Sequester Relocates University Program and Could Cut Teachers at the Ames Community Schools

While the sequester went into effect in March, Ames and Iowa State University are just beginning to feel the affects of the across the board budget cuts.

Two of five teachers told that they might no longer be needed in the Ames School District next year are being cut due to impacts from the sequester, according to the Ames Community School District's agenda notes.

That's because the teachers work for programs supported by Title 1 dedicated funds and that funding is uncertain due to sequestration. The notice is just a precaution though.

It's unlikely that either position will be lost unless total program funding cuts reach a full 10 percent, according to agenda notes for Monday's school board meeting.

And Iowa State University has already had to transfer its administration of the National Pork Board to Des Moines because of sequester cuts at the University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Ames Tribune reports.

Iowa State would remain a partner in the program but would no longer host it.

The sequester or sequestration is a series of automatic federal spending cuts that will total $1.2 trillion over 10 years, according to CNN. Congress scheduled the cuts in 2011 as part of an agreement to raise the debt ceiling, and delayed them again during Fiscal Cliff negotiations, CNN reports.

The cuts purposely affect a wide range of programs to inspire Democrats and Republicans to come to the table and negotiate on spending.