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Teachers and administrators battle over where to cut Davenport schools’ budget

In the middle of the Davenport School district budget crunch, there are two competing plans to save money. One proposal is from the school district, the other i...

In the middle of the Davenport School district budget crunch, there are two competing plans to save money. One proposal is from the school district, the other is from a group representing the teachers in the district.

That group, called the Davenport Education Association (DEA), thinks the school district is making too many teacher cuts, and not enough in administration.

"We believe that if you're wanting to have an effective public education system in this community, you've got to put the resources closest to the children. We work for them, not the other way around," said Toby Paone, a representative from the Iowa State Education Association. "We believe that there's an alternative. I'm not saying that the superintendent is wrong or the administration is wrong, but there is an alternative, a second view of this."

The Davenport Community School District's plan calls for around 28 staff positions to be eliminated, mostly teachers at every grade level from high school to kindergarten. The move would also increase class sizes by two students and would end up saving the district $1.7 million.

In the DEA's proposal, teacher jobs would be protected, and more administrative jobs would be cut.

A total of 17 administration positions, including associate principles and other staff positions would be cut; saving the district $1.9 million.

"There will certainly be differences, especially the way the DEA looks at things," said Ralph Johanson, Davenport School Board President. "They're looking at things through their glasses."

"Anything that's presented to the board or to the administration, whether it's from the DEA, or from a member of our community, it's information that we will look at," Johanson said. "But ultimately it will be the superintendent and the administration that make the recommendation, and it will be the board that makes the decision."

Johanson said the Davenport School Board will likely make a decision on early retirement incentives in the next meeting on Monday, December 8. He said they will not have to make any decisions on the remaining budget cuts, including layoffs, until March.

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