Hearing & Speech Center making noise about potential budget cuts

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Some of the organizations facing cuts in Governor Matt Bevin’s budget proposal say they provide essential services that Kentuckians need.

That includes the Lexington Hearing & Speech Center’s Early Learning program.

The school for the hearing and speech impaired is about to make a lot of noise.

The center’s primary goal is preparing students with hearing, speech, and behavioral problems for school. Kindergarten teacher Holly Polk says achieving that is the best feeling in the world.

“You’re like, ‘yes!’ and you’re rejoicing with them and you’re praising them and you’re telling their moms and their dads, and it’s just a phenomenal feeling,” Polk said.

Polk and other staff members worry they won’t be hearing as many of those moments. Their program is one of 70 the Governor wants to cut funding from as a way to fix the state’s pension crisis.

“It’s not a huge surprise to us. Of course we are disappointed,” Executive Director Marcy Ansley said.

The center has been getting $100,000 from the state for more than five years. It funds adaptive equipment such as sound systems that projects the teacher’s voice in classrooms. It also pays for scholarships.

“I’m worried we won’t be able to provide enough scholarship funding for the children who really need to be here, but finances are a barrier,” Ansley said.

She says people of all ages drive from hours away to use the center’s services.

“We are providing a resource to the state that would be lost if we were not doing it,” Ansley said.

Polk understands the governor wants to fix the pension crisis. She empathizes with the teachers it impacts, but she doesn’t think cuts are the solution.

“Education is the foundation for everything in this world…when you cut the basic foundation for everything first, then how do you value what we do?” Polk said.

Staff and families plan to show the center’s value by using those loud voices they have developed to advocate for themselves at the Capitol next month.