FORT MILL, SC (WBTV) - The Fort Mill School District has eliminated teaching Spanish to all elementary school students.
The school board made the decision during its Monday night.
"That was a really tough budget year and nobody was happy with making cuts," said Fort Mill school board chairperson Jan Smiley.
The school district had to fill a $2 million budget shortfall and cutting the Spanish program will save the district $308,000.
"The administration in each of the schools was given a directive to start looking at programs that were not state or federally mandated," Smiley said.
Neighbors now believe no Spanish will hurt students.
"It helps you to pick up rhythm," former Spanish teacher Raynelle Bell said. "It helps work the other side of the brain that is legal, musical and the mathematical side."
Each elementary school student was exposed to Spanish for one hour every other day. Now, thanks to a budget crunch, that exposure will be gone.
"I hate they're not giving the children that advantage," Bell told WBTV. "In this society, everybody needs every advantage you can get."
The Spanish program has been in the classrooms for the past 10 years. The district says once money starts flowing back to Fort Mill schools, the program may be re-established.

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