Post by slt on Feb 23, 2010 11:32:32 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/2064558,2_1_AU23_OSSKL_S1-100223.article
Ax falls in Oswego
February 23, 2010
By ROWENA VERGARA rvergara@stmedianetwork.com
OSWEGO -- The Oswego School Board voted 6-1 to approve a $5.5 million reduction plan that would include 80 employee reductions, furlough days and program cuts, the first phase of reductions to help balance a budget for the upcoming school year.
In a meeting at Oswego East High School Monday night, district staff and parents pleaded with the board not to cut any teacher assistants, and to keep a longstanding building trades program alive.
Facing a $5.5 million deficit for 2010-11, the board cut about 80 positions, including 68 teaching assistants, four building secretaries, an elementary director with a salary of $140,000, and a shared junior high band instructor who is paid $55,000.
The majority of the jobs to be cut are held by union members. The action is considered a "reduction in force," and not a layoff, which Associate Superintendent Todd Colvin emphasized.
"Based on state funding, it will be the intention of the district to reinstate these positions," Colvin said.
All administration positions to be cut, like a construction supervisor and a technology manager, will be permanent eliminations.
A building trades teacher position, and the program itself, have been "postponed" for 2010-11, instead of eliminated.
Additionally, all teachers and administrators will take a furlough day. A new twist announced Monday for the reduction plan: five furlough days for Superintendent Dan O'Donnell and his administrative assistant, a savings of $5,300. Administrators already agreed to a pay freeze this school year.
Before the vote, School Board Vice President Mike Scaramuzzi proposed a 10 percent contribution by administrators to their healthcare benefits. It's a trend he believes will play out among other districts. The Plainfield School District, he said, has followed suit.
He also wants to see assistant principal positions at the junior highs reduced. The remaining assistant principals could be shared among schools.
"There are stronger districts with a lot more income than we do that are operating with less administrators," Scaramuzzi said.
Other board members said they needed more information first before any such proposals would be deserving of recommendation.
Some members said they'd be willing to talk about Scaramuzzi's proposals during Phase 2 of the district's cuts. Superintendent Dan O'Donnell said the worst-case scenario is an additional $11 million that will be needed to balance the budget, on top of the current $5.5 million reduction.
"If we do everything Plainfield does, we'd be out $21 million this year," Board member John Graff said to some applause. "I don't want to govern without the facts."
Plainfield resident Alison Hunter has a child with dyslexia in the district who relies on teacher assistants. She called the cuts "a huge mistake."
"If you do not provide these accommodations to the children, how are they going to be successful in school and in life? If you cut that, these kids are going to have nothing. You're cutting their lifeline," Hunter said.
The district is facing several dilemmas at once. Enrollment is expected to jump 3.5 percent at a time when property tax values appear to be decreasing.
General state aid is expected to decrease by $160 per pupil.
Informational meetings for the public on these changes will be March 1 and March 11 at Oswego East High School.
Ax falls in Oswego
February 23, 2010
By ROWENA VERGARA rvergara@stmedianetwork.com
OSWEGO -- The Oswego School Board voted 6-1 to approve a $5.5 million reduction plan that would include 80 employee reductions, furlough days and program cuts, the first phase of reductions to help balance a budget for the upcoming school year.
In a meeting at Oswego East High School Monday night, district staff and parents pleaded with the board not to cut any teacher assistants, and to keep a longstanding building trades program alive.
Facing a $5.5 million deficit for 2010-11, the board cut about 80 positions, including 68 teaching assistants, four building secretaries, an elementary director with a salary of $140,000, and a shared junior high band instructor who is paid $55,000.
The majority of the jobs to be cut are held by union members. The action is considered a "reduction in force," and not a layoff, which Associate Superintendent Todd Colvin emphasized.
"Based on state funding, it will be the intention of the district to reinstate these positions," Colvin said.
All administration positions to be cut, like a construction supervisor and a technology manager, will be permanent eliminations.
A building trades teacher position, and the program itself, have been "postponed" for 2010-11, instead of eliminated.
Additionally, all teachers and administrators will take a furlough day. A new twist announced Monday for the reduction plan: five furlough days for Superintendent Dan O'Donnell and his administrative assistant, a savings of $5,300. Administrators already agreed to a pay freeze this school year.
Before the vote, School Board Vice President Mike Scaramuzzi proposed a 10 percent contribution by administrators to their healthcare benefits. It's a trend he believes will play out among other districts. The Plainfield School District, he said, has followed suit.
He also wants to see assistant principal positions at the junior highs reduced. The remaining assistant principals could be shared among schools.
"There are stronger districts with a lot more income than we do that are operating with less administrators," Scaramuzzi said.
Other board members said they needed more information first before any such proposals would be deserving of recommendation.
Some members said they'd be willing to talk about Scaramuzzi's proposals during Phase 2 of the district's cuts. Superintendent Dan O'Donnell said the worst-case scenario is an additional $11 million that will be needed to balance the budget, on top of the current $5.5 million reduction.
"If we do everything Plainfield does, we'd be out $21 million this year," Board member John Graff said to some applause. "I don't want to govern without the facts."
Plainfield resident Alison Hunter has a child with dyslexia in the district who relies on teacher assistants. She called the cuts "a huge mistake."
"If you do not provide these accommodations to the children, how are they going to be successful in school and in life? If you cut that, these kids are going to have nothing. You're cutting their lifeline," Hunter said.
The district is facing several dilemmas at once. Enrollment is expected to jump 3.5 percent at a time when property tax values appear to be decreasing.
General state aid is expected to decrease by $160 per pupil.
Informational meetings for the public on these changes will be March 1 and March 11 at Oswego East High School.