Fort Madison, IA – Superintendent Ken Marang says the district will cut about $650,000 from next year's proposed budget. He says the idea is to avoide depleting its reserve funds.
Marang says the state has told the district that its current level of $1.5-million is acceptable, especially with some similar sized districts carrying reserves of $15,000.
The district's current proposal calls for the elimination of the after school program, SchoolzOut. The after-school program's instructor would also be let go.
Marang says that while the program is very popular, the grant that paid for three years of SchoolzOut has run out. He says, "We can't re-up it for the full amount. It will cost us another $150,000 for each year we do it. I can't afford it looking at the deficit that we have."
Marang says the district will also save money, next year, through the early retirement of 10 employees. He says several positions will remain vacant while other veteran employees will be replaced by new employees.
Marang says the cuts have already been factored into the district's certified budget. That document will set the spending authority for the 2009/2010 school year.
Marang says residents can discuss the certified budget at the Fort Madison School Board's April 6 meeting.