By Casey Film
Round Table editor-in-chief

The falling economy has hit all businesses in America hard, and public schools are by no means exempt from the nationwide trend of stretching every dollar as far as it will go. Middletown High School underwent budget cuts last year, mainly in areas involving staff and administration, but student-centered programs and staff positions may be in danger in the future, if money continues to be tight.

“There are budget cuts in the first place because the economy, for everyone, is horrible,” said MHS Guidance Counselor Sue Blair. “Once revenues dropped, the funding was gone. It’s a vicious cycle.”

Every year the Board of Education tries to predict how much money will be needed to run all of the schools in Frederick County. It has to factor in everything from the cost of textbooks to lab and art supplies to the gas needed to fuel the school buses.

That budget is then to the County Commissioners, who decide how much money the schools will receive.

“The difference between what the Board of Education says we need and what the County Commissioners give use will determine what decisions will be made,” said MHS Principal Jay Berno.

Blair explained that all public schools are funded with public money. “A huge part of that is based on construction,” she said.

Funding for schools comes from property taxes, and recently the rough economy has discouraged construction. The result is that there is less money for schools to use.

Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools Dr. Linda Burgee said that last year many severe cuts were avoided, but the prediction is that next year there will be a more drastic “pinch” in the budget.

Frederick County schools are facing a possible $30 million gap in funding for next year and a “hiring freeze” has been implemented. Many money-saving options are being discussed, such as increased class size, the elimination of non-essential programs, reduced work years, and salary cuts.

All of these options are merely recommendations for schools. Burgee said, “No decisions have been made or will be made until March 1 when our budget is sent to the county.”

“You hear about the different programs that they are cutting,” said MHS Guidance Counselor Peggy Throne. “It’s very scary.”

“In general, programs that affect students they try to protect,” said Blair.  “It seems to me that at this point, they cut staff.”

Last year no teachers or administrators received pay raises, the cost for a lunch in the cafeteria rose, and the Board of Education considered cutting the diving programs from high schools to save money.

Students may have noticed that the school is colder in some areas. Berno said that the school is “cutting back on the heat to save on energy.”

At lunch, students have to pay for extra utensils and for packets of ranch dressing. According to Berno, it is all because of the budget.

“I understand that they want to conserve money,” said MHS junior Belle Ackerman, “but there are more effective ways to cut down on costs. They should use plastic trays instead of Styrofoam trays and just wash them.”

Recently the fees for athletic programs have gone up, as well.

MHS English teacher Becky Larson is the coach for the MHS girls’ volleyball and basketball teams. She said that now it can be very expensive to play a sport.

“It’s $90 just to be able to participate on a team,” said Larson. “That does not include equipment like sneakers, bathing suits, pads or whatever.” Larson estimates that it could easily cost $200 to play a sport through the high school.

Many coaches have had to drop certain luxuries that their teams might be accustomed to because the new fees are already so high.

“For example, I might want team shoes,” said Larson. “That might be asking a lot of people, so I don’t ask for team shoes anymore. As coaches we try to require our players to only pay for the essentials.”

So far the art department has not suffered any significant hits in their budget, but elective teachers are at a higher risk when there are budget cuts.

“I’m more worried about having a job next year, being an elective teacher,” said MHS art teacher Donna Lehman. “If I have a job next year, I can make any budget work.”

However, the possibility of upcoming cuts may still affect the amount of art supplies available to students.

“I think there will be cuts next year,” said Lehman. “I would definitely have to drop oil painting because it’s so expensive. You can pay $11 for a tube of oil paint.”

It is more difficult for teachers to take field trips because the money for a substitute now comes directly out of their department’s funds.

“Either their department pays for [the field trip] or they don’t go,” Throne said.

Berno said there is potential for dramatic changes due to budget cuts in the upcoming year, but all staff should be aware that Burgee is working hard to preserve jobs.

“Things have changed drastically in terms of education and budget,” said Berno, “but we are blessed to have Dr. Burgee. Her priority is to save jobs.”

Berno encouraged all staff and students to “take advantage of the open lines of communication that the superintendent has given us” and to remain optimistic about the upcoming year.