Wake County schools are facing a crisis in the budget. The budget deficit has doubled from $20 to $40 million.
The doubling has occurred as a result of a 3 percent cut from the state government; coupled with reduced revenues from state and county sources, they pose a formidable problem. Families may come to bear this problem in the form of later start times and ever-more crowded classrooms, not to mention teaching layoffs.
This news is especially significant given the nature that money played a part in the school board’s decision to end the diversity policy. The reasoning board members gave was that poorer students were not necessarily improving on account of being shipped amongst affluent schools. By concentrating them, they stated that it would be possible to channel resources in a more efficient manner directly to the students.
The board has said that this shortfall has had no significant effect on its long term plans, given that the policy is not to go into full force until 2012.
And yet, the question does persist. These resources that the board is hoping for will cost money. If the schools continue to function well in the face of these cuts, it is feasible to assume that the state will allow the cut to remain.
In the long run this points to, at the least, diminished resources for the students who will need them the most.
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