Schools Fear Budget Cuts
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: March 7, 2013
State aid cuts continue to impact school budgets. That's why the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership is taking a stand by holding an educational rally next week.
Students, like Senior Tyler Lang, have witnessed the cuts in the classroom.
"Our staff has definitely made an effect because you got one teacher now that teaches German and when my little brother comes to school I'm pretty sure there is not going to be German to choose," said Tyler Lang, a Pembroke High School Senior.
Ken Ellison is the superintendent of Pavilion Central School District. He says low wealth school districts are feeling the burden at a higher cost than others.
"Rural schools generally receive 60/70 percent state aid as part of their budget where wealthy districts might only receive 5 or 10 percent of their aid from that revenue source, so a 10 percent cut of 65 percent of our revenue is staggering," said Ken Ellison.
For Pavilion Central School District, that means 25 teacher positions eliminated.
"The specific cuts that we have lost. We've reduced classroom teachers, we've reduced special education teachers, we've cut back on our music program," said Ellison.
Michael Martella is a Legal Careers Academy instructor. He says as AP classes and college programs are cut, students are losing out on opportunities that may impact their future.
"We want to prepare students for the future. We want to make them globally competitive and we are telling rural districts, maybe you aren't even gong to be competitive with your own state," said Michael Martella.
"I've got a friend, she's not in this state, she's in Pennsylvania. We talk about it all the time. Her cuts not even close to being affected. She's gained more teachers in Pennsylvania. It just doesn't make sense to me," said Lang.
The rally is set for next Tuesday at the Geneseo Central School District auditorium. It begins at 6:30.
Students, like Senior Tyler Lang, have witnessed the cuts in the classroom.
"Our staff has definitely made an effect because you got one teacher now that teaches German and when my little brother comes to school I'm pretty sure there is not going to be German to choose," said Tyler Lang, a Pembroke High School Senior.
Ken Ellison is the superintendent of Pavilion Central School District. He says low wealth school districts are feeling the burden at a higher cost than others.
"Rural schools generally receive 60/70 percent state aid as part of their budget where wealthy districts might only receive 5 or 10 percent of their aid from that revenue source, so a 10 percent cut of 65 percent of our revenue is staggering," said Ken Ellison.
For Pavilion Central School District, that means 25 teacher positions eliminated.
"The specific cuts that we have lost. We've reduced classroom teachers, we've reduced special education teachers, we've cut back on our music program," said Ellison.
Michael Martella is a Legal Careers Academy instructor. He says as AP classes and college programs are cut, students are losing out on opportunities that may impact their future.
"We want to prepare students for the future. We want to make them globally competitive and we are telling rural districts, maybe you aren't even gong to be competitive with your own state," said Michael Martella.
"I've got a friend, she's not in this state, she's in Pennsylvania. We talk about it all the time. Her cuts not even close to being affected. She's gained more teachers in Pennsylvania. It just doesn't make sense to me," said Lang.
The rally is set for next Tuesday at the Geneseo Central School District auditorium. It begins at 6:30.
