Troy School System Bracing for More State Cuts

Tools

By Jessica Gertler

Story Created: Apr 19, 2012 at 5:37 PM CDT

Story Updated: Apr 19, 2012 at 5:37 PM CDT

From the CBS 8 Troy Newsroom -- Schools across Alabama could be hit with more cuts next year. Last night, a senate committee approved an education budget that would slash funding for public schools and universities, cut jobs and increase classroom sizes.

While the senate committee's budget does give more money to public schools than the budget Governor Bentley proposed in February, Troy's Superintendent Lee Hicks says no matter what budget is passed, it will hurt.

It's news no school system in Alabama wants to hear.

A senate committee approved a $5.5 billion education budget for next year, which is about $150 million less than this year's budget.

Hicks says he's started working on a solution.

"We just have to kind of look at each one, and see which one will pass, and then adjust our personnel and adjust our programs accordingly," he says.

If the senate committee's budget passes, classroom sizes would increase, eliminating roughly 800 teaching jobs statewide.

"That means the state would only pay for a cent number of teachers, and then the local school system would have to cover the rest," Hicks says.

"That's the last thing we should be cutting in the state," says concerned grandmother Lana Vandusen .

She says she can't believe the news, and she's worried this could put more pressure on parents.

"It's bothering me, because my son's having a terrible time. He's a single parent. He raises his son, and he's running out of money. I buy most of the school supplies," she says. "It's just such an increase in cost, and I don't understand how it's gotten to this point."

Veyonder Rumph says every time the state slashes the education budget, she's left with a longer school supply list.

"Kleenex. Hand sanitizer. Paper towels. You got to get Ziploc bags. You have to get pencils paper," she says.

Hicks says no matter what budget passes, he promises he won't let this hurt the students.

"We need to understand the students are our future and to adequately fund them is very very important," he says.

Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice says over the last four years, the state has lost 12,000 education employees and he's predicting this is going to be yet another round of loses.

To look on the bright side: this could help schools in the long run. Because of a new law the legislature passed, that 150 million dollars that is being cut will be set a side to start a reserve for state schools.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

What's onFull Schedule

Featured Content

Hot Video From AP

AP Video