School District Settles With Teacher Union For Next Fiscal Year

Oskaloosa Community School Administration

Oskaloosa, Iowa – In special session this past Thursday evening, the Oskaloosa School Board approved its contract with the Oskaloosa Education.
The increase for the 2015-16 fiscal year will be 3.25 percent for salaries and benefits. Of that 3.25 percent, 1.8 percent is the increase in salary.

The cost for the increase will be “approximately $448,000.00” says Oskaloosa Superintendent Russ Reiter. “That’s why it’s important that we took at look at some reductions.”

“We made approximately $800,000.00 in cuts this year for next year,” said Reiter. “Just trying to tighten our belt a little bit.”

When it comes to staff reduction, Reiter says, “We’re going to be looking at a couple of positions.”

As of time of posting, the State of Iowa hasn’t set its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, nor the amount commonly known as allowable growth. The Oskaloosa School District has planned for a 0% growth for the next fiscal year as they were required to publish their budget.