Ottumwa school board approves at-risk plan and seeks $997,322 in SBRC spending authority

The Ottumwa Community School District board approved the district's at-risk and dropout prevention plan and authorized a request to the School Budget Review Committee for modified supplemental amount (MSA) spending authority.

District administrators told the board the state formula generated $997,322 in MSA authority for the year; the program requires a 25% local match, which the presenters put at $332,441. The district said the MSA calculation uses a 2.5% factor for Ottumwa while surrounding districts typically use 5%, a difference the presenters described as an inequity in how the formula affects spending authority.

"That formula generates a number that we are requesting authority dollars 997,322," one administrator said, and added the district would continue asking legislators to review the differential in the factor used by the Department of Education.

Board members asked whether the at-risk plan applies districtwide; presenters said it does and that actions vary by grade level. The plan covers how students are identified, building-level student assistance teams and the goals, objectives and budget components required by state code, the district said.

The board moved and approved the two related items (the at-risk/dropout plan and the SBRC request) in a single motion. Meeting materials and the presentation indicate the approval was for reauthorization of the required plan and for submitting the MSA authority request; no further contingencies or amendments were noted at the meeting.

The district will submit the SBRC request to the state for approval; the board will continue annual reapproval of the at-risk plan as required.