District 21 discusses budget problems in public workshop meeting

Headline, News — By admin on February 12, 2010 12:50 am

by Dan Malsom, Editor-in-chief

The District 21 Board of Education held a workshop meeting on Feb. 11 where board members and the audience discussed possible budget cutbacks introduced at the board meeting three weeks earlier.

Members discussed reductions in administrative staff, special education, extracurricular activities, staff supervision stipends and student teaching programs. Increases in class sizes and modification of staff healthcare plans also were brought up as possible sources of financial relief.

The board agreed that they would not discuss the possibilities of increasing target class sizes or cutting extracurricular activities until the board meeting on March 18. By that time, the board must make all final decisions regarding budget cuts.

After 30 minutes of board discussion, audience members asked questions and made comments for about another hour and a half.

“We should focus on avoiding making decisions that would permanently impact our schools, whether that would mean cutting extracurriculars that would be hard to start up again or bring up to their current level in the future, or making a decision regarding class sizes that would damage our community,” Charles Smith, father of two children at Riley Elementary School, said.

Multiple audience members asked for specifics regarding the District 21 special education program.

According to a budget list distributed at the meeting, students currently enroll in classes with the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO), an organization that specializes in providing help for children with learning disabilities. Ending student enrollment in NSSEO programs and instead offering in-house special education programs will save the district an estimated $400,000.

Beth Ausnehmer, mother of four children (two at WHS), said in a comment to the board that the NSSEO program provided smaller class sizes, more personalized learning programs and other benefits to special needs students that would be a challenge for schools to provide otherwise without hiring additional staff.

“What I am wondering is how much will we actually save?” Ms. Ausnehmer said.

Craig Horowitz, father of a graduate of District 21 schools, said that when he compared the percentage of his real estate taxes going towards education from the 1999 to 2008, he found that there was a 96 percent increase in payment to District 21 compared to a 38 percent increase in payment to District 214.

“When I look at my contribution to District 21 and see that it has doubled, I think that just doesn’t make sense,” Mr. Horowitz said.

The district, which currently has an $800,000 surplus, will be facing a deficit of $12 million within five years unless budget changes are made, according to Bill Harrison, board president. He said that an increase in funding to District 21 was necessary.

“District 214 has been sitting on reserves that we just haven’t been able to accumulate,” Mr. Harrison said.

According to Arlen Gould, board member, the board made sure to address the budget as soon as it became a problem in December 2008 when the Consumer Price Index dropped from 4 percent to .1 percent. This drop prevented the board from passing another referendum that could bring in more funding for the school district.

Mr. Gould said that the district does not have a large amount of reserves because of the board’s philosophy to increase funding only with a definite purpose.

“We could have taxed everybody a lot more 15 years ago, and you would have paid with your wallet then,” Mr. Gould said. “We would’ve had money and we wouldn’t know where to use it.”

Margaret Hulligan, parent of a child at Riley Elementary School, suggested that the school board arrange a focus group with teachers, parents and administration that could advise the board on fiscal decisions.

“District 21 has done a huge disservice in the abrupt manner that they have informed us of the crisis,” Ms. Hulligan said. “Our faith in the school board has wavered, but it can be rebuilt.”

After providing the board with funding information based off of audience questions and comments, Daniel Schuler, assistant principal for planning, suggested that concerned parents turn to the government to press for help.

“You are here tonight because you are passionate about your students and the education that they are provided…so I encourage you to contact your representatives in Springfield,” Mr. Schuler said.

Liz McDaniel, freshman at WHS, attended the workshop meeting and the board meeting in January on behalf of her little sister who is in band at Tarkington Elementary School. The band program could face significant reductions under some of the proposed budget cuts.

“My sister, she started playing flute this year, and she started playing piano,” McDaniel said. “I heard from my mom that the district was going to cut its budget, and my sister is really talented so I wanted to voice my opinion here.”

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Tags: Arlen Gould, band, Beth Ausnehmer, Bill Harrison, budget, budget cuts, Charles Smith, Consumer Price Index, Craig Horowitz, District 21, District 214, healthcare, Liz McDaniel, Margaret Hulligan, Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization, NSSEO, Riley Elementary School, school board, special education, Springfield, Tarkington Elementary School, whs, workshop meeting