According to the Idaho Statesman... "Otter said Thursday that he'll announce more funding cuts for this year in Monday's State of the State address, though he won't say how severe they will be or how much they will affect public education...... ...Some lawmakers predict that public schools could face an unprecedented 8 to 10 percent budget reduction for the fiscal year that starts this summer - a cut that would almost certainly mean fewer teachers or school days."

With the economy still in a bad state and funding cuts everywhere, the last place that should be cut would be education. Education has the biggest impact on every other aspect of our daily lives. At the point where the state government reduces education standards, (I.e. cutting programs, reducing school days, and reducing student/teacher ratio) the quality of the future work force can only amount to what we put into it.

When 'cutting programs' was mentioned earlier, it wasn't just extracircular programs that are of less 'importance' than core programs. These core programs like those aimed at improving math skills - could be suspended or reduced until public education finances improve. When according to Tom Luna, state schools superintendent, "they are improving student achievement."

If it absolutely comes down to it, unfortunately taxes raises to help the deficit rather than cutting the budget to the point where it hurts us rather than helps us. These cuts will be a huge blow to our state's already low ranking education system.

"we must do whatever we can to protect the educational opportunities and safeguard the potential of the next generation of Idahoans -- our children and grandchildren," said Gov. Otter. Keeping in mind that there is only so much that can be done, and not everyone will be happy... there becomes a point where talk is cheap.