The Dekalb County School Board is scheduled to vote this evening on a budget that could mean severe cuts at the Fernbank Science Center, an option would have far-reaching consequences for students and teachers alike.

Debi Huffman has been a science teacher at Fernbank since 1975. In almost four decades, her students have soared.

“One of my first students was Eric Boe. When he was just 12, he said he wanted to be an astronaut,” Huffman said.

Boe wound up piloting two space shuttle missions in 2009 and 2011. Boe has said frequently that without the education and inspiration he received at Fernbank… that may never have happened.

“We have the ability of bringing things to life for these kids that they typically couldn’t do in the classroom,” Huffman said.

But she warned that ability might be severely curtailed if the Dekalb School Board approves deep budget cuts at Fernbank – not because the program is ineffective – but because of its expense. Dekalb Schools have budgeted $4.7 million for Fernbank. School board members are now considering whether to cut up to $3.2 million.

The school board meeting begins at 6pm tonight, but there’s no indication when during that meeting the vote will be called.