Death to the Performing Arts. Collage courtesy of sophomore Eddi McConnell.
San Luis Obispo High School is known for two things: sports programs and arts electives. Now, SLOHS is facing major budget cuts, leaving students unsure how they can continue developing their talents when the programs that support them are at risk.
These budget cuts will permanently stunt these talented students’ growth, destroying SLOHS’s arts culture and the students to make it all run. SLOHS needs to prioritize the arts because if they cut these funds, which they plan to do, over a hundred students will suffer the impact.
“How can we express ourselves through our passions if we’re not provided with the proper resources to pursue it?” said sophomore Hannah Murphy.
To understand how the district reached this point, it’s necessary to look at the history of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
In 2016, PG&E began depreciating the plant’s value in anticipation of its planned closure this year. Because that shutdown would significantly reduce property tax revenue for the school district, PG&E created the Community Impact Mitigation Program (CIMP) to provide annual payments to SLCUSD to offset the expected loss.
However, the plant did not close as planned. In 2022, the state extended Diablo Canyon’s operations, but the property tax agreements tied to the anticipated shutdown were not renewed. The district says the loss of these funds is one factor contributing to the current deficit.
Beyond that, several other issues are straining the budget. Transitional Kindergarten, essentially an added grade level, is creating additional costs. One-time COVID-19 relief funding has expired, enrollment is declining, and the school board approved an early retirement incentive that led more than fifty employees to retire early.
“The one-time COVID funds gave us a glimpse of what properly funded schools can do for public education,” San Luis Coastal Superintendent Eric Prater told the San Luis Obispo Tribune. “Until California provides sustainable, adequate ongoing funding, we will continue to have these ups and downs across the state”
Rising staffing costs add further pressure: district contributions to State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) have increased from 8.3 percent to 19.1 percent, and PERS from 11.7 percent to 27.5 percent. During that same period, the district negotiated 29 percent in salary increases so wages could keep pace with inflation.
“I’m concerned that the amazing performing arts programs our school has curated will suffer immensely because of these budget cuts,” said sophomore Cleo Van Gundy.
The proposed reductions are steep. SLOHS would lose $50,000 from its athletic budget—funds for transportation, equipment, and supplies—plus another $60,000 from summer athletics. The district also proposes cutting $1,754,800 from out-of-classroom personnel who provide supplemental support, $375,000 from secondary counselors, and $404,720 from school resource officers.
The arts face a $150,000 cut, of which is their entire budget.
“Band has been a space where students feel safe with one another and can find friends early on in high school. Without our budget, we would be unable to buy new music and attend competitions, which are two things vital to running the program,” said sophomore Naomi James.
These programs are not extras—they are lifelines. They provide belonging, creativity, discipline, and purpose. SLOHS has long been a school students choose intentionally, drawn by its strong culture of athletics and the arts. Weakening these programs risks weakening the identity of the school itself.
“The SLOHS Band is able to gift all aspects of our program to students for free. This allows every student, regardless of financial standing, to be able to be a part of this incredible team of over a hundred students. We are only able to do this because of the funding allotted to us by the district. If the proposed cuts come into fruition, this inclusivity would no longer be achievable, leaving many students unable to afford participation in our band programs,” said junior Lydia Steckling.
Students are urging one another to raise awareness and make this issue visible. The proposed cuts will be voted on December 16, 2025.
Indifference would leave more than a thousand students without programs that help them grow, connect, and express themselves. SLOHS deserves a future where talent is supported, not stifled—and that future depends on the decisions made now.
