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PS 229 Principal James Harrigan says he already knows which programs will be the first to go once the call is made.

"I have what you call the band orchestra. I have a strings violin program. I have a visual arts program. I have a writing program," Harrigan said.

Harrigan says arts programs like those currently offered at his school will all go away if education cuts the mayor ordered on Monday trickle down to the city's education system. And that's not the only threat to many principals' bottom lines.

State Legislators in Albany are still debating Governor David Paterson's proposed cuts, and education is the main sticking point. If Paterson's cuts go through, city schools will lose another $223 million mid-year.

Principals have already had to cut about six percent in the last year. At PS 229, that means some struggling students aren't getting the extra help they once had.

"Now I don't have as many children in first and second grade who are getting that small group servicing," Harrigan said.

One of Mayor Bloomberg's chief school reforms was giving principals almost complete control over their schools' budgets. What gets cut mid-year will depend on each principals' budget, and will vary from school to school.

At PS 229, there are still enrichment programs that can be cut if necessary. NY1 spoke to several principals Tuesday who say they spent the majority of their budget on lowering class size and now have nothing to cut but teachers.

Although it may seem preferable to cut after-school or arts programs, parents and educators say for many students, those activities are the best part of the day.

"They're not seeing it as school work. They are seeing it as the reason I want to go into today is because I want to get in there with the band, I want to play the violin, I want to be in the concert, I want to go on that particular trip. I want to be on the stage in that particular performance. And that's what really encourages kids to stay in school, continue in school and get a lot out of school.

"The very programs that keeps some of our most troubled children in schools are the one's that are being cut. So what we're doing has such a devastating effect," said one PS 229 parent.

Schools are expected to get the final numbers on how deeply they'll have to cut within the next few weeks.