The Iowa Department of Education says the Davenport school superintendent and board members could face consequences if they follow through on a plan to spend more money than authorized by the state.
Agency director, Jeff Berger, told the Quad-City Times that board members who agree to the plan could face criminal charges and that action could be taken against Superintendent Art Tate, and his professional license.
Berger's comments came a day after Doctor Tate told the school board that his budget plan for the 2016-2017 school year would exceed state-set spending limitations by about $5 million.
After years of trying to change the state formula that he believes short-changes the Davenport schools, Tate says Davenport should be able to spend more on its students, if it has money available - for example the district's reserve funds now total 29 million dollars.