DES MOINES, Iowa – Millions of dollars in budget cuts over the next three years are announced by the Des Moines Public School District.
The budget cuts total $74 million dollars with a total of $24 million dollars being saved next year alone.
Superintendent Dr. Tom Ahart said the cuts are a result of public education being underfunded.
“Over seven years of having less than two percent new money from the state. It’s just becoming a real challenge to keep up with just inflation alone,” Ahart said.
The district will lose about 20 teachers and additional faculty from different departments for next year.
The Adult Education program will become a thing of the past in order to fund other programs offered by the district.The program was a mix of non-credited classes that centered around hobbies and personal interests.
The district said the adult education program is not part of its key mission and ending the program will allow $1 million to go towards middle school activities that was once funded by the general fund.
Ahart said a large factor of next year’s budget relies on student enrollment.
“About 76 percent of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch so our Title I budget is rather large. That money is used almost exclusively for paying for staff that provide additional support, mostly in reading and math for our students,” Ahart said.
Title I, a federal program that helps low-income students, will continue next year.
Faculty will see changes to their health insurance as well.
According to WHO Channel 13, the new budget needs to be finalized by April 15th.
Ahart said, “In virtually every other part of the district we are just tightening the nuts on the bolt a little bit tighter, so asking for everyone to do a little bit more for a little bit less.”
People can voice their opinions and concerns at the following scheduled public forums:
Wednesday March 27th– 5:00 p.m. at Roosevelt High School Library
Thursday March 28th– 5:00 p.m. DMPS Operations Center (1917 Dean Avenue)
Saturday March 30th– 9:00 a.m. Lincoln High School Library