|
|
Post by casey on Feb 26, 2010 17:11:37 GMT -6
Look no farther than today's Tribune to really see what's happening in our area schools. We're in a world of hurt, folks. When is our district going to stop blaming the state and really get down to business? www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-chicago-school-cuts-20100225,0,5046378.story www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/ct-x-w-0226-community-briefing-20100226,0,6010923.story www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/northnorthwest/ct-x-n-u46-cuts-0226-20100226,0,1469236.story Chicago Public Schools"We need a combination of pension reform, union concessions, and job cuts" CPS Ron Huberman. Huberman talks about the district lobbying Springfield alone. He mentions pushing through changes to the pension system and renegotiating contracts (of course the union balked. "We will not agree to any proposal that either destroys our contract or fails to maintain the integrity of our pension system", Union Prez Marilyn Stewart). According to the article Huberman can declare a fiscal emergency which would force the union back to the bargaining table. Huberman announced Thursday another 3 weeks of furlough days and 500 more layoffs for nonunion staff. Elgin-School District U-46Proposed cuts include $3.5M from administrative and support staff, $4.2M from early childhood education, $331,500 in special ed staffing, $444,436 in secretarial staffing reducing 13 secretaries from full to part time. List also recommends an end to paid dental insurance for administrators, a reduction is sub pay, and increase in work hours to qualify for benefits to 37.5 hours from 20 hours for nonunion employees. Oswego School District 308Cuts including elimination of about 80 positions - including 68 support staff = $3.8M in savings. $1.2M cut from operations and programs. Enrollment projected to grow 3.5% in 2010-11 and district plans to add 12 new teachers instead of original 32 planned. |
|
|
|
Post by doctorwho on Feb 26, 2010 18:07:10 GMT -6
Look no farther than today's Tribune to really see what's happening in our area schools. We're in a world of hurt, folks. When is our district going to stop blaming the state and really get down to business? www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-chicago-school-cuts-20100225,0,5046378.story www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/ct-x-w-0226-community-briefing-20100226,0,6010923.story www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/northnorthwest/ct-x-n-u46-cuts-0226-20100226,0,1469236.story Chicago Public Schools"We need a combination of pension reform, union concessions, and job cuts" CPS Ron Huberman. Huberman talks about the district lobbying Springfield alone. He mentions pushing through changes to the pension system and renegotiating contracts (of course the union balked. "We will not agree to any proposal that either destroys our contract or fails to maintain the integrity of our pension system", Union Prez Marilyn Stewart). According to the article Huberman can declare a fiscal emergency which would force the union back to the bargaining table. Huberman announced Thursday another 3 weeks of furlough days and 500 more layoffs for nonunion staff. Elgin-School District U-46Proposed cuts include $3.5M from administrative and support staff, $4.2M from early childhood education, $331,500 in special ed staffing, $444,436 in secretarial staffing reducing 13 secretaries from full to part time. List also recommends an end to paid dental insurance for administrators, a reduction is sub pay, and increase in work hours to qualify for benefits to 37.5 hours from 20 hours for nonunion employees. Oswego School District 308Cuts including elimination of about 80 positions - including 68 support staff = $3.8M in savings. $1.2M cut from operations and programs. Enrollment projected to grow 3.5% in 2010-11 and district plans to add 12 new teachers instead of original 32 planned. you mean putting up those signs doesn't count as real work ?  |
|
|
|
Post by casey on Mar 2, 2010 7:22:57 GMT -6
Maine Twp. District 207 lays off 5 tenured teachers
By Madhu Krishnamurthy | Daily Herald StaffContact
The Maine Township High School District 207 school board Monday night dismissed five tenured teachers from Maine South and West high schools.
The five - three physical education teachers, a librarian and an applied arts teacher - are part of the 75 certified teachers laid off last month in order to save the school district $5 million. The remaining 70 are nontenured teachers.
The layoffs, which are effective at the end of this school year, are part of $15 million in cuts made last month to plug a projected $19 million deficit in 2010-11 budget.
However, District 207 Superintendent Ken Wallace said officials hope to rescind some of the pink slips if the teachers union agrees to grant salary concessions to save jobs.
"We would have to bring tenured teachers back before nontenured teachers in a particular area," Wallace said.
