Sequester Begins, How Will it Affect Long Island Schools

Janet Joyce Tuesday, March 5, 2013

As the sequestor that has been built up as the end of life as we know it begins, many Long Island families are wondering what is going to happen to their children's education.

When the sequester was originally proposed it was supposed to be an action so heinous that it would force Congress to act, creating a more tempered solution in much the same fashion it did before the fiscal cliff. Unlike the fiscal cliff, however, the sequester has come to fruition, and Washington does not look very well positioned to reverse it. With that, will any schools be affected?

Republican Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell says the forthcoming budget cuts will not actually be too painful. He points out that “this modest reduction of 2.4 percent in spending over the next six months is a little more than the average American experienced just two months ago, when their own pay went down when the payroll tax holiday expired.” $85 billion is being stripped from the government’s discretionary spending, but that is only a small portion of the existing $3.7 trillion budget and a small step towards balancing the nation’s budget. After the markets had a weekend to digest the news, the US dollar even rose slightly in value this morning.

However, the fact remains that while these cuts go into effect there are going to be cuts in many programs that have already begun helping Long Island families. For instance, the Sandy relief aid bill is set to receive some cuts that will have a direct impact on some Long Island schools. Also,  Federal funding for education is also on the chopping block.

This funding is in the way of Headstart, Pre-Kindergarten, and other elementary funding for primary grades. The overall impact of the sequestor is not known yet, but the forecasts are that some damage is going to be done to schools which already face monumental budget shortfalls.

janetj@longislandyellowpages.com

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