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Post by title1parent on Mar 11, 2010 17:25:11 GMT -5
Dear District 204 Community, As the financial news from Springfield continues to be uncertain for education, our administrators have worked on a proposal to cut an additional $12.2 million from next year's budget. This is on top of the $9.2 million we cut in December in order to achieve a balanced budget for next year. We have prioritized instruction and have tried to examine all areas against the criteria of minimal impact to students. However, budget cuts of this magnitude are difficult. When you are forced to trim $21.4 million from your budget in a single year, it becomes impossible to not have an impact on our students. We began looking for cuts as far away from the classroom as possible. This includes a plan to reduce 14.4 percent of our central office staff and 6 percent of our building level administrators. We are also proposing a pay freeze for all administrators next year and cutting all administrators' budgets. Following the recommendation of our Citizens Financial Advisory Committee, we are conducting a dependent eligibility insurance audit and claims audit, which should provide a savings of $1 million. We are also looking at savings through energy management and will implement a 4-day work week for this summer. Two areas that will see a delay in new projects are building maintenance and technology. Thankfully our schools are relatively young and we are not facing major structural needs, but work to maintain the structural integrity of our schools cannot be delayed indefinitely. We are also planning to delay some technology projects that would place new equipment in our schools. Delaying the technology refresh cycle limits student learning as they will be using older equipment and software. Parents will notice some changes in the areas of fees. We are proposing a small increase in registration and technology fees. We are also looking at adding or increasing extra-curricular fees to save some programs that would otherwise need to be eliminated. With eighty percent of our budget in staffing expenses, budget cuts will impact our teaching staff. Although difficult to think about in this economy, we must reduce staff. In order to achieve a savings, we must look at class sizes across the district. By proposing an increase in class size we will release 145, or 6.5 percent, of our teaching positions. At the elementary level, the proposal calls for increasing the maximum class size in second through fifth grades by two from 29 to 31. At the secondary level, the average class size will increase by two. As we finalize our proposal to include clerical and program reductions, please know that we prioritize instructional opportunities for our students. We will continue to communicate with you as information becomes available. The next budget update will be presented at the March 22 board of education meeting and will be available on our website. We have created a section of our website devoted to this budget issue so our community can stay informed. You can find the information at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/BudgetSincerely, Kathy Birkett Superintendent
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Post by warriormom on Mar 11, 2010 18:45:02 GMT -5
Considering that the private sector has taken pay cuts the past two years in most situations, I think Administrative salaries should be CUT not just frozen.
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Post by southsidesignmaker on Mar 11, 2010 22:20:33 GMT -5
If we are cuttingthis deep at the classroom level , what "shoe will drop" when the full impact of declining property values take hold. When taking a close look at the budget moving forward a few years, it becomes readily apparent that many cuts will be coming down the road.
With the CPI at near 0 and property value decline of 20%+/-, many districts will be looking at tight budgets years out. The decline in real estate value will make the state problem look minimal if inflation stays at these rates. Has there been adequate research done on the revenue side of the budget, or like many in the private sector has this glaring issue been glossed over.
Cuts in labor will be a fact for years to come, short term salaries will have to be slashed at the administration level, for a referendum will have to be proposed and voters are in no mood to hear about perceived high salaries and bloated pension plans.
The district will have to outline both a near term and long term vision, showing the voters that the district is aware that the "revenue party" of the last 20 years is over. The baby boomers are turning into "old farts" with other priorities. The old farts also have a bit more experience with scare tactics and have seen many before.
I would like to see a 15-20% decrease in administration salaries to start. The dumping of the pension plan for employees under the age of thirty would also be a start towards long term stability. Personally I do not expect either of these measures to be considered.
I suspect that our state will have to go through a bankruptcy to make the necessary tough changes. At least it worked for the domestic auto industry.
