Hunter
04/11/23
The Iowa City Community School District is reducing the number of teachers over the next two years now that federal elementary and secondary school emergency relief is set to end.
Superintendent Matt Degner told the Gazette that the decision is exacerbated by what he called “more than a decade of underfunding public schools.” The District added more teaching staff to classrooms to decrease class sizes during the pandemic, but knew the increase wouldn’t be sustainable.
Staff will be reduced for the 2023-24 school year by teachers taking early retirement benefits packages or leaving the district. The normal average of people taking early retirement is around 30, but this year, over 70 are using the option. Degner says aggressive early retirement incentives have led to the increase.
However, the overall District budget is increasing by 15 percent to facilitate projects funded by sales and property taxes. Those projects include converting junior high schools to middle schools so that sixth graders can attend. The conversions are projected to be completed by fall 2024, at a cost of about $54 million.
A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at 6pm tonight at the Educational Services Center on North Dodge Street.