Cash-strapped school districts in North Georgia fought hard for improvements in student achievement over the last few years and now struggle to keep state budget cuts from scuttling success.
“Funding cuts are undermining the progress we’ve made,” said Dick Stidom, facilitator of Ridgeland High School’s Career Center in Walker County.
Mr. Stidom said the jobs-oriented program at the school is hitting its stride in its second year.
The district has worked hard to keep training programs for teachers and performance-boosting programs for students, but “we’re just hoping it doesn’t stop,” he said.