Yet another round of budget cuts are going into effect for the 2014-2015 school year. Electives held through the school like agriculture, art, drama, journalism and many more might be suffering from cuts that could lead to the unravel of the Harford County school system.

“It is getting harder to stay in the program, we all have trepidation about what is going to come,” said a teacher from North Harford.

On April 8 at the County Building in Bel Air at 7:30pm the meeting was held to discuss the plans for next year.

“I went to go but it was so disorganized that I could not even figure out what was going on”, said senior Shiloh McCurry.

The county executive is the person with the authority to raise taxes. The Board of Education presents its budget to the county council. The council then decides how much money will be appointed to the Board of Education. After receiving their money the board decides where to make cuts. that These cuts could be to programs, teaching positions, salaries, benefits, etc.

This past year students and teachers lost the opportunity to experience Peer Leadership and the morning announcements, both of which were very popular. This year the cuts may affect the school system even more. Teachers could also lose out on benefits.

“What makes this even harder is that we just do not know what is going to happen, I feel like we are walking on eggshells waiting to see what is going to hit us next year,” said a teacher from North Harford.

The upcoming cuts may lead to more teachers looking for work in the fall. This could be affecting students because that means class sizes will increase causing less one on one attention and a lack of supplies. This would lead to students either missing out on opportunities due to lack of supplies or the teachers will have to pay out of pocket for the necessities themselves.

“These cuts are ruining every good opportunity that students have. The Board of Education is forgetting why we go to school. It is not for them to make money, it is about focusing on the students and the teachers,” said McCurry.

According to hcps.org, in Harford County a 6th year teacher should be making $48,205 but is being paid as a second year teacher $42,829. With the cuts that will be made for next year the same teacher will be making the same amount as the year they began teaching instead of $49, 651 that they should be receiving. This will result in a 16% difference in salary.

On top of that this same teacher could transfer to Baltimore County and make $46,915 next year, essentially giving themselves a 10% raise.

“I fear we’re reaching a tipping point where teachers will be leaving our schools within the next couple of years because the financial gain from working in another school system will be too much to ignore,” said math teacher Timothy Pistel.

Some teachers are left questioning why the government does not value them. Teaching is a method of philanthropy, which is the study of helping others.

“I do not understand these actions, we are here to help people and they are not valuing the help that we can give,” said a teacher from North Harford.

Many people are wondering why Harford County is the only county that is cutting the budget so drastically in Maryland. The surrounding counties have been able to scrape up enough money to give their teachers their raise last year, and not cut major programs.

“An easy way to make more money is if the government raises property taxes, however, it is an election year so no politician will be willing to make this change,” said Pistel.

It is not just the personnel within the schooling system that are facing difficulties, all public servants are being affected by these cuts. Personnel such as road workers and librarians are being forced to make decisions about what they are going to do in the coming months.

“You have to think of your family first and what will be best for them,” said Pistel.

“What needs to happen is a massive public outcry, right now it is mostly teachers and because of it we just sound greedy about wanting more money. If the community is in support of us the government might listen,” said a teacher from North Harford.