Federal Cuts May Strike Classrooms Education Department Official Warns Budget Could Take Big Bite Out Of Schools
Federal spending cuts threaten Spokane’s social programs, but the biggest impact might hit the city’s classrooms.
If Congress gets its budget past the White House, Spokane schools will lose about $1.5 million next year, said Carla Nuxoll, regional representative for the U.S. Department of Education.
Nuxoll was on a panel that sought Wednesday to detail the likely impacts of federal spending cuts on Spokane’s families, economy and community.
The hundred people who crammed into the City Council chambers listened for 90 minutes as the nine panel members warned of the coming of an almost Depression-era Spokane.
They told the crowd that federal cuts could double the city’s homeless population, gut job-training programs, close day-care centers, force the elderly into institutions and extend waiting lines for the city’s cheapest housing.
Congress and President Clinton are still negotiating on the final federal budget, but analysts are assuming most of the congressional cuts will survive.
If so, Nuxoll predicted the biggest education cuts “in U.S. history” will slice almost $900,000 from Spokane School District programs that help students learn to read and write. Other cuts would include $100,000 from the safe and drug-free school programs. Head Start would take a hit, too, as would programs for parental involvement and teacher training.
Nuxoll said the cuts would hurt some smaller school districts even more. Central Valley schools would see a $250,000 cut next year, she said, and Medical Lake could lose about 3.5 percent of its entire operating budget.
“Congress has also targeted college students and their parents for a nasty surprise regarding college loans,” Nuxoll said, noting lawmakers intend to quit subsidizing interest rates on loans and cut grants.
When the forum opened for comments, Spokane businessman Bob Hager called the federal deficit the driving force behind the cuts.
Hager said everyone suffers when the country spends billions on interest payments on that debt. He encouraged community activists to find alternative money sources.
“Why the heck aren’t all parts of the federal budget being asked to take cuts?” demanded Nick Beamer, director of an Eastern Washington advocacy group for senior citizens.
His question sparked loud applause.
Audience members offered these suggestions on how to counter the anticipated crisis:
Document the impacts of the cuts for presentation to the City Council, legislators and the media.
Work with the Spokane Economic Development Council and Chamber of Commerce to show the effects of poverty on the community.
Educate voters and get them to the polls.
Increase the federal minimum wage.
Organize a “jillion-man, -woman and -child walk on Washington, D.C.”
The forum was sponsored by The Children’s Alliance, which calls itself “a voice for Washington’s children, youth and families.”
, DataTimes