The Des Moines school board will vote on cutting nearly $18 million from its budget. School board members say it's one of the hardest votes they've ever cast, but they say some things must go.
The cuts are part of Governor Culver's 10% across the board budget cuts designed to make up for a predicated state deficit. Now, board members put the final plans on the table.
Dr. Vincent Lewis is a legend at North High School. He's been encouraging Des Moines students to stay in school for nearly 30 years. But next year, Dr. Lewis will be absent from these hallways.
"It's going be devastating, extremely devastating for schools everywhere," says Dr. Lewis.
Des Moines Public Schools accepted his early retirement two weeks ago, during a year the district faces the largest budget cut they've ever seen. Lewis' retirement may save the district some money, but Lewis says it's the kids who will suffer the most.
"It's impossible in my opinion and my knowledge to do a 10% across the board and not impact students in some way. It's pretty horrendous."
But school board president Connie Boesen says they've made every effort to keep the cuts away from the students.
"This budget is a balanced budget. It reflects a strong deterrent to keep away the cuts from the classroom," says Boesen.
Most of the $17.5 million getting cut is coming from the district's self insurance fund, stimulus money, and cash reserves. There are some cuts that could affect your child: chunks of cash from the textbook budget and teacher training program. But Boesen says what's most important is what's not being cut: teacher jobs.
"When you're not cutting positions and maintaining the teacher to student ratio in the classroom, that's what's important. We tried to maintain and do that."
As hard as it is for Dr. Lewis to see the cuts happen the year he retires, he, and the school board believe it's only going to get worse next year.
"Every district in the state is facing it and facing tougher issues going forward."
Already in the near future is next year's budget, which the board will start discussing next month. Since they're expecting even larger cuts, the board says they can't promise there won't be teacher layoffs next year.
The cuts are part of Governor Culver's 10% across the board budget cuts designed to make up for a predicated state deficit. Now, board members put the final plans on the table.
Dr. Vincent Lewis is a legend at North High School. He's been encouraging Des Moines students to stay in school for nearly 30 years. But next year, Dr. Lewis will be absent from these hallways.
"It's going be devastating, extremely devastating for schools everywhere," says Dr. Lewis.
Des Moines Public Schools accepted his early retirement two weeks ago, during a year the district faces the largest budget cut they've ever seen. Lewis' retirement may save the district some money, but Lewis says it's the kids who will suffer the most.
"It's impossible in my opinion and my knowledge to do a 10% across the board and not impact students in some way. It's pretty horrendous."
But school board president Connie Boesen says they've made every effort to keep the cuts away from the students.
"This budget is a balanced budget. It reflects a strong deterrent to keep away the cuts from the classroom," says Boesen.
Most of the $17.5 million getting cut is coming from the district's self insurance fund, stimulus money, and cash reserves. There are some cuts that could affect your child: chunks of cash from the textbook budget and teacher training program. But Boesen says what's most important is what's not being cut: teacher jobs.
"When you're not cutting positions and maintaining the teacher to student ratio in the classroom, that's what's important. We tried to maintain and do that."
As hard as it is for Dr. Lewis to see the cuts happen the year he retires, he, and the school board believe it's only going to get worse next year.
"Every district in the state is facing it and facing tougher issues going forward."
Already in the near future is next year's budget, which the board will start discussing next month. Since they're expecting even larger cuts, the board says they can't promise there won't be teacher layoffs next year.
