Story posted Friday, January 22, 2010
Money Crunch Hits District 21
Schools Eye Ways To Fill $4 Million Hole
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
Wheeling Twp. Elementary School Dist. 21 is facing tough decisions as it wrestles with how to reduce expenditures by approximately $4 million for the 2010-11 school year and beyond.
District officials, who expected to meet last night (Thursday) to discuss the long-range financial situation facing the district, say reductions will have minimal direct impact on instruction.
Items being considered for cost reductions include:
* Class size: The number of students in class may be increased to reduce the number of teachers needed and to reduce salary and benefit expenditures.
According to Supt. Dr. Gary Mical, current class sizes range from 22-25, but could increase to as many as 30.
* A reduction in administrative leadership positions.
* Special Education Cooperative (NSSEO) Program Take-back: Dist. 21 would assume administration and instruction of a current NSSEO cross-categorical special education program bringing students back into current district programming.
* Athletics/clubs/activities/extra-duty music/activity transportation: The eliminating of non-core curriculum before and after-school activities, resulting in lower payroll and transportation costs.
* Professional development/extra work: The elimination or reduction of paid professional development and extra work stipends for staff.
* Staff supervision stipends: Reduction of before or after school and lunchtime supervisions, including coverage of bus drop-off and pick-up. This would require changes within the collective bargaining agreement.
The Dist. 21 school board has also directed administration to review grade level centers versus neighborhood schools and the possibility of eliminating one school site by merging two schools.
Grade level centers allow all district children of the same grade level to attend the same school.
"Depending on the collective bargaining agreement, we would be looking to see if there are possible reductions by March, but implementing anything would take more time and study," said Mical.
Mical added by staff and board members determining financial reductions, eliminating positions and educational programs could be a possibility.
District officials say tax caps that are in place as a result of Illinois law will limit the district's ability to increase revenue for next school year. This will result in the district having essentially the same amount of money next school year as this year.
Despite the district lowering specific costs through "judicious" spending and by "carefully" negotiating for products and services, Dist. 21 says many costs continue to climb over time.
There are 13 schools in the district, which house approximately 7,000 Pre-K-8th grade students and approximately 800 employees.
Dist. 21 serves portions of northern Arlington Hts., southern Buffalo Grove, most of Wheeling and small sections of Mt. Prospect and Prospect Hts.
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