OTTAWA — The Ottawa schools are bracing for more cuts this year as the state’s financial crisis deepens. Superintendent Dean Katt said he expects Gov. Mark Parkinson to announce the cuts this week or next week. Those cuts could reach $500,000 for Ottawa schools, Katt said. However, because Ottawa was scheduled to receive additional state aid because of increased enrollment, that cut would be trimmed to about $250,000. It will be a big hit for the school district but the schools have been tightening belts more and the district will dip more heavily into reserves to get through this school year, he said. Next year will be even more difficult, he said.
