School principals across the state are considering staff reductions as uncertainty continues over the next state budget.

While lawmakers negotiate a state budget, the school still doesn’t have theirs, and the new year starts in just four weeks. That doesn’t change.

Many school leaders tentatively are now using last year’s financials to guide them, but that’s subject to change and it’s only an estimate for the upcoming year. Wendy Zdeb is director of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and says there’s still many needs that might not be met.

“We know parents don’t want large class sizes,” Zdeb said. “We know that parents want their kids to be able to have those individual course offerings that really meet their needs, and we can’t provide that if we don’t know what to anticipate in terms of funding.”

Zdeb says schools are trying to preemptively prepare for cuts.

As the delay drags on, lawmakers aren’t expected to have a final budget until September or October.