Norwich City School District discusses funding issues and changes in school reopening plan due to state budget cuts and lack of federal COVID relief funding. (Submitted Photo)

NORWICH – On Friday, the Norwich City School District announced it may be forced to change their reopening plan to strictly virtual classes due to significant cuts in state aid funding.

State funding to schools has been cut by 20 percent in most budget areas, reported the school.

Norwich, like many other schools, were depending on an unrestricted bailout for the state from the federal government in repsonse to COVID-19. Since funding for school’s did not happen, officials have said this will effect the budget they will work with to reopening school.

The district has released a video explaining how the state aid cuts directly effect its schools.

"Yesterday the Department of Budget from New York State sent out information letting districts know that there would be substantial cuts to our state aid throughout the year. At this point they had hoped for federal aid to come into the state, which did not happen. As the result, they are cutting three types of aid: excess cost aid, general aid, and BOCES aid to our district," said Interim Superintendent Diana Bowers.