BOISE -- Gov. Butch Otter is looking to cut $28 million from public schools.
In past calls for cuts, the Education Department received millions in help from a rainy day fund to soften the blow, but now that fund is low and education has run out of options.
Parents worry this will change things for the worst in the classroom.
Where this money will come from has parents guessing.
“Kids won't get their supplies, their education needs," parent Norma Cussins said.
"Possibly larger classes and maybe less qualified teachers," grandmother Jaynette Richardson said.
Their guess is as good as the state's. Right now, education officials are discussing what to get rid of.
What Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna does know is that cutting will be tough.
"The possibility of reducing spending on K-12 education by $200 million over a 2-year period of time, it will have a negative impact on student achievement," Luna said.
He says districts will need flexibility because 85 percent of their budgets are guaranteed to teacher contracts so they'll have to save in other areas that do have wiggle room.
Parent Cami Ledesma said the news of nearly $28 million in reductions for the current school year bothers her.
"Even just less, that’s a huge number that they're taking from the children of Idaho," Ledesma said.
Superintendent Luna said one idea to cover the reduced money might not be the best option.
"The governor mentioned the possibility of some districts that are in hardship situations being able to borrow against next year revenues. That is a very, very short term solution because obviously that money has to be paid back and it has an even greater impact on next year's budget," Luna said.
School districts will have to make some tough choices.
And parents promise to get more involved for the sake of their children, but question whether that will change things in an already bleak situation.
"You wonder how much it counts, how much of it really matters, how much is really heard, or how much me as a parent what my voice weighs," Ledesma said.
On Jan. 28, Luna will appear before budget writers to present his plan for reductions.
