Post by title1parent on Aug 6, 2010 5:09:38 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2569586,6_1_NA06_JOBS_S1-100806.article
Senate passes bill to fund schools
Move could save jobs in Dist. 204
August 6, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Legislation to save the jobs of 300,000 teachers, police and other public workers passed the Senate on Thursday.
The 61-39 vote -- to be followed by a rush vote next week in the House -- should come in time for many school districts to revisit decisions to lay off teachers before the new school year because of severe budget troubles.
The $26 billion measure would provide $16 billion to help states fund their Medicaid budgets -- and therefore free money for other budget priorities -- and $10 billion for grants to school districts to forestall layoffs as schools across the country prepare to open.
For districts across the U.S. -- including Indian Prairie District 204 -- the news of the Senate's approval of the jobs bill offered some hope.
"It's encouraging," said Dave Holm, assistant superintendent for business in District 204. "There's definitely reason to believe it would put us in a better position than today."
Advocates said the measure would stop the layoffs of perhaps 300,000 teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public employees. Though scaled back, the bill also would salvage a victory for Democrats who have been unable to deliver most of the jobs help they and President Barack Obama had planned.
"This is about saving jobs that are in immediate danger," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. "It will allow us to avoid layoffs, service cuts, or tax increases and it will make sure our children don't walk through the schoolhouse doors this September to larger class sizes and fewer subjects."
Indian Prairie had already reduced this year's budget by $9.2 million when it was forced to trim an additional $12.2 million -- the estimated amount of funding cuts from the state. The cuts were made through layoffs, increased class sizes, fee increases and reductions in program expenditures.
As of today the total budget cuts still sit at $21.4 million, Holm said. But the federal funds could help reverse some of that.
"If it was a huge amount we could rely upon, we could probably restore some of the cuts," Holm said.
The district started looking at what cuts could be restored, "but honestly it's a little too early," he said. There are a lot of unknowns right now, Holm said. Questions such as how the program would work and how much the district would receive would need to be answered.
The possibility of rehiring some of those laid off would likely be among the discussions should funds become available. But the timing could make it difficult.
"It's a little bit tough when all of the schedules are in place based on certain staffing levels and the money comes in a couple of weeks before school starts," Holm said.
According to District 204's Human Resources Department, a large portion of the teachers laid off in March have been rehired for the new school year.
Of the 150 teachers laid off this year, 11 were non-renewals. That left 139 teachers eligible for rehire if positions opened as a result of someone quitting or retiring. Of those, 83 have been hired back. They include 16 teachers with four years of experience, 22 with three years, 30 with two years and 15 with one year. While the funding would be great for 2011, it would only be for one year. District officials would be cautious about spending the funds as it looks to future years, Holm said. And it doesn't solve the problem of the money Springfield owes the district.
The state owes Indian Prairie a little more than $6 million, Holm said. The district received a fairly significant amount of funding at the end of July for special education and transportation bills.
"At this point we're primarily waiting for third quarter payments," Holm said.
No matter what amount of revenue the jobs bill creates, it's going to help, Holm said. Once the district finds out how much it could realistically expect to receive, it can begin exploring the options.
"If our problem is there's more money coming in, then that's a good thing," Holm said. "It's been a while since we had good news."
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Senate passes bill to fund schools
Move could save jobs in Dist. 204
August 6, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Legislation to save the jobs of 300,000 teachers, police and other public workers passed the Senate on Thursday.
The 61-39 vote -- to be followed by a rush vote next week in the House -- should come in time for many school districts to revisit decisions to lay off teachers before the new school year because of severe budget troubles.
The $26 billion measure would provide $16 billion to help states fund their Medicaid budgets -- and therefore free money for other budget priorities -- and $10 billion for grants to school districts to forestall layoffs as schools across the country prepare to open.
For districts across the U.S. -- including Indian Prairie District 204 -- the news of the Senate's approval of the jobs bill offered some hope.
"It's encouraging," said Dave Holm, assistant superintendent for business in District 204. "There's definitely reason to believe it would put us in a better position than today."
Advocates said the measure would stop the layoffs of perhaps 300,000 teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public employees. Though scaled back, the bill also would salvage a victory for Democrats who have been unable to deliver most of the jobs help they and President Barack Obama had planned.
"This is about saving jobs that are in immediate danger," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. "It will allow us to avoid layoffs, service cuts, or tax increases and it will make sure our children don't walk through the schoolhouse doors this September to larger class sizes and fewer subjects."
Indian Prairie had already reduced this year's budget by $9.2 million when it was forced to trim an additional $12.2 million -- the estimated amount of funding cuts from the state. The cuts were made through layoffs, increased class sizes, fee increases and reductions in program expenditures.
As of today the total budget cuts still sit at $21.4 million, Holm said. But the federal funds could help reverse some of that.
"If it was a huge amount we could rely upon, we could probably restore some of the cuts," Holm said.
The district started looking at what cuts could be restored, "but honestly it's a little too early," he said. There are a lot of unknowns right now, Holm said. Questions such as how the program would work and how much the district would receive would need to be answered.
The possibility of rehiring some of those laid off would likely be among the discussions should funds become available. But the timing could make it difficult.
"It's a little bit tough when all of the schedules are in place based on certain staffing levels and the money comes in a couple of weeks before school starts," Holm said.
According to District 204's Human Resources Department, a large portion of the teachers laid off in March have been rehired for the new school year.
Of the 150 teachers laid off this year, 11 were non-renewals. That left 139 teachers eligible for rehire if positions opened as a result of someone quitting or retiring. Of those, 83 have been hired back. They include 16 teachers with four years of experience, 22 with three years, 30 with two years and 15 with one year. While the funding would be great for 2011, it would only be for one year. District officials would be cautious about spending the funds as it looks to future years, Holm said. And it doesn't solve the problem of the money Springfield owes the district.
The state owes Indian Prairie a little more than $6 million, Holm said. The district received a fairly significant amount of funding at the end of July for special education and transportation bills.
"At this point we're primarily waiting for third quarter payments," Holm said.
No matter what amount of revenue the jobs bill creates, it's going to help, Holm said. Once the district finds out how much it could realistically expect to receive, it can begin exploring the options.
"If our problem is there's more money coming in, then that's a good thing," Holm said. "It's been a while since we had good news."
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.