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Post by warriormom on Mar 11, 2010 22:25:19 GMT -5
If we are cuttingthis deep at the classroom level , what "shoe will drop" when the full impact of declining property values take hold. When taking a close look at the budget moving forward a few years, it becomes readily apparent that many cuts will be coming down the road. With the CPI at near 0 and property value decline of 20%+/-, many districts will be looking at tight budgets years out. The decline in real estate value will make the state problem look minimal if inflation stays at these rates. Has there been adequate research done on the revenue side of the budget, or like many in the private sector has this glaring issue been glossed over. Cuts in labor will be a fact for years to come, short term salaries will have to be slashed at the administration level, for a referendum will have to be proposed and voters are in no mood to hear about perceived high salaries and bloated pension plans. The district will have to outline both a near term and long term vision, showing the voters that the district is aware that the "revenue party" of the last 20 years is over. The baby boomers are turning into "old farts" with other priorities. The old farts also have a bit more experience with scare tactics and have seen many before. I would like to see a 15-20% decrease in administration salaries to start. The dumping of the pension plan for employees under the age of thirty would also be a start towards long term stability. Personally I do not expect either of these measures to be considered. I suspect that our state will have to go through a bankruptcy to make the necessary tough changes. At least it worked for the domestic auto industry. agree. especially with respect to the 15-20% decrease in admin. salaries; that is exactly what the private sector has seen. Also private sector did away with runaway pensions years ago because they could not sustain them . Obviously our state cannot either. Your idea to eliminate pensions for all employees under 30 is a great idea. They should all be switched to defined contribution plans .
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Post by gatordog on Mar 12, 2010 13:04:36 GMT -5
Dear District 204 Community, As the financial news from Springfield continues to be uncertain for education, our administrators have worked on a proposal to cut an additional $12.2 million from next year's budget. ...... With eighty percent of our budget in staffing expenses, budget cuts will impact our teaching staff. Although difficult to think about in this economy, we must reduce staff. In order to achieve a savings, we must look at class sizes across the district. By proposing an increase in class size we will release 145, or 6.5 percent, of our teaching positions. At the elementary level, the proposal calls for increasing the maximum class size in second through fifth grades by two from 29 to 31. At the secondary level, the average class size will increase by two. ..... Even though it was down on the list in terms of what the district is cutting, we all know here is where the bulk of the budget reduction is from. Say $60,000/yr salary * 145 teachers = $8.7 mil Its terrible that such deep teacher cuts may be made. But its these salaries that compose bulk of the SD budget.
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Post by gatordog on Mar 12, 2010 13:12:09 GMT -5
.... I would like to see a 15-20% decrease in administration salaries to start. ..... agree. especially with respect to the 15-20% decrease in admin. salaries;...... . Well, this would only be a small part of a solution. From SD report card, our student:to:administrator ratio is 368:1. (State avg is 202:1) So for 29,000 students, we have79 administrators. Lets just guess an avg administrator salary of $100,000 per yr, so 79 admins, or annual cost of $7.9 mil. Take 15% of that and you save $1.2 mil. Such a step would be as mentioned only a start, nothing more. And for such a drastic step, I wonder if other less direct costs (such as loss of experience as people moved elsewhere over time) would eat up any savings. I am assuming these salaries are market-driven.
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Post by gatordog on Mar 12, 2010 13:16:47 GMT -5
Naperville Sun coverage of this story
145 D204 teachers to be cut; class sizes to grow Officials say class sizes to increase
March 12, 2010 By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Class sizes in Indian Prairie District 204 are expected to increase next year as a result of 145 teachers being laid off because of a lack of state funding.
In a message to the District 204 community Thursday afternoon, Superintendent Kathy Birkett outlined what the state budget cuts will mean for students and employees.
"With 80 percent of our budget in staffing expenses, budget cuts will impact our teaching staff. Although difficult to think about in this economy, we must reduce staff. In order to achieve a savings, we must look at class sizes across the district," Birkett wrote.
