(Okoboji)– Another area school district is wrestling with how it’s going to handle reductions in state funding.
Okoboji Superintendent Bob Miller tells KUOO news that district will see it’s state funding cut by 412-thousand dollars in the current fiscal year. Given the timing of that, Miller says they don’t have many options. He says the district will be forced to dip into its cash reserves to make up for the loss. He says cutting staff isn’t option right now, with the school year underway and teacher contracts in force.
Miller says while the 412-thousand dollar loss this fiscal year is a blow, he’s even more concern over what’s likely to happen in the upcoming fiscal year. Miller says state officials are telling him the reduction could be doubled, amounting to a significant loss in per-pupil funding. Should that be the case, Miller says the district will be forced to look at program and staff reductions. But he adds there’s only so much that can be cut before the quality of education is compromised. Miller says that’s something the Okoboji School District simply won’t do.
The budget issues were a topic of discussion at a workshop the Okoboji School Board held during a special session this (Thursday) morning.
