As school began at Clayton Valley High on Aug. 31, students smiled and laughed as they reunited for another year. But those smiles were soon replaced by frowns as the deep gash of state budget cuts became a thorn in everyone’s side.

After years of cuts to education, there is nowhere left to turn but the classrooms, and CV students are certainly feeling the effects.

For the 2008-’09 school year, state funding was $5,629.82 per pupil at Clayton Valley. The funding per pupil has been cut to $4,812.62 for the 2009-’10 school year – for a loss of $1,442,678.

In addition to losing 1/15th of the funding from the previous year, the contribution from the General Fund to the high school athletics program has been cut completely. Also eliminated from the General Fund budget are 23 class sections (the equivalent of 4.6 teachers), a custodial supervisor and one day from the librarians’ work week.

Due to these financial changes, class sizes have soared. Last year, freshman English and math classes held 20 students. This year, ninth-grade English classes have 33 students and math classes have 37. Many other classes have seen a rise in the headcount, as well.

“Most of my classes are so much bigger than last year,” said sophomore Joanna Fan. “And most of the teachers can’t handle it and don’t have time to focus on people’s individual needs, which I have a lot of.”

Some students have been turned away from classes to comply with the state’s requirements. The chemistry honors program was forced to transfer 10 students into regular chemistry classes due to the 28 students per class limit.

“I transferred out because honors chem was way too full, so there weren’t enough books or seats and people had to sit at the back tables,” says sophomore Adrien Capinpin.

World history teacher Jenny DeAngelis’ class is capped at 37 students. “In terms of individual attention, a class of 37 is hard to deal with because of all the things that are going on,” she notes.

The decrease in class sections has forced all classes to be filled to the brim. This makes changing schedules nearly impossible without going over the maximum number of students allowed in specific classes.

The loss of American Sign Language and the wavering existence of athletics at Clayton Valley are also making an impact. While fall sports have the go-ahead, winter and spring sports will be canceled if attempts to compensate for the lack of funding fail to allow the school to break even.

The district has already raised the sports fees by $50 and increased gate fees. A 5K fundraiser will be held Oct. 18 at Newhall Park.

“Cutting sports is going to destroy any school spirit we have left,” says junior Kera Prell.

Those in administration are doing their best to keep optimistic, despite the fact that more mid-year cuts are to come this February.

Principal Gary Swanson is even more troubled about the future then he is about the present state. He believes people need to realize how valuable a quality education is and that every penny taken from schools now is going to cost our society thousands in the future.

“There is going to be a cost tomorrow for shortchanging our education today,” he warns.

Taylor Tovrea is a sophomore at CVHS and a regular contributor to her school newspaper.