Public schools like West Muskingum have taken a big hit from Gov. DeWine’s state budget cut

ZANESVILLE – West Muskingum Superintendent Chad Shawger says they had to make significant cuts to their budget in May and June.

“Well, unfortunately we do receive 32% state funding and we were originally thinking that would work to our advantage and we would receive less of a cut because we get less money originally but then we found out that they did the inverse and if you received less state funding, then you received a bigger cut. So, West Muskingum received $362,000 in additional cuts just for May and June of this past year,” Shawger said.

Shawger hopes that the school will not have to make any more drastic budget cuts moving forward but does weigh the possibility. The school district is drafting how they will conduct the 2020-21 academic year and because of COVID-19 changing or adding different programs will not be cheap.

“Most of those what-if’s are very costly. How do you get technology to all of the students? How do you get internet access for all of those students? Those types of things, so, it could be very costly to not only West Muskingum but to all school districts,” Shawger said.

Shawger anticipates West Muskingum will have to make another or more cuts in July. He hopes that it isn’t as costly.