Many government services and departments are facing budget cuts, and some of these cuts will affect the school. Due to the abruptness of the cuts, it is unclear how the school will be affected, aside from slower processes, caused by over 1,300 of the 4,100 workers in the department of education being laid off.
“This year we have free food, at least breakfast and lunch, for everyone in the building,” Chris Chlebeck, principal, said. “I don’t know if that goes away.”
There are plans for major budget cuts in the department of agriculture, mainly targeting food banks and school food programs. While not all of these budget cuts have been enacted yet, the goal is to cut roughly one billion dollars from the budget. It is unclear whether or not the school’s free food program will be cut.
“It will depend upon the state finding a way to help sure up some of the cash,” Chlebeck said, “If the state gives us similar money there will be minimal disruption.”
About 13% of public school funding comes from the federal government. It is not yet known how much of that funding may be cut. It is also possible that the Headstart program, a federally funded preschool program, will be cut.
“For a lot of schools across the state, that is going to have a ginormous impact,” Chlebeck said.
Along with the Headstart program, there has been discussion of cutting title one funds, money given to schools with a large number of low income students. While this school does not receive title one funds, some schools in the district rely on them. Title one funds are often used to pay for extra programs, such as after school tutoring.
There has also been a freeze on discretionary financial aid, which is meant to help students below the poverty line to pay for college, as well as conversation about cutting federal funding to certain colleges.
Alongside the education and agricultural cuts, there have been cuts to suicide hotlines, resulting in destaffing.
“I think it [destaffing] is going to be detrimental,” said Juli Godkin, social worker.
There are some non-profit crisis lines that do not entirely rely on government funding, such as The Crisis Text Line, Samaritans USA, Trans Lifeline, and The Youthline.
“They are really relying on people to come in and volunteer their time,” said Godkin.
While volunteering is beneficial to suicide hotlines, it may not be enough to stop the effects of the budget cuts.
