Post by wvhsparent on Mar 25, 2010 10:24:08 GMT -5
Teachers union finds way to ease Dist. 200 budget crunch
By Robert Sanchez | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 3/25/2010 12:03 AMWheaton Warrenville Unit District 200's teachers are expected to do their part to help the cash-strapped district balance its budget.
On Wednesday night, officials said District 200 and its teachers union have reached a tentative contract agreement that, along with cuts and fee increases, would allow the district to eliminate a projected $8.6 million budget deficit.
Details of the agreement weren't released. The contract must be ratified by both the union membership and the school board.
Bryce Cann, president of the Wheaton Warrenville Education Association, said the union's 1,082 teachers are expected to vote on the agreement Friday.
"I am pleased that our combined efforts have brought us to a tentative agreement that functions as an immediate fiscal solution while honoring the professionalism, service and dedication of our certified education professionals," Cann said.
Cann said the proposed contract demonstrated "our commitment to work together as partners to find reasonable and realistic solutions to the common challenges that we face."
"We know that challenges remain and we must all continue our collective efforts to be resilient and steadfast as we continue to move forward together as a community," he said.
The surprise announcement was made as school board members adopted nearly $6.7 million in spending cuts and a list of fee increases that will generate $415,000 in new revenue.
For weeks, officials acknowledged that cuts and fee increases wouldn't be enough to eliminate the projected $8.6 million hole in the district's 2010-11 budget. A special finance committee advised the district not to borrow money to cover the deficit.
Acting Superintendent Charles Baker said it's now possible for the district to address the deficit without borrowing.
"I said you would have a balanced budget," Baker told the school board. "While I cannot address the specifics of the pending agreement (with the teachers), I believe that when you approve that, you will have eradicated the projected deficit of $8.6 million - and you will have done that because of those steps and the cooperation of the teachers in this district."
In determining the deficit, officials assumed all administrative salaries would be frozen for the 2010-11 school year and that teachers wouldn't see an increase in their base salaries.
It's not yet known if the teachers will agree to any pay freeze as part of the proposed contract.
If there is an agreement that teachers won't receive any step (experience) increase for the coming year, that would generate about $1.5 million in savings, officials estimate. If there's no salary boost for additional credits or degrees, the district will save another $1 million.
As for the cost-reduction plan approved on Wednesday, about $1.1 million will be saved by eliminating 18 full-time teaching jobs at the elementary schools. However, the board decided to further study a suggestion to cut two kindergarten physical education positions.
The board also decided to further review a plan to eliminate several "B" sports teams at the middle schools to save $150,000.
But the district is moving forward with a plan to save $1.5 million by eliminating 25 full-time teaching positions at the four middle schools. An additional $480,000 will be saved by cutting eight full-time teaching positions at both high schools.
By Robert Sanchez | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 3/25/2010 12:03 AMWheaton Warrenville Unit District 200's teachers are expected to do their part to help the cash-strapped district balance its budget.
On Wednesday night, officials said District 200 and its teachers union have reached a tentative contract agreement that, along with cuts and fee increases, would allow the district to eliminate a projected $8.6 million budget deficit.
Details of the agreement weren't released. The contract must be ratified by both the union membership and the school board.
Bryce Cann, president of the Wheaton Warrenville Education Association, said the union's 1,082 teachers are expected to vote on the agreement Friday.
"I am pleased that our combined efforts have brought us to a tentative agreement that functions as an immediate fiscal solution while honoring the professionalism, service and dedication of our certified education professionals," Cann said.
Cann said the proposed contract demonstrated "our commitment to work together as partners to find reasonable and realistic solutions to the common challenges that we face."
"We know that challenges remain and we must all continue our collective efforts to be resilient and steadfast as we continue to move forward together as a community," he said.
The surprise announcement was made as school board members adopted nearly $6.7 million in spending cuts and a list of fee increases that will generate $415,000 in new revenue.
For weeks, officials acknowledged that cuts and fee increases wouldn't be enough to eliminate the projected $8.6 million hole in the district's 2010-11 budget. A special finance committee advised the district not to borrow money to cover the deficit.
Acting Superintendent Charles Baker said it's now possible for the district to address the deficit without borrowing.
"I said you would have a balanced budget," Baker told the school board. "While I cannot address the specifics of the pending agreement (with the teachers), I believe that when you approve that, you will have eradicated the projected deficit of $8.6 million - and you will have done that because of those steps and the cooperation of the teachers in this district."
In determining the deficit, officials assumed all administrative salaries would be frozen for the 2010-11 school year and that teachers wouldn't see an increase in their base salaries.
It's not yet known if the teachers will agree to any pay freeze as part of the proposed contract.
If there is an agreement that teachers won't receive any step (experience) increase for the coming year, that would generate about $1.5 million in savings, officials estimate. If there's no salary boost for additional credits or degrees, the district will save another $1 million.
As for the cost-reduction plan approved on Wednesday, about $1.1 million will be saved by eliminating 18 full-time teaching jobs at the elementary schools. However, the board decided to further study a suggestion to cut two kindergarten physical education positions.
The board also decided to further review a plan to eliminate several "B" sports teams at the middle schools to save $150,000.
But the district is moving forward with a plan to save $1.5 million by eliminating 25 full-time teaching positions at the four middle schools. An additional $480,000 will be saved by cutting eight full-time teaching positions at both high schools.