Ames School Board Prepared to Approve $46.2 Million General Fund Budget

The Ames School Board tonight will vote on the district’s 2012-2013 general fund budget, which primarily pays for teachers and support staff.

“We looked for ways to protect programs and kids,” said Kathy Hanson, director of Ames’ school, community and media relations.

The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the
multipurpose room at , 1921 Ames High Drive.  

School officials had to find more than $1 million to
balance the budget, she said. The savings were found by staff changes and
restructuring programs, Hanson said.

She said a “helpful settlement” with teachers during the collective
bargaining process also helped the district “keep our cost down.”

Despite the budget challenges in a district with declining enrollment, the budget for the upcoming school year focuses on helping students, she said.

“It preserves the staff we need to meet our building goals,” she said. “It also keeps several instruction coaches in place, which is very important. It keeps elementary guidance counselors in place.”