Local schools already reeling after last year’s reduction in school aid were hit with the news last week that Gov. David Paterson plans deep cuts across the board for the 2010-11 year.

“It’s devastating, it’s horrible,” said Sewanhaka Superintendent Warren Meierdiercks. “Words cannot describe how upset we are with this possible cut. It’s our hope it does not materialize.”

In the three districts that touch Franklin Square and Elmont, a total of more than $6 million could be cut if the governor’s budget is approved, not including several Valley Stream districts that include schools in Franklin Square. The Sewanhaka Central High School District stands to lose the most, with a possible cut of $3.6 million. The Elmont School District could lose up to $1.9 million, while Franklin Square could be out more than $650,000.

The specter of cuts has administrative leaders scrambling to try to reconcile programs — and teaching staffs — with budgets that were already been slashed to the bone this year. The local result was a group of extremely frustrated district employees, who had no answers as to what the future might hold.

“At this point, until we have a meeting with the board, I have no idea where this could eventually wind up,” Meierdiercks said last week. “Obviously, if this budget stays where it is, that would mean massive cuts in programs and staff.” He added that the next school board meeting, and the school board’s subsequent budget meeting on Feb. 2, were likely to be “stressful.”

While Sewanhaka — one of three central high school districts in the county — faced the largest possible losses, elementary administrators were equally upset with what they perceived as an unconscionable slight from Albany. “When the cuts are this deep and they’re multi-year cuts, eventually they’re going to hit the classroom,” said Patrick Manley, Franklin Square’s assistant superintendent for finance. “We’re trying to limit the impact on students, but it’s eventually going to hit [them].”