Sequestration Could Majorly Impact Education In West Texas
By: Marianne Elisak
Updated: February 27, 2013
MIDLAND---Unless Congress acts by March 1st, 2013, which seems unlikely at this point, a series of automatic cuts called the sequester will take effect.
This threatens hundreds of thousands of middle class jobs as well as vital services for children. One of the major impacts will be placed on education.
Should the sequester take effect, the White House says that state will lose approximately $67.8 million in funding for primary and secondary education this fiscal year.
The Chief Financial Officer for the Midland Independent School District, David Garcia, says that that MISD will lose 2 of their major grants.
"It's strictly all financial impact with respect to the funding that we receive through the N.C.L.B. No child Left Behind grant and the I.D.E.A. formula funding for special ed" says Garcia.
Garcia says that those funds are used for vital resources like technology, reading and instructional materials for at-risk students, including students with an economical disadvantage and special needs students.
Over at the Ector County Independent School District, Superintendent Hector Mendez says that they are being told that they could lose between 6-12% of the $15 million they are given in federal funds.
This is something the school district was warned about last summer, and began this school year knowing it was a possibility.
"We've been conservative in how we have budgeted and spent this federal money" says Superintendent Mendez.
As for lay offs, both districts say that the sequester will not be affecting their staff.
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