On March 26, the Olympia High School Community Council hosted a community cafe open to the public to discuss the recent $4-million budget cut.
The predicted budget cut is a direct result of decreasing enrollment rates and overspending from the current year, and will be set in place by March.
Blue Peetz, who runs Freedom Farm, a program allowing students to earn credits while working on a 2-acre farm, attended and shared thoughts on how this may affect student class choice.
Along with Freedom Farm, OHS has an abundance of untraditional classes and programs, such as the early childhood education program and unique science classes that provide options for everyone. Peetz said, “Education looks different for many different people, and the budget cuts may limit some of those options.”
The main cause for the budget cuts is the decline in student enrollment. Principal Matt Grant, during the meeting, said, “Some of the areas affected will be increasing class size, cutting paras, cutting art from elementary schools, and collapsing general music for fifth graders.”
Each table at the event consisted of both adults and teens, and was provided with paper and markers to write about what advocacy for OHS means to them and how it could best be achieved, and the council provided Olive Garden for dinner and many other snacks.
“The most powerful thing students can do here is tell your story and articulate what you want to see from your school,” Peetz said. Many attendees had ideas for how to advocate for the programs they cared about, such as going door to door, staying in contact with the capital, and continuing student leadership programs.
In all, the night was both inspiring and productive, allowing community members to share their perspectives and learn more about where changes are possible.