Money woes could delay new Iowa City high school

The Iowa City school district's financial difficulties may prevent it from being able open a new high school in 2014, as was originally hoped.

Furthermore, the district, which cut $3.4 million from the upcoming year's budget, may need to make up to $6.7 million in additional reductions the following year, Paul Bobek, the district's executive director of administrative services, said at a school board work session last night.

“Not what you wanted to hear,” President Toni Cilek said to her fellow board members.

The growing district is trying to find a way to open a third comprehensive high school, most likely in the North Liberty area.

Last month, Superintendent Lane Plugge identified the fall of 2014 as a possible open date for the new school, with the caveat that the district must be able to afford operating it. Those costs are estimated at an additional $1.7 million annually.

After further analysis, it was determined that timeline may not be possible, Bobek said. That conclusion was based on assumptions made about the amount of state money the district will receive the next few years, inflation and growth in employee compensation.

Another important factor is the district's unspent balance. The district tries to keep that balance at 5 percent of its budget, although the school board has allowed that to temporarily go as low as 2 percent.

Even with the budget cuts and having an unspent balance of 2 percent, the district would be deficit spending by the 2013-14 school year, Bobek said. By law, the district cannot have a negative balance.

The board was still meeting at press time and discussing how to resolve enrollment disparities at City High and West High that are a major part of the call for another school. Some scenarios being considered include shifting some students from West to City and temporarily assigning some West freshman to Northwest Junior High.

Associate Superintendent Jim Behle said if a new high school doesn't open in 2014, more students would need to be sent to City and Northwest than originally planned.