(Keokuk, Ia.) Keokuk may have budget issues to resolve, but it's not all bad news.

A US Department of Education grant will allow them to hire elementary guidance counselors.

Keokuk originally applied for the grant in January of 08.

The grant from the will give the district $1.18 million over three years.

The district will only have to kick in $15,000 in year three of the grant.

This grant will provide funds for four elementary guidance counselors as well as services from a psychologist and a social worker.

"One of the things we're going to work in through the grant is trying to do a better of getting kids to school," said Superintendent Dr. Lora Wolff.  "So, reduce absences, reduce tardiness, also provide some preventitive services to the students before they have big problems. Just dealing with smaller problems along the way."

Wolff said the guidance counselors are going to get into the classrooms so they can deal with problems like bullying.

To try and stop those problems before they get worse.

These positions will probably be three year positions as they would just add to any budget problems when the grant runs out.