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Is the Economy Affecting Your School?

With the economy the way it is now, your wallet might not be the only thing that's taking a hit. Schools nationwide are making major adjustments to accommodate the budget cuts they are receiving from the government.

In Minnesota, one district is rearranging the school schedule to save money. Instead of a five-day school week, schools will be in session fours days a week with a 10-minute extension to each class. A shorter week would save the school $65,000! There are at least 14 other districts across the country participating in shorter school weeks and dozens are considering switching over, according to a recent survey by the American Association of School Administrations.

Teachers are on such a strict budget limit, that one school in Florida actually had a toilet paper drive! In Michigan parents are being asked to carpool for athletic trips during the weekend.

Other changes may include high lunch prices (in Jacksonville it will rise from $1.30 to $2 for secondary schools), smaller staffs in schools, using old textbooks, and school bus shortages. Some schools will eliminate school buses altogether and others will shorten the routes. And half the schools in the administration survey said they will be holding back on field trips.

What do you think: Is the Economy Affecting Your School? Sound off now!

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