuts. “They shouldn’t be taken away like that.”

Sophomore Hannah DeBruin agreed, although she noted that the middle school already teaches classes like the ones that were cut.

However, she also said, “The school should cut other things instead of classes.”

According to Athens City School District Superintendent Carl Martin, the district is looking at cuts all across the board. Although he acknowledged that classes at the high school could be cut in the future, he also stated that the district is “looking at all areas of the budget to see where to make reductions.”

Some of the possible cuts, like Chauncey Elementary’s closing, could be heartbreaking for many students.

James said, “I think the closing is stupid. Where are all those kids supposed to go? Where are the teachers supposed to go?”

However, the school district is in more trouble than most people have realized. Martin said that the school district has been reduced over $2,000,000 in state funding, which means that they must make up for this lost money or else go into the red.

Although Chauncey’s closing is a significant reduction in the budget, it is, unfortunately, not enough. Martin stated, “We reduced $500,000 this school year and need to reduce over $1.5 million for the next year.” This may mean that many more cuts are still to come as Athens CSD heads into the 2012-2013 school year.