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Superintendent Mark Schneider said that the funding reduction would be made up through $417,000 in budget cuts and the rest from its reserve. The largest hit will be $95,000 to the buildings budgets. This funding covers everything from field trips to professional development. Delaying the purchase of social studies textbooks will equal $80,000, as well as purchasing one bus instead of two, accounting for $70,000. A $73,000 cut to special education will be made up by the one-time federal stimulus funding to schools.
Transportation will take a $10,000 reduction, meaning fewer field trips and other nonessential travel. Other reductions are $10,000 to the activities fund, $10,000 for technology, $23,000 from the gifted and talented program, $5,000 for utilities, $30,000 for overtime/contracted hours and $23,000 from the home-school assistance program.
Kelly Galiher, at-risk student advocate, gave an update of work being done by the Human Growth and Development Committee. Working with community members, organizations and the Council of Mid-Prairie Churches, Galiher said they were developing six-week curriculums based on FLASH that would begin in the fourth grade and continue through 12th grade. FLASH (Family Life and Sexual Health) is a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum and widely used by school districts throughout the United States and Canada. She noted its effectiveness has been proven through research.
The emphasis of the curriculum, she said, would be helping students stay safe, both emotionally and physically. The program is aimed at reducing first-time intercourse through self-esteem and boundaries.
The hiring of a part-time special education associate for Kids Country Club was approved, as well as an additional full -time special education associate at Kalona Elementary to be paid for with special education funds.
