Budget cuts have become a reality at local schools this year. Recently, state legislators told schools the situation will likely get worse.

As we found out, budget problems have forced one area school district to consider a possible merge with another district.

Scott Dyar is a hard working social studies teacher at Eleva-Strum, who's working even harder these days after other teachers were laid off last year.

He tells us, “My day is pretty much loaded, I’ve got four different classes with eight periods, that's seven periods with one prep, that makes for a very busy day.”

Eleva-Strums District Administrator Mark Gruen says with such a small school, there isn't much left to cut, and a referendum will likely become necessary soon.

He says, “We’re doing everything we can to weather the storm, to try and make it through.”

In Gruen's 14 years in school administration he says every year it seems he's had to make cuts and had less money to work with.

And now, he says he's even considering a consolidation, “Yes we are actually entertaining conversations with neighboring districts as we speak.”

The Eau Claire Area School District is also struggling with it’s budget, and superintendent of schools Dr. Ron Heilmann says the future doesn't look promising, “am I concerned, absolutely!”

Heilmann says everyone will likely see the continuing erosion of programs and services, which will force the community and the district to start talking. He says, “it's gonna cause us in Eau Claire and probably throughout the state, it’s gonna require a lot of communities to have heart-to-heart discussions, what do we want for the schoolchildren of our community.”

Heilmann says the 2011-2013 budget cycle may hit schools even harder than the current budget.

Heilmann also says the district may have to begin charging fees for things like art and music programs, just as they now charge for sports.

In terms of a possible consolidation for Eleva-Strum, the district administrator says potential candidates aren't public yet.

We spoke to Osseo-Fairchild and Mondovi Wednesday, neither superintendent has been approached yet. We did not hear back from Gilmanton.