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Davenport Schools have plenty of money but still face millions in cuts

School closures, teacher reductions and increased class sizes were all on the table as the Davenport School Board looked to cut nearly $8 million from its budge...

School closures, teacher reductions and increased class sizes were all on the table as the Davenport School Board looked to cut nearly $8 million from its budget over the next three years.

Superintendent Dr. Art Tate presented a potential plan to the Board of Education, seeking their input in prioritizing the cost-saving measures Monday, October 27, 2014.

Under the plan, the 2015-2016 school year would see cuts of $3,845,000. This would come from early retirement, a reduction in 25 teaching positions, and reducing an administration job by attrition. The proposal also calls for eliminating two instructional coaches, one reading interventionist, and reducing department budgets by five percent.

During the 2016-2017 school year, cuts would total $3,335,000. The largest savings would come from changing from block to traditional scheduling at the high school. Other money-saving measures include re-purposing a school and increasing the number of school hours in a day.

The plan calls for cuts of $2,365,000 during the 2017-2018 school year, with items like closing a school and increasing class sizes.

"We've cut all the low-hanging fruit, and now we have to start looking at some of those big ticket items," said Marsha Tangen, the district's chief financial officer.

Tangen said the district has plenty of money, with a fund balance of nearly $25 million last year. The problem, though, is a state concept known as "spending authority."

"It's education's equivalent to a salary cap in professional sports. Regardless of how much money you have, there's a cap on how much you can spend. So, that's why we have to look at making reductions, because we're at risk of exceeding that spending authority," said Tangen.

No decisions were made Monday, and the Board was expected to continue discussing these potential cuts over the coming months. A finalized budget is due in April.

 

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