Last year’s meetings on the future of the gifted program have not lead to any major changes this school year, but budget issues have caused there to be fewer teachers throughout the program and could lead to changes in the future, according to gifted resource teachers Mary Parish and Vicki Kemp.

Like many other school programs, the gifted program has fewer teachers this year than it did last year, Parish said.

“They didn’t have to let anybody go because it was what they call attrition.” Parish said “We had some teachers retire last year that were not replaced.”

Parish said that the increased class sizes may affect student learning, but no major changes have affected the impact of the program yet.

Changes could, however, hit the program in the future, Parish said.

“If the budget issues do not get resolved there is a 100% chance that there will be further cuts not just for the gifted program but for across the district.” Parish said. “I don’t see any way out of it.”

The focus of the gifted program is to meet kid’s needs that are not met in the regular classroom, and there is little chance that the program will be completely cut, Kemp said.

“I think the administration, Dr. Borchers, and everybody are pretty supportive.” Kemp said. “I think they see the need for the gifted program. They see what it can do for kids.”