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Show Handicapped Program Won't Be Hurt The following is intended to clear up some misunderstandings about school budget cuts in the handicapped program. In terms of real dollars spent, the handicapped program will not be appreciably cut, according to Alpine Assistant Superintendent Kent Abel. Abel said the district was forced to cut $250,000 from the handicapped budget because of a mandate from the state legislature, but the district was able to use $135,000 from money carried over from last year to continue con-tinue the program as it is presently constituted. "We've taken our lumps because of the money cut from the handicapped program," said Abel, "but we've been in a real bind." Abel explained that when the district is told to cut their budget in the middle of the year, school officials find themselves hard pressed to do it. "When the school year nas sunu, we are legally committed to honor contracts, including fringe benefits ot employees," said Abel. "By law we cannot cut personnel in the middle ot the stream and when you consider heating and lighting costs - of which we have no control -- you can begin to realize that 90 percent of our costs are beyond our control." Abel said deciding where to come up with the five percent budget cut was almost an impossible thing to do. "In the future," said Abel, "hopefully the state will let us know sooner when they want us to cut our budget." In terms of the handicapped program, Abel said the budget cut will not be appreciable -- at least for this year. "If our budget would not have been cut,' maybe we could have expanded the' handicapped program," said Abel. "The program will continue as in the past - at least for now, and we're hoping this will be the case for next year also." ' The handicapped budget -reflecting the $241,000 cut - is about $1.5 million altogether. |