Thursday, April 22, 2010

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bs-ci-school-budget-cuts-20100413,0,2281198.story

This seems to be same story over and over, that there is not enough money for anything of importance in the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS). We are continuing to experience budget cut after budget cut and trying to find how to pick up the pieces in order to find money for necessary budget items. This article started with direct testimony from a local BCPSS principal about how the budget cut would affect her school directly. Principal Rhonda Richetta vividly recalls days when students have come to her office door at City Springs School gasping for air because the school has a large population of asthmatic elementary- and middle-school-age students who receive critical services such as daily breathing treatments — from a nurse practitioner in its health center. This cut would release the nurse practitioner and this could change next year if the school is one of six that are slated to reduce their health care services because of proposed funding cuts from the city. Further, the city may cut the budget for the crossing guards that are essential to ensure that are students who walk to school, cross the street safely.
Finally, the budget may be cut to the point of taking away the students subsidized or free bus passes, if the students have to pay to come to school, it poses the question-are the students going to stop coming? I find it unfortunate that the city continues to cut the budget at the expense of the student’s heath and safety.