TELL US: Your Thoughts On the Proposed Education Budget Cuts?

Interim Superintendent Richard Kisiel unveiled a series of proposed cuts to the 2013-14 school year budget that would seriously impact almost every aspect of public education in Manchester. 

Kisiel's recommended cuts, which would still have to be endorsed by the Board of Education, would eliminate nine full-time teaching positions, slash arts, sports and extracurricular activities, end the district's "gifted and talented" program, and even eliminate funding to the Lutz Children's Museum, among many other things. 

The cuts are far from official, as at this point they are mainly Kisiel's reaction to General Manager Scott Shanley's proposed overall town budget, which increases funding for the town's public schools, but falls about $2.5 million short of the amount the school board had request in its budget from the town. 

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The full list of Kisiel's proposed cuts can be viewed here, and a public hearing on Shanley's budget proposal is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14 in the auditorium of Waddell Elementary School. 

But Manchester Patch wants to know what you think of the proposed cuts? Are there programs in there that you are concerned about losing? Do you think they should be replaced by others? That no cuts should be made at all? Or maybe that more cuts should be made? 

Share your opinion with your friends and neighbors on Manchester Patch in the comment section below - and please remember to keep it civil and adhere to Patch's Terms of Use when commenting.