Students react to proposed budget cuts

Sisters Middle School students have begun to notice the sting of budget cuts.

Lauren Marcy, MacKenzie McClain, Jordan Weber, and Ford Bauer suspended their vigorous basketball game on Friday, April 28, to share their thoughts on the projected cuts to their school.

Marcy says that changes to the choir program have had an impact.

"It used to be my favorite class but getting a different teacher right at the end of the year makes it really hard to adjust," she said.

The others nodded in agreement.

Middle school music teacher Jill Storie was laid off in March. High school choral music instructor Elizabeth Renner was reassigned to the middle school in order to preserve the middle school music program.

The March cut-back included the lay-off of some aides and temporary staff and an agreement by all school staff to take a two-day cut in their schedule. The cuts were initiated to save about $200,000 in the face of a $400,000 shortfall this year and next.

Students understand the less-visible impacts of a shrinking budget.

Marcy said that architecture is the most exciting class available at the middle school.

"It makes math interesting and it brings together a lot of other interesting stuff, like art," she said.

But, Marcy added in frustration, "It's almost impossible to get in the class -- everyone wants to take it!"

Three-sport participant McClain noted that, "In high school, there are a lot more electives. We'd like more in our school, not less... and we'd like to be asked what new ones to add."

Jordan Weber, who enjoys playing basketball, expressed concern that the sports program wouldn't continue the same after the cuts.

"I'd like to be able to look forward and feel good about sports instead of being frustrated and looking back and seeing how much better it was," he said.

Marcy, who enjoys basketball and volleyball, says that for Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation (SOAR) to take over the sports programs would be a stretch.

"They don't manage many sports now, just the tournaments," she said.

The thought of the changes to the school upset Marcy.

"I feel like trying hard this summer to get enough money to go to a different school," she said.

"Our kids are concerned," said middle school counselor Steve Summerfield. "It's the uncertainty... and more than a few of them have come to me to talk about it."