The administration has offered the union a deal to save about 40 to 45 of the 75 teaching jobs.
District officials propose spending up to $2 million more out of the district's reserves for two years if the union matches that amount in salary concessions.
The union would have to agree to forego a 3.2 percent salary increase for the 2010-11 academic year. Most teachers would continue to receive step pay increases based on years of experience, and a 3.5 percent wage increase in the 2011-12 school year.
Maine Teacher's Association's roughly 600 members are expected to vote March 9 on whether to begin preliminary discussions with the administration about the possibility of reopening the contract.
"If (discussions) prove favorable, then we could move into bargaining," said Emma Visee, MTA president. "Once we start bargaining, there is no turning back."
The union had rejected the administration's request to forego two wage increases - 3.2 percent in 2010 and 3.5 percent in 2011 - to save 55 jobs.
Wallace said any discussions about salary concessions would be swift. The administration would be open to any concessions the union is willing to offer, to save as many jobs as possible.
"We are not in a position to refuse," Wallace said.
Although there was only one parent who spoke against teacher layoffs Monday, hundreds of students, parents, teachers and community members protested the cuts during a public hearing in January and a school board meeting in February.
"It's overwhelming and they are going very fast, and they are making rash decisions that are going to have a great impact on our children," said Colleen Hirschbine of Des Plaines who has seven children, two currently at Maine East High School. "Everything they say is projections. Nothing is solid. They need to take the time to make sure that they are committing to decisions that are best for our schools, and our children."
Hirschbine said each year, her daughter has a new guidance counselor at East.
"We don't know who it will be next year, because they have slated to remove the two that she's had," Hirschbine said. "Yet, at the end of the (teachers') contract in 2012, there are three counselors who are retiring. They are not telling us what's going to happen in the future, and the students are going to suffer."
Any decision to rescind layoffs likely will be made at the next school board meeting at 6 p.m. April 5 at Maine South High School.
|
|
|
|
Post by casey on Mar 2, 2010 8:12:37 GMT -6
West schools will cut more jobs
State aid reductions leave hole in budget
March 2, 2010
By PAUL DAILING pdailing@stmedianetwork.com
AURORA -- For the second year running, layoffs are coming to the staff of the West Aurora School District.
The School Board on Monday took a look at a grim list of proposed financial reductions in the face of state aid going down by at least 10 percent to 15 percent next year. The proposed cuts include 51 staff positions, 31 of whom are teachers.
"We must lay off certificate employees by the second meeting of this month," Superintendent James Rydland said.
The staff cuts alone could save the district $3.2 million. The tentative budget unveiled Monday would save $7.7 million of the estimated $10.5 million deficit the district could see under Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to cut 15 percent from school funding.
Because of union rules, certified teachers must by given notice by March of any staff reductions scheduled for August. That means teacher layoffs must be approved at the March 15 board meeting.
Non-certified employees like custodial staff and nurses will be told in April.
The employees that will remain could see lower pay, if plans to renegotiate union contracts go as the district hopes. Like many districts in Illinois, West Aurora has asked the unions to come back to the table.
Board member Angela Smith thanked the unions for considering the offer while unions in districts like Kaneland have refused to renegotiate.
"In other districts, they've said, 'Too bad. Your problem,'" Smith said.
West laid off 55 employees last year as well. Earlier this month, Oswego schools announced a similar plan to cut 80 positions from its payroll.
But the proposed cuts go beyond staff.
The Todd Early Childhood Center, which was scheduled to be cut last year but saved by last-minute promises from Springfield, will likely be cut this year. The popular program is not legally mandated where other endangered programs are.
"This is not a matter of failing to believe in early learning," Rydland said. "We know it works."
Another plan would involve raising fees for activities, facility access and sports teams.
Parent Beth Drendel, who has children involved in West Aurora High School's wrestling program, said sports should pay for themselves, but that she would be wary of a plan to increase fees, considering the economy is hurting more than just schools.
