Members of the state Board of Education were shocked Wednesday by the magnitude of possible budget cuts that could hit popular programs such as kindergarten and preschool.

The possible $222 million of cuts during the next 18 months could slash programs that are strongly backed by educators, Gov. Bill Ritter and even some of the lawmakers who will have to make the cuts.

"It's going to be ugly. It's going to hurt," said board member Randy DeHoff.

"See why I'm having nightmares and don't sleep?" Vody Herrmann, the Department of Education's school finance director, said following a presentation to the board.

The possible cuts in the $3.1 billion school budget were identified by department staff at the request of the governor's budget office.

The education department officials who devised the list emphasized that they don't favor the cuts, but are required to offer budget-trimming suggestions, as are all other state agencies.

The governor's budget office will forward a list of spending cuts to the legislature's Joint Budget Committee later today or Friday. Reductions in the 2009-10 school year budget go to the JBC next week.

The proposals could be modified by either the governor's staff or the JBC.

Ritter is a strong proponent of education, but schools can't be exempt from cuts given the magnitude of the state's budget problem, said Evan Dreyer, Ritter's spokesman.

Jane Urschel, associate director of the Colorado Association of School Boards, called the figures presented to the board "sobering."

Many educators assume schools are safe from budget cuts because of Amendment 23, passed by voters in 2000. The amendment sets minimum school funding levels.

But Amendment 23 doesn't cover some programs - including preschool and parts of kindergarten. Those programs are funded in a bill passed annually by the legislature and their money can be cut.

Schaffer elected chairman of Board of Ed

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer was elected chairman of the Colorado Board of Education on Wednesday.

Under state legislation passed last year, the board is charged with crafting plans to overhaul the state's education system.

Schaffer promised to play an "assertive" role in creating a "first-class education" for Colorado students.

Schaffer, a Republican who has served on the education board since 2005, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate seat won by Mark Udall in November.

Republicans hold a 4-3 edge on the state school board. The vote to make Schaffer chairman was unanimous.