Post by brant on Feb 9, 2010 8:50:39 GMT -5
NAPERVILLE SUN
February 9, 2010
By HANK BECKMAN For Sun-Times Media
Budgets for units of government all over Illinois are being slashed to make accommodations for the worst recession since the early 1980s, and Indian Prairie School District 204 is no exception.
"We are in the middle of tough times right now," Superintendent Kathy Birkett said Monday at the district's regular board meeting.
Birkett spoke of a recent trip to Springfield where she met with state legislators and officials of the 35 largest unit school districts in Illinois, districts that represent 55 percent of public school students in the state, saying "To say that the news is not good … is an understatement."
Birkett noted that the budget deficit for the state was about $13 billion. The effect of the budget crisis on District 204 is that the district won't know until fall what level of funding to expect from the state. Since the district needs to know in April what faculty staffing needs will have to be met, the district will have a serious administrative problem with which to deal.
Birkett noted that the state foundational funding level will likely see a $500 to $700 cut per student. The state is already $7.8 million in arrears to District 204; with the foundation cuts, that deficit will likely grow.
Birkett said District 204 had already cut $9.2 million to balance the budget; with further state funding cuts, she estimated that the additional budget reduction needed will grow to between $14 million to $20 million.
Birkett acknowledged the community input in determining where the last round of cuts came from and said she hoped the community would continue to communicate with the district. She emphasized the need to communicate with state legislators and other state officials, up to and including Gov. Pat Quinn.
"If schools are not funded, education will not be delivered in the way we have become accustomed to," she said.
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I hope I am wrong about what I am thinking. If this is as bad as they say, closing WV might be a real possibility and sooner then we think.
February 9, 2010
By HANK BECKMAN For Sun-Times Media
Budgets for units of government all over Illinois are being slashed to make accommodations for the worst recession since the early 1980s, and Indian Prairie School District 204 is no exception.
"We are in the middle of tough times right now," Superintendent Kathy Birkett said Monday at the district's regular board meeting.
Birkett spoke of a recent trip to Springfield where she met with state legislators and officials of the 35 largest unit school districts in Illinois, districts that represent 55 percent of public school students in the state, saying "To say that the news is not good … is an understatement."
Birkett noted that the budget deficit for the state was about $13 billion. The effect of the budget crisis on District 204 is that the district won't know until fall what level of funding to expect from the state. Since the district needs to know in April what faculty staffing needs will have to be met, the district will have a serious administrative problem with which to deal.
Birkett noted that the state foundational funding level will likely see a $500 to $700 cut per student. The state is already $7.8 million in arrears to District 204; with the foundation cuts, that deficit will likely grow.
Birkett said District 204 had already cut $9.2 million to balance the budget; with further state funding cuts, she estimated that the additional budget reduction needed will grow to between $14 million to $20 million.
Birkett acknowledged the community input in determining where the last round of cuts came from and said she hoped the community would continue to communicate with the district. She emphasized the need to communicate with state legislators and other state officials, up to and including Gov. Pat Quinn.
"If schools are not funded, education will not be delivered in the way we have become accustomed to," she said.
______________________________________________________
I hope I am wrong about what I am thinking. If this is as bad as they say, closing WV might be a real possibility and sooner then we think.