Parents worry cuts will ruin children's education
Updated: March 18, 2013
DECATUR -- $7 million is cut from the school district. One mom says that decision could ruin her child's future.
The district lost millions in state aid. That forced the board to cut 53 teaching positions, and now parents worry they won't get the education they were promised.
Jeanette Trujillo feels like she's been backed against a wall. She has four kids in the district. The oldest, Dominick, has Asberger Syndrome.
"Going through it through the years, it's a day-by-day process. He's very particular, everything needs to be certain way. Changes, he does not do well with." Trujillo said.
Dominick is 12-years old. He has trouble with speech and needs one-on-one attention. Now Trujillo worries, that's history.
"They already have a big class as it is right now. They don't get the help they need."
Dozens of programs will be cut. High school students will go from having 8 classes a day to 7 and they'll have fewer opportunities for electives.
But Deputy Superintendent Lisa Mann says the board had no choice. It has to be fiscally responsible, and can't operate on a deficit budget. It's one of those times everybody needs to contact their legislature.
The board stands firm children's education will not be affected. Mann says she worked hard to make sure class sizes don't change. Something Trujillo has a tough time believing.
"There's not the teachers and the finance to have that anymore."
But, just like the board says, these cuts were the only choice they had. This mom says she has no other choice but to leave.
"We have to look at different opportunities to provide this for our children as they go out into the world as adults. We have to teach them, that's our job."
Jeanette Trujillo feels like she's been backed against a wall. She has four kids in the district. The oldest, Dominick, has Asberger Syndrome.
"Going through it through the years, it's a day-by-day process. He's very particular, everything needs to be certain way. Changes, he does not do well with." Trujillo said.
Dominick is 12-years old. He has trouble with speech and needs one-on-one attention. Now Trujillo worries, that's history.
"They already have a big class as it is right now. They don't get the help they need."
Dozens of programs will be cut. High school students will go from having 8 classes a day to 7 and they'll have fewer opportunities for electives.
But Deputy Superintendent Lisa Mann says the board had no choice. It has to be fiscally responsible, and can't operate on a deficit budget. It's one of those times everybody needs to contact their legislature.
The board stands firm children's education will not be affected. Mann says she worked hard to make sure class sizes don't change. Something Trujillo has a tough time believing.
"There's not the teachers and the finance to have that anymore."
But, just like the board says, these cuts were the only choice they had. This mom says she has no other choice but to leave.
"We have to look at different opportunities to provide this for our children as they go out into the world as adults. We have to teach them, that's our job."
