Post by slt on Mar 26, 2010 8:37:40 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/lifestyles/2123256,2_5_AU26_TATARCOL_S1-100326.article
Governor Quinn’s planned cuts to school funding have been big news lately. Though the final budget may not be available for several months, school districts must make decisions at this time of year about next school year based on this incomplete budget information. This has put many Illinois districts in the undesirable position of making massive cuts.
It is the hope of parents, educators, and administrators throughout Illinois that state legislators will meet this funding obligation. According to Article 10 of the Illinois Constitution “The State has the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education.” Education funding should remain intact while funding decreases come from other areas. This would be a terrible time to increase the tax burden on businesses and people working in Illinois. Creating and restoring jobs instead would cut down on the loss of income tax dollars to the state and decrease the burden of unemployment.
In District 204 the administration and school board have utilized community input and spent countless hours looking at a multitude of ways to cut millions of dollars from next year’s budget. The proposal presented at the March 22 board meeting included long-term savings such as a million dollar savings on changing bus routes, a million dollar savings on the new bus contract, and a new health care contract. Other proposals include putting off expenses such as building maintenance and technology, renegotiating software licenses, and increases of fees and class sizes.
The community has the opportunity to comment on the various proposals both online and at the upcoming budget meeting on April 5. Many ideas have been thoroughly discussed but there can still be new ideas which could make a difference.
After the potential loss of dozens of teachers, the biggest concern for some are the proposed music cuts. It is important to note that alternatives within the new budget constraints are being actively working on. Please see www.ipsd.org for budget updates and to give online feedback. The district has chosen to leave the 5th grade and high school band and orchestra programs intact.
Hundreds of district students participating in curricular band and orchestra meet in large classes where they work as a group. Each student also meets weekly in a small group with an instructor for technique class where they work on learning how to play their specific instrument and get crucial individualized instruction. The proposed changes eliminate technique class - there is a chance technique will be available outside of school hours for a fee - putting the majority of students who don’t take private lessons at a severe disadvantage.
If this occurs, our middle school program could gradually shrink and feed less well-prepared students to our high school music programs. In addition, many valued staff members who make the music program what it is today have been notified of their release or are being reassigned. Our Grammy Award winning high school music programs are well known throughout the country. This may not continue if the program cuts occur.
I commend the administration and school board for their efforts on a financial plan meant to have minimal impact on our students, but this particular proposal has a large and not easily regained effect on one of the very things that makes our district as great as it is today.
It is incredibly ironic that President Obama and Education Secretary Duncan have proposals to improve education in this country while education is headed rapidly downhill in their home state, where residents would be grateful to simply maintain the levels of education and programs we have now.
Without the state funding cuts, our district would not be in this position. A group of parents is planning to visit legislators in Springfield soon to voice opposition to the cuts and rally for restoration of education funding. Please contact me for more information.
SherryTatar@ameritech.net
statar.blogspot.com
Governor Quinn’s planned cuts to school funding have been big news lately. Though the final budget may not be available for several months, school districts must make decisions at this time of year about next school year based on this incomplete budget information. This has put many Illinois districts in the undesirable position of making massive cuts.
It is the hope of parents, educators, and administrators throughout Illinois that state legislators will meet this funding obligation. According to Article 10 of the Illinois Constitution “The State has the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education.” Education funding should remain intact while funding decreases come from other areas. This would be a terrible time to increase the tax burden on businesses and people working in Illinois. Creating and restoring jobs instead would cut down on the loss of income tax dollars to the state and decrease the burden of unemployment.
In District 204 the administration and school board have utilized community input and spent countless hours looking at a multitude of ways to cut millions of dollars from next year’s budget. The proposal presented at the March 22 board meeting included long-term savings such as a million dollar savings on changing bus routes, a million dollar savings on the new bus contract, and a new health care contract. Other proposals include putting off expenses such as building maintenance and technology, renegotiating software licenses, and increases of fees and class sizes.
The community has the opportunity to comment on the various proposals both online and at the upcoming budget meeting on April 5. Many ideas have been thoroughly discussed but there can still be new ideas which could make a difference.
After the potential loss of dozens of teachers, the biggest concern for some are the proposed music cuts. It is important to note that alternatives within the new budget constraints are being actively working on. Please see www.ipsd.org for budget updates and to give online feedback. The district has chosen to leave the 5th grade and high school band and orchestra programs intact.
Hundreds of district students participating in curricular band and orchestra meet in large classes where they work as a group. Each student also meets weekly in a small group with an instructor for technique class where they work on learning how to play their specific instrument and get crucial individualized instruction. The proposed changes eliminate technique class - there is a chance technique will be available outside of school hours for a fee - putting the majority of students who don’t take private lessons at a severe disadvantage.
If this occurs, our middle school program could gradually shrink and feed less well-prepared students to our high school music programs. In addition, many valued staff members who make the music program what it is today have been notified of their release or are being reassigned. Our Grammy Award winning high school music programs are well known throughout the country. This may not continue if the program cuts occur.
I commend the administration and school board for their efforts on a financial plan meant to have minimal impact on our students, but this particular proposal has a large and not easily regained effect on one of the very things that makes our district as great as it is today.
It is incredibly ironic that President Obama and Education Secretary Duncan have proposals to improve education in this country while education is headed rapidly downhill in their home state, where residents would be grateful to simply maintain the levels of education and programs we have now.
Without the state funding cuts, our district would not be in this position. A group of parents is planning to visit legislators in Springfield soon to voice opposition to the cuts and rally for restoration of education funding. Please contact me for more information.
SherryTatar@ameritech.net
statar.blogspot.com