(Estherville)– One local school district is being hit especially hard by cuts in state funding.
Estherville-Lincoln Central Superintendent Doctor Steve Colby tells KUOO news they had to cut 260-thousand dollars as a result of the first round of across-the-board cuts from the state. Colby says they did that by dipping into a cash reserve balance, by using some phase three money, cutting back on the summer school program, reducing travel and field trips and by delaying repairs and purchases.
Now, Colby says they could be looking at another 150-thousand in cuts if the legislature decides not to dip into the rainy day fund and the Governor makes an additional 2.6 percent across-the-board cut.
Colby says the across-the-board cuts are unfair to small districts because they are based strictly on state aid. He says the cuts should be made on a per-pupil basis instead.
Colby is also calling on the state to follow through with funding levels that were promised in the past.
