The Selma City School Board meeting began and ended on a somber note Thursday. After a moment of silence for those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks, board members turned their attention to another crisis.

Superintendent Dr. James Carter told board members on Thursday that cuts in education are being made state-wide and Selma schools will not be immune.

Carter explained that the city school system does not have a budget yet for the 2004 financial year. He is waiting to see how much money state legislatures will approve for the schools.

Carter said he is not ready to take out a loan and wanted the board members to be patient in getting their pay checks.

Carter went on to say that educational services will be drastically cut this year. The schools are set to lose 6.2 to 7.5 percent of their state-funded programs this year alone.

In order to save the extracurricular classes this year, additional fees will be tied to the programs after this year.

Carter said he has asked the city of Selma to increase the school board allocations, but has not received a response from the city council.