By releasing 145 non-tenured teachers, the district will be reducing the number of teaching positions by 6.5 percent. That means class sizes will increase. At the elementary level, the proposal calls for increasing the maximum class size in second through fifth grades by two from 29 to 31. At the secondary level, the average class size will increase by two, she said.
"We already receive and spend 20 percent less per student than our peers, so cutting more is difficult," board President Curt Bradshaw said. "However, we owe it to our taxpayers to live within our means just as they are striving to do."
The district also plans to cut 6 percent of building level administrators and 14.4 percent of central office staff. Also proposed is a pay freeze for all administrators and cutting all administrators' budgets.
Other cost-cutting measures include:
• Audit: a dependent eligibility insurance audit and claims audit, which is expected to provide a savings of $1 million. The audit was the recommendation of the Citizens Financial Advisory Committee.
• Fees: proposed is a small increase in registration and technology fees. The district is also looking at adding or increasing extracurricular fees to save some programs that would otherwise need to be eliminated.
• Implementation of a four-day work week this summer.
• Delays: new projects in building maintenance and technology will be delayed.
"Thankfully our schools are relatively young and we are not facing major structural needs, but work to maintain the structural integrity of our schools cannot be delayed indefinitely," Birkett wrote. "We are also planning to delay some technology projects that would place new equipment in our schools. Delaying the technology refresh cycle limits student learning as they will be using older equipment and software."
Earlier this year the district closed a $9.2 million deficit in the 2011 budget through a variety of means. Those cuts included elimination of some positions, consolidation of classes and delaying some expenditures.
"We have prioritized instruction and have tried to examine all areas against the criteria of minimal impact to students. However, budget cuts of this magnitude are difficult," Birkett wrote. "When you are forced to trim $21.4 million from your budget in a single year, it becomes impossible to not have an impact on our students."
Bradshaw said the cuts are necessary to live within the budget.
"We don't find any part of this process enjoyable," Bradshaw said. "The governor dealt us a bad hand, and our only choice is to play with what we are given."
The board of education is expected to hear a presentation on the budget at its March 22 meeting. In addition, the district has created a section on its Web site for budget information and updates. Budget information can be found at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Budget.
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Post by wvhsparent on Mar 12, 2010 21:16:49 GMT -5
.... I would like to see a 15-20% decrease in administration salaries to start. ..... agree. especially with respect to the 15-20% decrease in admin. salaries;...... . Well, this would only be a small part of a solution. From SD report card, our student:to:administrator ratio is 368:1. (State avg is 202:1) So for 29,000 students, we have79 administrators. Lets just guess an avg administrator salary of $100,000 per yr, so 79 admins, or annual cost of $7.9 mil. Take 15% of that and you save $1.2 mil. Such a step would be as mentioned only a start, nothing more. And for such a drastic step, I wonder if other less direct costs (such as loss of experience as people moved elsewhere over time) would eat up any savings. I am assuming these salaries are market-driven. You are right GD, but sometimes it's the perception that it conveys which is more valuable. It sends a message that even the admins are willing to tighten their belts. IMO a 5% reduction would send that message just fine. The salary freeze was a step in the right direction.
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Post by warriormom on Mar 13, 2010 20:52:54 GMT -5
Well, this would only be a small part of a solution. From SD report card, our student:to:administrator ratio is 368:1. (State avg is 202:1) So for 29,000 students, we have79 administrators. Lets just guess an avg administrator salary of $100,000 per yr, so 79 admins, or annual cost of $7.9 mil. Take 15% of that and you save $1.2 mil. Such a step would be as mentioned only a start, nothing more. And for such a drastic step, I wonder if other less direct costs (such as loss of experience as people moved elsewhere over time) would eat up any savings. I am assuming these salaries are market-driven. You are right GD, but sometimes it's the perception that it conveys which is more valuable. It sends a message that even the admins are willing to tighten their belts. IMO a 5% reduction would send that message just fine. The salary freeze was a step in the right direction. I agree wvparent. Perception is important . Everyone should tighten their belts right now...even admin.!
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