Keokuk School District to Charge Staff for Classroom Appliances

Keokuk School District will be charging its staff a fee to use appliances in the classroom beginning this fall when classes resume throughout the district. At the July 17^th regular board meeting the measure, which will impose a monthly cost of 10 dollars for a mini refrigerator, 3 for a coffee pot, 3 for a microwave, and 12 for a space heater, was passed by the board. Board member Russ Derr explained that the fees are a way to reduce energy costs without cutting jobs. According to district business manager Heidi Harness, the fee scale was set after doing some research and speaking to Alliant Energy. Harness also stated that not including lounges, 66 mini refrigerators, 24 coffee pots, 40 microwaves, and 27 space heaters were used throughout the district. Board member Jane Abell asked whether staff were consulted regarding their thoughts but Harness replied no that this idea came from the finance committee.