School District to receive more money
The Oskaloosa School district is about to get more money. A new bill signed into law by President Obama is giving the states nationwide millions of dollars to be used for education. At Tuesday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Russ Reiter stated that the district will receive around 400,000 dollars. This money is to be used for teacher’s salaries. Superintendent Reiter said that he would like to see the remaining balance of the money used to hire a couple of more teachers in each class at the elementary school to lower class sizes. He feels that our current elementary class sizes are too large. Superintendent Reiter said that he would like to, if possible, hire these teachers immediately so that we can begin to lower class sizes. In April of 2009, a group of citizens, Oskaloosa Citizens for Quality Education, presented a motion to the school board to lower class sizes. They included a petition with nearly 500 signatures. In June of 2009, the school board voted down their motion 7-0.
In Other Action, the School Board:
- Heard a report from Neal Hadden, and Larry Lewis on the elementary school landscaping project
- Passed a resolution certifying the districts testing scores to be sent to the state government
- Voted to reopen bids for the districts housing trades class house
- Voted to lower the minimum bid for the housing trades class house
- Approved the appointments of 2 new special education teachers, 1 new high school At-Risk counselor, and 1 new part time high school math teacher
