‘ ‘ ‘ Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposed budget for next year would slash two programs Pitt has been… ‘ ‘ ‘ Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposed budget for next year would slash two programs Pitt has been offering for years. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Rendell’s proposal would cut the $3.2 million per year that pays for the tuition and room and board of students attending the Governor’s Schools of Excellence, competitive programs that prepare high school students for careers in the arts, teaching and agricultural sciences, among other subjects. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ In the past, Pitt has hosted the programs for students interested in health care and international studies. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Rendell, said the governor called the programs, which the state has offered to students since 1973, ‘one of the governor’s favorite[s].’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘He was forced to make a difficult decision in this unprecedented economic downturn,’ he said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ But that didn’t soften the blow to some Governor’s School alumni. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt sophomore and Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Health Care alumna Kim Autore said, ‘I think legislators would be making a huge mistake. It … offers opportunities unlike anything else to high school students.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt spokesman John Fedele said it’s important to remember that this is just a proposal, and there will be negotiations for the next five months about what options exist for these programs.