Keokuk, IA – The Keokuk School District will balance next year's budget by cutting staff. The School Board approved the district's $27,000,000 spending plan for the upcoming school year during last night's meeting. The property tax rate will remain at just over $18.25. The new budget contains a shortfall of roughly $500,000 when new money is compared with added expenses. The board also resolved that, last night, by authorizing a plan that could eliminate as many as 12 full and part-time positions. They include an elementary school special education teacher, an elementary school regular education teacher, six special education associates, and two media-library employees. The cuts also include several positions at Lincoln Elementary, which will close at the end of the school year. The board will cover the remaining $275,000 shortfall with fund balances.
Meanwhile, The Keokuk School Board appointed Dave Barrett to fill a vacancy on the panel. Barrett replaces Dave Hotop, who died last month. Hotop actually replaced Barrett on the school board, several years ago, after Barrett chose not to seek re-election.
Additional Information
* The district will expecting roughly $270,000 in new money next year.
* The largest new expense for the district is negotiated salary and benefit increases - nearly $625,000.
* The district plans to add several teaching positions at the high school - Math Teacher and Special Education Teacher