Times are Tough for USD 416 & Others
March 18, 2010
It has already started. Well, unofficially anyway.
The effect of state budget cuts has reared its ugly head in Louisburg and it doesn’t appear to be leaving anytime soon. Recently, USD 416 activities director Doug Key turned in his resignation with fear his job may be cut.
Key took a similar position in the Piper school district where he will serve as public information and activities director. He didn’t want to leave, but he didn’t want to be left out in the cold, either.
In the coming month or two, jobs will fall, activities will be cut due to the district’s $1 million budget shortfall. As many of you know, Louisburg isn’t the only one facing these issues.
The Kansas City, Mo., school district closed down more than 25 schools due to budget cuts and several schools in Kansas are having to find a way to cut back from what already is a bare bones operation. The bad thing about it is, there isn’t a whole lot we can do.
Kansas is in such economical trouble right now it appears more cuts will be on the way a year from now. So, more jobs lost, more activities cut and who is suffering?
Our future.
I know everyone is facing tough times right now, but I just don’t understand why the state keeps cutting education. When you cut education, you are just ruining the state and country’s future by taking opportunities away from children.
Not only that, teachers and other workers are out of a job, which puts additional stress on the economy. I realize there are no easy fixes, but if the state doesn’t find more income, people in this state and others will have a bleak future.
I can’t imagine how hard it would be as a teacher to come to work every day and wonder if you were going to have a job next year. Teaching is already a tough enough job, the stress has to be high for the staff in USD 416.
Not only that, but there is a possibility there will be no seventh-grade sports next year and could do away with middle school sports all together for the first time in many years.
It hurts to watch our state and schools go through tough times like these, but for right now, all it seems we can do is watch.