Though Gov. Bentley declared an additional 3 percent proration to education spending across Alabama last week, UNA has worked to ensure the university will not experience budget reductions by saving more than $700,000 in roll-forward funds.

UNA President William Cale said $753,000 in proration was recently declared for the university, which started with a budget of more than $25 million last fall. Because various departments have restored unspent operating dollars to cost centers since 2009, UNA has protected itself against budget cuts that are negatively impacting schools throughout the state.

Since 2008, the university has lost more than $10 million through proration and state appropriation. Despite the loss of funding, Cale said UNA has not cut any academic programs and has strived to keep teachers in the classrooms.

“Our whole approach at UNA is to protect educational opportunities for students,” Cale said. “We haven’t reduced the budget of any academic departments or foregone any extracurricular activities. We have tried really hard not to let proration adversely affect our students, other than through necessary increases in tuition.”

Lauderdale County schools are feeling the squeeze as $1.5 million will be cut from its overall budget as a result of the proration increase. Dr. Donna Jacobs, dean of the UNA College of Education, said lost revenue through proration can have a devastating effect on local schools.

During proration years, teacher layoffs are common as schools scramble to make up for the loss of state funding. The Lauderdale County School System anticipates that they will lose 22 teachers as a result of the 3-percent proration increase.

UNA secondary education major Kirby Bridges plans to graduate later this year and believes he will relocate to another state in order to find a teaching position.

“I want to remain optimistic about teaching in Alabama,” he said. “However, I feel like there is a constant war being waged, not only in this state but all across the nation, against education and intellectualism. Because of this, public education and teachers are often the first targets for lawmakers who want to trim a budget.”

Florence City Schools will lose $588,000 in funding because of the proration increase, while Muscle Shoals and Tuscumbia will lose a combined $630,000. Jacobs said proration and the fear of layoffs divert the most promising students from going into education-related fields.

“We lose some of the best and brightest out there because of the fear of what’s to come,” she said. “The biggest losers are the students who are missing out on highly-qualified, motivated teachers who choose to leave the profession.”