Staff cuts part of Iowa City school budget plan

Iowa City school district staff would be cut and veteran teachers would be encouraged to retire under proposed budget reductions unveiled late Tuesday night.

Superintendent Lane Plugge provided the school board with an outline for making nearly $3.5 million in cuts.

“We won't be able to do things we've done before,” Plugge said.

He believes the district will need to cut between $1.7 million and $5.1 million for the year that begins July 1, depending on what happens with contract negotiations with union employees and the level of financial support from the state.

The reductions would come on top of $3.4 million in cuts made last year. The district also lost $5.6 million in state aid under statewide cuts ordered by Gov. Chet Culver.

The district's situation is not unique, with school systems across Iowa, and the nation, struggling financially.

No decisions were made Tuesday night, and the board will continue to discuss the budget in coming weeks.

Plugge did not immediately know how many district employees could lose their jobs under the proposed cuts.

Ideas shared by Plugge included reducing elementary and secondary school media staff, a nurse and a counselor.

Other possibilties are reducing money for professional development for administrators and looking for cuts in clubs, athletics and performance music.

Plugge also suggested the board increase the staff-to-student ratio to save $380,000, something a few board members indicated they would be reluctant to do.

The single biggest savings would be an estimated $500,000 from boosting for one year the early retirement incentive to try to get 25 people to retire. Plugge said last week that he's reluctant to encourage early retirement because it means good teachers will leave the district.

“It's a catch-22 because you hate to see those people leave, but it is certainly a cost savings,” board member Toni Cilek said.

If more savings are needed, an additional 20 early retirements could be sought, netting $400,000 more.

Board member Tuyet Dorau said she wanted administrators to do some more “creative thinking.”

“I would like to see something other than just staff cuts,” she said.

“We all would,” came the response from multiple board members.

Plugge said the priority is protecting classroom learning as much as possible.