AM850.com

School budget cuts across the state of Florida don't seem to be going anywhere any time soon. No class or program is off limits bringing some technical career classes such as home economics and auto mechanics to a halt. Public information officer for the Alachua County School board, Jackie Johnson says budget cuts don't show any sign of stopping. Cuts vary from school to school and Dr. David Edwards Director for Career and technical Education says a lot of the answers can be found inside the classroom. Johnson adds that the amount of students needed to make up a classroom has changed. Johnson also adds that students do have an effect on the remaining classes but core classes take a higher priority. Dr. Edwards says there is a large focus on the FCAT exam which places students in college, technical career classes provided students with an alternative. Technical career classes provide benefits that exceed the classroom; core classes do not provide the same benefits. Johnson adds that altogether the school board has lost 14 million dollars since the beginning of the school year and can also expect more midyear budget cuts.