More cuts to education because of lack of revenue, leadership.

A recent article in the Herald-Leader asks, "Is college no longer affordable?"

For more and more students, the answer is no, it isn't. 

The reason is state budget cuts, according to a news release from KET. The program was funded by a grant from the Council on Postsecondary Education.

More than 140,000 students have earned college credits through the program over a span of nearly 30 years, according to KET.

And finally, according to a survey by the Kentucky School Boards Association, the budget cuts have caused 975 lost jobs in Kentucky's public school systems--a sweeping loss both for education, and of jobs.  In Perry County, 48 teachers' aides have lost their jobs.  Almost half of the 975 cut positions are cuts from teacher positions, which also means larger class sizes.  The average class size in Somerset Independent, for example, moved up from 20 to 28.  You can read about it this Courier-Journal article or this Herald-Leader article

 

When adjusted for inflation, the state's funding of K-12 education will decline by $172 million this fiscal year and $171 million next year, according to an analysis by the Council for Better Education.

Specifically, the state budget cut about $43 million from education programs, including a $14.7 million reduction in the main funding formula for school districts. Also hard hit were professional development and after-school tutoring programs.

Many school districts were forced to reduce staff because salaries make up the bulk of their budgets, said Jody Maggard, finance officer for Perry County schools in Eastern Kentucky. The district, which has 13 schools and about 4,000 students, did not rehire 48 teachers' aides.

"We regret that we had to do it but just like other districts, it was a ‘have to' situation,â€ Maggard said.

Too many "have-to" situations are affecting our ability to educate our children and ourselves and to protect our families and communities.  If Governor Beshear come to your area soon on his listening tour, tell him what you think about our investments in education.  Tell us what you think, too!