OTTAWA — Ottawa school Supt. Dean Katt is reluctantly making plans to face another $275,000 in cuts in this year’s school budget because of likely cuts in state school aid. Because of the economy, there are more “at-risk” students across the state and enrollment is up across the state this year, he said. That means unless the state comes up with more money, each school district’s slice of the state funds will be smaller, he explained. However, he’s hoping he won’t have to deal with the worst-case scenario for next year. To keep the state school fund afloat in past years, Gov. Mark Parkinson had to dip into economic stimulus money and other funds earmarked for next year. If legislators don’t replace that money, that could result in a worst-case scenario that means another $1 million cut in school funding for Ottawa schools, he said. Katt has cut $2 million from the USD 290 budget over the last two years and another $1 million cut would be catastrophic for students, he said. However, he said he’s optimistic that the worst-case scenario won’t happen but has to think about it nevertheless.
Thursday, Nov. 11, 8:30 a.m.
