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Belvidere Community Talks About Dramatic Teacher Cuts

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Reported by: Joelle Parks
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            Robert Arata is an automotive instructor at Belvidere North High School.“I was hired in July and have been loving it ever since,” says Arata.            But this Monday his job along with 150 of his rookie co-workers will be on the chopping block.            It's a move that's already affecting students, who are afraid of losing teachers like Mr. Arata.“It just makes me really sad that my favorite teacher, my funniest teacher, teachers in general are losing their jobs. What re we going to do? Are there going to be more dropouts? What’s going to happen in our community?” says Belvidere North Student Marshall Taft.            Illinois owes belvedere schools more than $4 million.  So to make up for that money. The district is being forced to cut 25 percent of it's teachers.  But the governor's proposed $1.3 billion in education cuts could make things even worse.“When we found out that there was $2 million more in deficit revenue forthcoming, that really threw us for a loop,” says Belvidere Superintendent of Schools Michael Houselog.Teachers, parents and students are all concerned these cuts could affect student excellence.  Now even more programs like special education, AP and bilingual classes could go next.  And the community's not taking it.“While it was spited and contentious at times  we have one common good and that’s the boys and girls,” says Houselog.            This teacher says it's just that that's keeping him going.“Unfortunately with my family I am a part of a family of three and we have a baby on the way so its not a good situation right now, but I’m just crossing my finger and hoping for the best,” says Arata.            The best would mean being hired back next year.  Houselog hopes Governor Quinn’s one-percent income tax increase will be passed to help re-fund education and re-staff his school.

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