Wapello will need to cut the school budget due to enrollment decline

Nov. 10--A $200,000 budget cut will need to be implemented by the Wapello School District for Fiscal Year 2019, Superintendent Mike Peterson warned the school board Wednesday.

In his regular monthly report he made earlier in the meeting to the board, Peterson blamed an enrollment decline this year of nearly 28 students for the cut. He reported the loss of students would translate into a $185,564 reduction in state aid for the district next year, assuming the state maintains its current per student funding level.

"My recommendation is we cut $200,000," he told the board, explaining he was also proposing the school board adopt an early retirement plan and move the sixth grade to the high school as part of the budget reduction effort.

"It's getting harder and harder to come up with something that doesn't impact our kids," Peterson said.

The board eventually did approve the early retirement program on a 4-1 vote, with board member Eric Smith opposed.

The early retirement program will be offered to certified staff members who are at least 55 years old and have 10 years of experience in the district. Anyone taking advantage of the offer would receive $32,500 for a health retirement account or as an annuity.

Officials have previously reported this money can be financed through the school's Management Fund. That does not affect the district's General Fund, which is the school account facing the budget cuts.

The school officials hope older, more experience teachers take advantage of the offer and retire, making it possible to replace them with younger staff that likely will be paid less, helping to reduce the General Fund spending.

Peterson said his other proposal, moving the sixth grade to the high school would help reduce staff by allowing the district to use more part-time positions. He also suggested the move would benefit the students because their curriculum would be closer aligned to the junior high program.

"Several neighboring districts already do this," he said, adding the administrative team had not completed the planning for the move, but he wanted to alert the board about the proposal.

The board did not take any action on moving the sixth grade and Peterson acknowledged more discussion would be needed.

"Typically (we) wait until February (to discuss budgets), but will begin sooner because we will need planning sessions," he said.

In other action, the board agreed to move the school's May 20 graduation from the original 2 p.m. to 1 p.m., after Peterson pointed out several neighboring schools were holding their graduations at about the same time.

He said the overlaps meant people with relatives graduating in other districts often have missed some family graduations because of the conflicts. Board members looked at several options, including holding graduation on other days, but eventually settled on moving the district's graduation ahead one hour.

In final action, the board:

--Approved a $10,879 annual contract with Shift 9 Labs and MTC Technologies, West Liberty, to provide IT technology consulting services for next year;

--Approved a $45,150, four-year lease of computer equipment from Apple, Inc. and a $3,240 buyback of old apple equipment from Asset Refresh, Phoenix, Arizona; and

--Agreed to purchase two projectors for high school classrooms for approximately $5,070. Board President Duane Boysen and board member Doug Housman voted no.

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