ESCANABA - When the state budget for fiscal year 2010 went into effect, school districts were left to determine how to adjust their budgets for the $165 per student cut in state funding.

Currently, the Escanaba School District, with approximately 2,696 students, is attempting to adjust its budget to reflect the nearly $444,840 it lost under the $165 per pupil funding cut from the state's recently adopted 2010 fiscal year budget.

"I am working with our board and administrative team right now to evaluate the impact of the $165 per student cut," said Escanaba School Superintendent Michele Burley.

She also said the board and administrative team were considering how to address another $127 per pupil cut or approximately $342,392 loss of state funding in January as proposed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

A measure currently being sent to the state Senate for consideration would tap into federal stimulus funds which had been set aside for the 2011 fiscal year.

The measure to tap into stimulus funds passed the House by a vote of 74-29, with a majority of House members saying the $184 million set aside for the 2011 fiscal year needs to be used now so schools won't have to have the additional $127 per student cut ordered by Gov. Granholm to go into effect in January.

Under the House approved measure, schools would avoid all but $10 of the cut which is now headed to the Senate.

For the Escanaba School District, this plan may cause an additional cut of $26,960 as opposed to the estimated $342,392 under Granholm's $127 per student cut.

"The impact of these cuts in state funding will affect people, programs and ultimately our students. Right now we are only at the evaluation stage and until our work is complete I cannot provide any specifics," said Burley.

She further added the school district was working to maintain as much as possible, but the reality is that cuts will have to be made if any further reductions in state aid are made.

"It is the district's desire to hold students and their programs as harmless as possible, but unless the legislature acts quickly to come up with a long term, sustainable solution to change how schools are funded the cuts projected for 2011 are speculated to be even worse," said Burley.

She also said the sad reality of the cut in state funding for local schools was that cuts will have to be made which will have an effect on people, programs and ultimately the students.