Post by title1parent on Feb 11, 2009 6:24:37 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1424328,2_1_AU11_KANELAND_S1.article
Kaneland weighs cutting teachers
February 11, 2009
By LINDA GIRARDI For The Beacon News
The Kaneland School Board is preparing to make the "painful" decision of staff reductions for the next school year.
"None of these cuts get done without giving something up," Superintendent Charles McCormick said.
The administration this week presented $1.5 million in possible cost reductions for the 2009-2010 school year. That amount includes eliminating $300,000 in certificated personnel positions (equivalent to 6-1/2 full-time teaching positions) and $290,000 in non-certified positions, such as paraprofessionals and secretaries (equivalent to 14-1/2 full-time positions).
The School Board is expected to make a decision on the teaching positions at its March 9 meeting. Decisions for non-certificated staff would occur in April.
About $810,000 in reductions in building supplies, curriculum adoptions and technology will be considered during the 2009-2010 budgeting process.
The proposed cuts are above the $740,000 across all funds in non-personnel expenses cut from the current 2008-2009 budget.
Another round of certificated personnel reductions worth $450,000 (the equivalent of 9-1/2 full-time teaching positions) has been listed for the 2010-2011 school year, officials said.
"(In the 2010-2011 school year,) you won't be able to cut certificated positions without really cutting programs or really going after class sizes," McCormick said.
Teachers not surprised
About 45 members of the Kaneland Education Association crowded the district offices this week to listen to the School Board's discussion.
"We're definitely not happy about the turn of events but we also have a good communication with the district and this is no surprise to us," KEA chief negotiator Lynn McHenry said after the meeting.
McHenry and KEA President Linda Zulkowski said it is possible the 6-1/2 full-time certified teaching positions and 14-1/2 full-time non-certificated personnel actually could translate into more people losing their jobs, depending on their level of certification.
"There could be two people that are part time that equals one position," McHenry said.
"We're not saying this would happen. ... We won't know what the positions are until the March 9 meeting."
"The district has been very upfront and gone to all of the schools to give budget updates to all of the teachers," Zulkowski said.
School officials said they figured in student impact, equity and core academic programs in developing the proposed list of reductions.
"... It is our duty to manage the budget on behalf of the community. I hate to have to do this," School Board President Lisa Wiet said.
Kaneland weighs cutting teachers
February 11, 2009
By LINDA GIRARDI For The Beacon News
The Kaneland School Board is preparing to make the "painful" decision of staff reductions for the next school year.
"None of these cuts get done without giving something up," Superintendent Charles McCormick said.
The administration this week presented $1.5 million in possible cost reductions for the 2009-2010 school year. That amount includes eliminating $300,000 in certificated personnel positions (equivalent to 6-1/2 full-time teaching positions) and $290,000 in non-certified positions, such as paraprofessionals and secretaries (equivalent to 14-1/2 full-time positions).
The School Board is expected to make a decision on the teaching positions at its March 9 meeting. Decisions for non-certificated staff would occur in April.
About $810,000 in reductions in building supplies, curriculum adoptions and technology will be considered during the 2009-2010 budgeting process.
The proposed cuts are above the $740,000 across all funds in non-personnel expenses cut from the current 2008-2009 budget.
Another round of certificated personnel reductions worth $450,000 (the equivalent of 9-1/2 full-time teaching positions) has been listed for the 2010-2011 school year, officials said.
"(In the 2010-2011 school year,) you won't be able to cut certificated positions without really cutting programs or really going after class sizes," McCormick said.
Teachers not surprised
About 45 members of the Kaneland Education Association crowded the district offices this week to listen to the School Board's discussion.
"We're definitely not happy about the turn of events but we also have a good communication with the district and this is no surprise to us," KEA chief negotiator Lynn McHenry said after the meeting.
McHenry and KEA President Linda Zulkowski said it is possible the 6-1/2 full-time certified teaching positions and 14-1/2 full-time non-certificated personnel actually could translate into more people losing their jobs, depending on their level of certification.
"There could be two people that are part time that equals one position," McHenry said.
"We're not saying this would happen. ... We won't know what the positions are until the March 9 meeting."
"The district has been very upfront and gone to all of the schools to give budget updates to all of the teachers," Zulkowski said.
School officials said they figured in student impact, equity and core academic programs in developing the proposed list of reductions.
"... It is our duty to manage the budget on behalf of the community. I hate to have to do this," School Board President Lisa Wiet said.