Following a process that is eliminating nearly $900,000 from the general fund and closer to $1.7 million over the last two budget cycles, Pella Schools Superintendent Greg Ebeling understands concerns over staff reductions, but wants to clarify the difficulty school boards face in the process.

Ebeling says they are limited to how they can spend certain money from different sources, namely — the resources they use for staff salaries are separated from those they can spend for facilities. Additionally, Ebeling says the amount of funding available for personnel is ultimately controlled by the Iowa Legislature through state supplemental aid, whereas for building projects, they can levy additional property tax, use sales tax, or go to the public with bond measures.

Ebeling says the administrative team worked as best as they could to avoid reducing staff when cutting $1.7 million from the general fund, but in order for the long-term health of the district, the cuts they are making were necessary.

Hear more about the latest in the Pella Community School District on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.