There will be nine teachers at Keota Elementary School next year. At a special meeting on Wednesday, the Keota School Board voted to reduce the number of teachers at the elementary by two to help address a decline in their unspent balance.

According to board president Scott Flynn, they also voted to offer an early retirement incentive in the form of a one time payment of $8,000.

Restructuring the district’s administrative staff was approved as well. Currently, the high school principal spends 80% of his time at Keota and 20% of his time at Mid-Prairie, while the part-time elementary principal also serves as curriculum director. The restructuring will consolidate the principal positions into one role that oversees preschool through 12th grade. Flynn says they have not decided how the duties of the curriculum director will be handled next year.