"I'm just concerned for parents because people are struggling as it is, and there are an increasing number of parents in our community who are without jobs," Drendel said.
|
|
|
|
Post by casey on Mar 3, 2010 9:47:06 GMT -6
Teacher negotiations vital to our futurewww.dailyherald.com/story/?id=363041Letter to the Editor Published: 3/3/2010 We all know the difficult fiscal situation the state of Illinois has gotten itself into. Most recently schools have been feeling the effect. The state is many months behind payments - many funding state-mandated programs local schools are responsible for. Apparently, the state is now going to borrow the money to pay the schools. This is like taking out a consumer loan to pay off credit card debts, but not getting rid of the credit cards. In reality, all this will do is push off for another year the problem of how the state meets its commitments to our schools. It is a mess and especially challenging when it comes to constructing our school budgets for the next year or two. Having said that, I'm afraid all of this might be obscuring an equally important challenge facing many of our local school districts. By far, the greatest expense of any school system is salaries - often as much as 80 percent of the overall budget. Many local school boards are beginning salary negotiations with teacher unions, who represent the majority of those salaries. The outcome of these negotiations will actually have a far greater impact on the fiscal health of our schools than the state problem - especially in Naperville Unit District 203, where we receive only a few percent of our overall budget from state funds. Given all the uncertainties surrounding us - not just future state funding, but the overall economy of our community (including a shrinking tax base as valuations decrease) - this is an especially important negotiation. The local schools have much less control over the actions of the state than they do over how they control their own spending. I hope everyone - boards, teachers and other school employees - will take stock of our current situation and act accordingly. The future might depend on it. Dave Weeks Naperville Unit District 203 board member
|
|
|
|
Post by EagleDad on Mar 3, 2010 11:36:53 GMT -6
Blaming the State is the Only Answer www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=363041Letter to the Editor Published: 4/1/2010 We all know state is late sending us money. Most recently it is 7.8 million. The state is at fault, and nothing else can be done in the district to avoid this - the state's first and only responsibility is in funding education. They need to raise our income taxes and send us more money. I'm afraid there are no other solutions that can be pursued other than encouraging the citizenry to contact their state legislators and demand that they immediately send us more money and lots of it. I also feel it might be a good idea to scare the kids and teachers and hang some big signs outside our schools. As your elected financial oversight in district 204, I can tell you that I've been told by our Administration that their salaries and benefits as well as all of the staff are actually quite low and are not the problem. The problem is solely the state. I've been such good friends with them all through my many years of PTA fund-raising that I can tell you they all deserve a big raise (and a friendly hug). Buffy the Cheerleader Naperville Unit District 204 board member  |
|
|
|
Post by brant on Mar 3, 2010 11:41:54 GMT -6
Blaming the State is the Only Answer www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=363041Letter to the Editor Published: 4/1/2010 We all know state is late sending us money. Most recently it is 7.8 million. The state is at fault, and nothing else can be done in the district to avoid this - the state's first and only responsibility is in funding education. They need to raise our income taxes and send us more money. I'm afraid there are no other solutions that can be pursued other than encouraging the citizenry to contact their state legislators and demand that they immediately send us more money and lots of it. I also feel it might be a good idea to scare the kids and teachers and hang some big signs outside our schools. As your elected financial oversight in district 204, I can tell you that I've been told by our Administration that their salaries and benefits as well as all of the staff are actually quite low and are not the problem. The problem is solely the state. I've been such good friends with them all through my many years of PTA fund-raising that I can tell you they all deserve a big raise (and a friendly hug). Buffy the Cheerleader Naperville Unit District 204 board member SR sure looks cute. |
|
|
|
Post by EagleDad on Mar 3, 2010 12:30:47 GMT -6
hmm, I was thinking CB  |
|
|
|
Post by Arch on Mar 3, 2010 13:14:52 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by casey on Mar 3, 2010 13:22:53 GMT -6
CPS just announced today that due to budget cuts they are eliminating all sophomore sports next year. They are keeping freshmen and varsity only. Looks like the ole class of 2012 would get screwed there too.
