Local superintendents take early look at next year's school funding

Although it remains early in the process North Winneshiek and Decorah Community Schools superintendents seem relatively comfortable with the upcoming year prospects. Decorah Superintendent Mike Haluska said his current understanding is that Governor Culver plans to keep allowable growth for schools at 2percent for FY11 and to fully fund it. His plan is to tap into state reserves in order to fund the state's obligation to education. That, of course, is good news for schools and local taxpayers. Haluska's biggest concern would be that, should state revenues continue to lag in the second half of 2010 and that be forecast into the first half of 2011, we could see another substantial across-the-board cut. If that possibility exists, the district would be forced to replenish cash reserves in order to be responsibly prepared. Decorah has benefited from the financial savings of 15 early retirements that should help in this and upcoming years.

North Winneshiek Superintendent Tim Dugger indicates that their district is in a fairly stable financial position. With three teacher retirements, the district will realign staffing and reduce staffing levels to adjust to the poor economy. He believes they will weather the financial down turn over the next couple of years. He says they are at an appropriate level for cash reserves and doesn't think the new requirement which makes schools spend down their cash reserves will affect them. Their current solvency ratio, as determined by the Iowa Association of School Boards is in the "good" category. Dugger added that smaller school districts get themselves into bad positions by supporting costly 9-12 programs. "Our school board made the decision 10 years ago to close our high school. This allowed us to save large amounts of money in order to remain a solvent Preschool-8th grade school."