They want their voices heard.
On Wednesday, December 12th, 2012, the Moline School Board received from feedback over some budget decisions they made at their meeting on Monday, December 10th, 2012.
The decisions total more than $1.5 million in savings and include eliminating five full-time staff members between the two middle schools ($250,000), cutting 12 full-time staff members at the high school ($600,000), and withdrawing from the Black Hawk Area Special Education District (close to $1,000,000).
Moline Superintendent, Dr. David Moyer, says there just aren't any alternatives. However, one group of girls from Moline High School say there needs to be.
Gabrielle Pinc spoke in front of the Board Wednesday night and shared her concerns with the cuts. The $600,000 reduction at Moline High School comes from a modification to the schedule. All students will take six courses, with the seventh course dedicated to those who want to take an elective. But between Gabrielle and six of her friends who joined her Wednesday night, there's 32 electives, which means they'll have to make some tough choices.
"There's the art classes, the pottery classes, and for a lot of people - the music classes are very important because that's what they want to major in," says Gabrielle. "Those are being cut back. I'm taking engineering and this has been a majorly beneficial program for me and now I have to pick between my music education, this engineering program, and the required Spanish foreign language education."
The changes will also reduce the number of credits students need to graduate. With college right around the corner, the girls are worried the Board is only looking out for the budget and not for them.
The girls are hoping the school board will change their minds. They've started an online petition to help them gain support.
"We're all very moved to act so our education can stay the way it is and so it can stay the same beneficial system for all students," says Gabrielle.