OC HIGH: STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS : OC High asks: Are you worried that the county’s financial problems will affect you?

“I’ve heard some of the teachers talking about how they might not get a paycheck. If they don’t get a paycheck, they probably won’t teach, and that concerns me quite a bit.”

Katie Miller, 16, junior, Troy

“I’m worried because my mother is a state employee, but I have faith. Orange County has had a grim financial outlook for a few years now, and I see this crisis as yet another obstacle that we can overcome with a little patience.”

Sabrina Hill, 16, sophomore, Brea Olinda

“I heard that by mid-March or something there will not be any more money. Are they going to cancel the school year, just like the baseball season and the hockey season?”

Danny Myers, 15, freshman, Santiago

“Yes, because my mom works for the school system. If we lose county funds, my home life would be seriously affected.”

Rebecca Brown, 17, senior, El Toro

“It sounds like my school district could be severely affected to the point of having to cancel school early. If it does, then I may have to finish my credits in summer school to graduate. I wanted to just enjoy myself this summer before college.”

Dave Gango, 18, senior, Trabuco Hills

“It’s hard to tell what’s going to happen. Most likely it’ll affect the schools because when money is needed, that’s where money is cut.”

Andrea Zelinko, 16, junior, Irvine

“I think it will affect us, but I will be gone when it does. They will cut the first- and second-year teachers, the salaries and the after-school activities. Students will also have to fund their own dances, so the prices will go up.”

Kim Howard, 17, senior, Capistrano Valley

“I don’t really think that it will affect me. Maybe it will teach investors to be wiser when they are dealing with so much money.”

Brandon Abraham, 16, junior, Los Amigos

“A little bit, because my mother is a counselor for the Santa Ana Unified School District. But she says not to worry.”

Sydney Witt, 17, senior, Brea Olinda

“If Orange County doesn’t have money, then we won’t have money to teach school, and everyone will grow up and not be able to have jobs and be dumb.”

Jennifer Cherco, 15, freshman, Loara

“I don’t know how it’s gonna affect me, but I see the effect on teachers already. It’s not fair for them, because some banks may not even cash their checks. It’s Christmas, though.”

An Le, 17, senior, Santiago

“I don’t think that we’ll really see that many significant changes in our own personal lives. Our country has a way of spending money it doesn’t have anyway.”

Julie Bernard, 17, senior, Rosary

“I am worried. The school system could diminish greatly, as well as public transportation.”

Grant Smyth, 17, junior, Mater Dei

“I am worried because there will be a large budget cut from a school like Saddleback. In turn, there will be less funds for clubs, books and necessary equipment for the school.”

Lynda Lo, 14, freshman, Saddleback

“Our (community) leaders have always done a great job at protecting us from financial burdens. I have a lot of trust in them now.”

Matthew West, 18, senior, Foothill

“Yes. Now the band isn’t getting any money from the board for new uniforms.”

Jennifer Ellis, 15, sophomore, Newport Harbor

“I am not personally worried, but there are still a lot of uncertainties, so I don’t really know what will happen. Something will happen, but the question is when.”

Julie Chassagne, 17, senior, Villa Park

“My father is not employed by the county, and I will be moving away at the end of the school year for college, anyway. I think people in Orange County will feel something in the coming months, but not quite yet.”

Cari Ota, 17, senior, Villa Park

“Yes, because if they don’t pay the teachers, then the seniors can’t graduate.”

George Bigney, 17, senior, El Toro

“I’m afraid they will pull funding from the schools and cut programs like sports, music and art.”

Tracy Derslinger, 15, freshman, Capistrano Valley

“It may not affect me now, but in the long run it will definitely have a big effect on me.”

Bao Hoang, 16, junior, Los Amigos

“I think that the bankruptcy could definitely affect things in our school district, like spring sports, club funds and lots of other extra things that our school does and relies on district funding for.”

Ann-Marie Froysaa, 17, senior, Trabuco Hills

“I feel it’s going to affect us, because if the teachers don’t get their payments for the next couple months they will be upset and angry, and will go on strike. Then, we’ll have subs and not teachers.”

Sadas Ahmed, 16, junior, Loara

“I am not too worried about the budget crisis because I live in L.A. County but my school is in Orange County. I know it will affect a lot of my friends.”

Heather Shepherd, 16, junior, Rosary

“It will directly affect Orange County’s educational system and budget, therefore taking away money our schools need to teach us.”

Deanna Davalos, 17, senior, Foothill

“I’m not that worried. I think the bankruptcy would not affect everyday people, but more the government people.”

Shay McAfee, 16, junior, Mater Dei

“Yes, because we don’t get money to pay for the teachers, the supplies and the school in general.”

Lei Shen, 15, sophomore, Loara

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Responses gathered by Corey Griffin, Troy; Amy Chen, Brea Olinda; Jennifer Tobkin, Villa Park; Angela Butler, El Toro; Robert Wenzel, Irvine; Joslin Gemsch, Capistrano Valley; Linda Dao, Los Amigos; Samantha Wood, Trabuco Hills; Katrina Tangen, Newport Harbor; Eve Winnick, Loara; Leeza Duong, Santiago; Christine Monette, Rosary; Jason Foo, Mater Dei; Dana Lenetz, Foothill; Michelle Tran, Saddleback.