Interim Superintendent Diana Bowers discusses how the school has reacted to a 20 percent state aid cut that could shorten the schools budget by 5.8 million dollars. (Photo by Catherine Sasso)

NORWICH – Norwich City School District Interim Superintendent Diana Bowers discussed how the school will be dealing with a 20 percent state aid cut that could potentially set the school back 5.8 million dollars.

Back in April, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the possibility of a 20 percent cut to school aid across New York. Last week that possibility turned into reality.

"Always in the back of my mind I knew there was a potential for this to happen. Honestly, I didn't think that they would do this. If we don't get things back then we've changed education as we know it. I was surprised that they did the full 20 percent." said Bowers.

Bowers said that the school was promised by the state and several advocacy groups that their percentage of state aid to be cut would be lower based on the wealth ratio of the district. However, all schools, regardless of income or size, had a 20 percent cut in funding.

A 20 percent reduction for the entire fiscal year, will leave the Norwich School District facing a $5.8 million deficit, out of a $41 million budget.

Bowers believes that the stall on stimulus funding from the federal government has to do with leadership being side-tracked by the upcoming election.

"We're hoping things will subside once the election’s over," said Bowers.