|
|
|
|
Post by doctorwho on Mar 3, 2010 13:31:48 GMT -6
CPS just announced today that due to budget cuts they are eliminating all sophomore sports next year. They are keeping freshmen and varsity only. Looks like the ole class of 2012 would get screwed there too. there go some stipends -- of course having Freshman A - freshman B - Soph - JV & Varsity - a little much anyway. many schools already have either no soph or no JV |
|
|
|
Post by brant on Mar 3, 2010 14:42:51 GMT -6
hmm, I was thinking CB LOL |
|
|
|
Post by refbasics on Mar 4, 2010 10:18:55 GMT -6
 Blaming the State is the Only Answer www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=363041Letter to the Editor Published: 4/1/2010 We all know state is late sending us money. Most recently it is 7.8 million. The state is at fault, and nothing else can be done in the district to avoid this - the state's first and only responsibility is in funding education. They need to raise our income taxes and send us more money. I'm afraid there are no other solutions that can be pursued other than encouraging the citizenry to contact their state legislators and demand that they immediately send us more money and lots of it. I also feel it might be a good idea to scare the kids and teachers and hang some big signs outside our schools. As your elected financial oversight in district 204, I can tell you that I've been told by our Administration that their salaries and benefits as well as all of the staff are actually quite low and are not the problem. The problem is solely the state. I've been such good friends with them all through my many years of PTA fund-raising that I can tell you they all deserve a big raise (and a friendly hug). Buffy the Cheerleader Naperville Unit District 204 board member ------------- i hate to bring this up... but i think your cheerleader is lacking underwear? 
|
|
|
|
Post by casey on Mar 5, 2010 7:53:15 GMT -6
Hundreds speak out on proposed Dist. 200 cutsdailyherald.com/story/?id=363772By Robert Sanchez | Daily Herald StaffContact writerPublished: 3/5/2010 Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 school board members got an earful Wednesday from parents, teachers and students worried about more than $6.7 million in suggested budget cuts. More than 400 people attended a meeting about the district's plans to address a projected $8.6 million deficit in the 2010-11 budget.Dozens expressed concerns about the cost-reduction plan to lay off teachers, increase class sizes, eliminate kindergarten physical education and cut reading aides. The large crowd at Hubble Middle School burst into applause after parent Julie Georgiou said she blames the school board for getting District 200 into its financial mess. "So, after years of wasteful spending, our district is faced with the possibility of either cutting teacher positions or making cuts to the PE, arts and music programs - all extremely vital to creating well-rounded students," Georgiou said.She said board members repeatedly approved hefty superintendent and teachers contracts the district can't afford. "My fellow residents of District 200, I hope this budget crisis is the call to arms needed to hold this board accountable for their mismanagement of our hard-earned money," Georgiou said. While not addressing parents' comments directly, school board President Andy Johnson said District 200 already was facing a multimillion-dollar deficit when it received less-than-anticipated revenue. Part of the reason is because the levy - the portion of the district's budget paid for with property taxes - is limited by the state-imposed property tax cap to 5 percent or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less. This year, the levy was capped at 0.1 percent, not including an allowance for property that has been added to the tax rolls. "If there had been no change between 2009 and 2010 - and we had a 4 percent CPI - the deficit for the coming year would be $3.7 million instead of the $8.6 (million) that we are wrestling with now," Johnson said. Johnson also said state and federal mandates that are issued without accompanying funding have placed additional financial strains on the district. In determining the $8.6 million projected deficit, officials assumed all administrative salaries would be frozen for the 2010-11 school year and teachers won't see an increase in their base salary. However, teachers would have to agree to any pay freeze because they are represented by a union. The district and the teachers union are in the process of negotiating a 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 was no salary boost for additional credits or degrees, it would save another $1 million. One suggestion parents repeatedly made during Wednesday's two-and-a-half hour meeting is that District 200 needs to consider reducing administrative salaries, eliminating redundant administrative positions and stopping the practice of paying 100 percent of administrators health and dental insurance. If administrators paid 20 percent of their health premiums like teachers, it would save the district $213,000, officials estimate. "All of us are impacted by lost jobs, frozen wages, trimmed benefits, pay cuts," parent Kristen Seely said. "This is the right climate to ask for retroactive concessions from the unions and overhaul administrative compensation packages to reflect today's reality. Anything else is just unsustainable."Ultimately, it will be up to school board members to decide how many of the reductions are needed to bring spending in line with revenue. They are scheduled to vote on the final list of budget reductions March 24.
|
|
|
|
Post by casey on Mar 5, 2010 7:58:01 GMT -6
Just change the district name in the article to 204 and it's our same position. We are in this mess because of the wasteful spending of our district. I'm glad to see District 200 speaking out - 400 community members to a SB meeting and it's not even dealing with boundaries ;D?
|
|
