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COLUMBIA -- Richland One School District has already been hit hard.  Last year, the district had to reduce their general fund by nearly $8 million.

Add that number to the $5.5 million they’ve lost so far this year, and according to Richland One’s Budget Director Ed Carlon, they’re expecting another million in state cuts.

86% of the districts budget goes to personnel and with an estimated loss totaling up to $13 million over the last two years, cuts will most likely come from within.

“It's kind of hard to take it from anywhere else with those kinds of numbers, but we’re looking at everything,” said Ed Carlon.

It’s a scary thought for St. Andrews Middle School drama teacher Shamari Moody.

“Fine arts are very important,” says Sharmari Moody, “students appreciate that.”

Dropping the number of electives offered in the district is one of the options discussed at a meeting Monday night, where district officials were looking for public input on budget matters

“It could be extracurricular activities or it could be athletics,” says Carlon, “I mean we aren’t saying one way or another.”

The budget for Richland One isn’t shrinking due to the loss of students.  In fact, enrollment numbers have been steady.

The impact of losing additional staff would mean increasing class size.

“Sometimes you put too many of the wrong kids together and you have not control of the classroom,” says parent Shantell Woodard, “and the ones who are there to really learn suffer the most.”

District officials have planned two other public meetings.  Anyone is welcome to attend and voice their ideas.

          -Tuesday, February 16 at 6:00 p.m.:  Media Center at Alcorn Middle School, 5125 Fairfield Road, Columbia

          -Monday, February 22 at 6:00 p.m.:  Lecture Hall at Southeast Middle School, 731 Horrell Hill Road, Hopkins.