Marietta schools may give fewer tests to save money

Fewer standardized tests could save the Marietta school system $42,000 next year.

That’s one of many ideas the school board and district leaders will consider to make up an anticipated budget shortfall of at least $4 million.

The school board held the first of many work sessions Tuesday night to tackle next year’s budget. The district already plans job cuts and a salary freeze, but that won’t be enough to cover a decrease in state and local funds.

District students now take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in all grade levels, said Debra Pickett, assistant superintendent. ITBS is a nationally used standardized test for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

“We feel like we over-test,” Pickett said.

The state funds the testing for students in fourth and seventh grades, and the Marietta district plans to continue testing second-graders.

The district also plans to implement staff furloughs, but hasn’t decided which employees will be affected or the number of days. The district could save $29,000 a day by furloughing administrators, including principals, assistant principals and central office employees.

If teachers give up one day of pay, the district could save just over $300,000. Superintendent Emily Lembeck has said she hopes to avoid taking days away from teachers.

The school board will hold another work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday.