(CENTREVILLE) – The Superintendents of St. Joseph County’s public schools are speaking out on the failure of State lawmakers to pass a budget.

St. Joseph County Intermediate School District Superintendent Dr Teresa Belote issued a media release, signed by herself and the nine other Superintendents.

In the release, Belote says that she and the other Superintendents have been receiving questions about programming, services, free lunch programs and other matters in St. Joseph County.

State law mandates that lawmakers approve a K-12 school funding budget by July 1 each year, so that school districts can plan and operate with certainty. School budgets need to be board approved at the local level by July 1. So far, no agreement has been reached, which means local schools are one-sixth of the way through their fiscal year and don’t know if their budgets, which are built on projections, will cover expenses.

Sturgis Schools Superintendent Dr. Art Ebert spoke with Swick Broadcasting Monday and says this is an unsettling matter, but Sturgis Schools will be just fine during this process. ...... {LISTEN}.

In the media release, Belote says that she and the other Superintendents have reached out to State Representative Steve Carra and State Senator Jonathan Lindsey, asking them to act quickly. The Superintendents say if the public has concerns about school funding to contact Carra and Lindsey as well.