The State of Iowa has approved a three percent increase in supplemental aid for the next school year. With inflation up over eight percent it will be more difficult for schools to keep up without making some adjustments along the way.

Melcher-Dallas Superintendent Scott Bridges tells KNIA/KRLS News that school enrollment  is down 12 students this year. The money the school will receive to operate goes down due to the declining numbers, but if the numbers go back up next year they will not be hurt. There is a one-year safety net for the schools with the budget guaranteed. 

 Eighty percent of the M-D budget is staff salaries. Bridges added, “Right now I’m not concerned about Melcher-Dallas. My hope is that next year we have increased enrollment and it’s not an issue. If you look at our 10-year trend, Melcher-Dallas has a tendency to go up five or six, down seven or eight, up 10, down five or six, you see what I’m saying.”

In closing he said he’d be remiss if he said he wasn’t concerned with the numbers because he is concerned. Bridges said Melcher-Dallas has a good unspent balance leaving the school in a good position.