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Post by casey on Mar 20, 2010 19:13:27 GMT -6
A look at District 204's budget cuts, fee hikeswww.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/index.htmlWhile students will have to get used to a "new normal" for education in Indian Prairie District 204, they will still succeed. That is the closing message on the latest budget information posted on District 204's Web site, ipsd.org, that will be presented to the board Monday night. The information outlines the elimination of 145 teaching positions, increases in fees structures, and other cuts. Take a look at the pdf file highlighting the Monday, March 22 meeting. ipsdweb.ipsd.org/uploads/Business/AusterityPlanPresentation_3_22_10.pdf
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Post by casey on Mar 20, 2010 19:16:52 GMT -6
A look at District 204's budget cuts, fee hikes
March 20, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com While students will have to get used to a "new normal" for education in Indian Prairie District 204, they will still succeed.
That is the closing message on the latest budget information posted on District 204's Web site, ipsd.org, that will be presented to the board Monday night.
The information outlines the elimination of 145 teaching positions, increases in fees structures, reductions in programs and other cost-saving measures. While no programs have been eliminated, the district is calling for the reduction in program expenditures.
Proposed cuts are the result of the expected $12.2 million reduction in general state aid to the district for the 2011 budget. These cuts come on top of $9.2 million the district had to cut earlier in the year in order to reach a balanced budget.
"The first $9.2 million was relatively painless, this next $12.2 (million) stings a bit," Board President Curt Bradshaw said Friday evening. "However, I think it is important to put it all into perspective and focus on everything we will still have. Even after the cuts, District 204 students will be blessed to have educational opportunities far beyond what exists in many districts today."
Students will continue to attend neighborhood schools and be challenged by high quality educators, he said.
They will be enriched through music, art and athletics; and both gifted and special needs students will continue to receive additional support, he said.
"The bottom line is that our students will still have what they need to succeed," Bradshaw said.
The following are some of the key points in the district's plan:
Staff reductions A total of 145 non-tenured teachers, or 6.7 percent of teachers, are expected to be laid off as part of the plan.
"We certainly wish we could achieve the necessary budget reductions without releasing a single member of the 204 team," Bradshaw said. "However, since over 80 percent of our budget is people, that simply isn't possible."
• At the elementary level, the district is proposing a reduction of 55 full-time teachers. As a result, maximum class size would increase from 29 to 31 in grades two through five. Interventionists will be reduced to .5 full-time employees in the four highest achieving schools.
• Teachers at the secondary level will be reduced by 65 full-time teachers. As a result, the class size maximum will increase by two. Middle School technique class will be eliminated, along with courses with less than 60 percent enrollment. Department chairs, LMC directors and dean positions will be reduced.
• Special education/preschool teachers will be reduced by 25 full-time positions. As a result, the size of the preschool program will be reduced, and the specialized staff to student ratio in grades K-12 will increase.
• Central office staff will be reduced by 14.4 percent, or 13.5 full-time employees.
• Administrators will be cut by 6 percent, or 5.5 full-time employees.
• Administrators salary will be frozen, and overtime will be eliminated for hourly employees. Substitute teacher's daily rate of pay will be reduced from $90 to $85.
Program reductions/efficiencies
According to the proposal, no program has been eliminated. However, the district is proposing several measures including:
• require field trips to be self-supporting;
• reduce high school athletic team schedules by two to three contests;
• reduce athletic and activity stipends by $300,000 for extra-curricular sponsors, coaches, etc.;
• postpone the introduction of additional foreign languages at the middle school level;
• reduce the online learning budget.
Fee increases
Several fee increases will be instituted to save student programs from elimination.
"A lot of these we preserved by having a fee as opposed to a wholesale elimination of the program," Bradshaw said.
• Athletics/activities: middle school fee will double from $40 to $100, High school fee will double from $80 to $160.
• Drivers' education fee increase from $200 to $350.
• Technology fee increase from $30 to $40.
• New after school activity bus fee: $1 per ride.
Expenditure reductions
• Expenditures will be delayed, including a slow-down in the technology replacement program by $500,000. Classroom computer replacement will be delayed an additional one to two years.
• Several operational efficiencies will be implemented, including eliminating building and grounds summer help, discontinue watering service and eliminating towel service for secondary gym class. During the summer, 10 hour/four day work weeks will be implemented where possible to save energy costs.
• Central office department budgets will be reduced by a total 10 percent, capital outlay expenditures will be cut in half and conference travel will be limited.
"Community members can view the budget proposal presentation in advance of Monday night's meeting on the district's Web site at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Budget," said Janet Buglio, director of communications for the district. "On Tuesday, the district will also post video from Monday night's presentation. The board of education welcomes community members to provide feedback online at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Budget."
The board will hear details of the plan at its meeting Monday, held at 7 p.m. at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora. A community budget meeting is also scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. April 5.
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Post by casey on Mar 21, 2010 9:05:01 GMT -6
A look at District 204's budget cuts, fee hikes
"District 204 students will be blessed to have educational opportunities far beyond what exists in many districts today." Yep, pull out the "we're better than most other districts" card. That always works.
The following are some of the key points in the district's plan:
• Interventionists will be reduced to .5 full-time employees in the four highest achieving schools.Let me get this right, because a child with special needs is in one of the four highest achieving schools, he gets less help? Seriously? How is this right? To me it sounds like "well we won't worry about those kids because they're in a good school and we can hide their performance!" I just don't think that is right. My special needs child has gotten unbelievable services in the elementary program and I would not want to see that taken away by reducing to .5 full-time employee just because we're in a "high achieving school". To me, this is discrimination and I'm going to do what I can to get this corrected.
• Teachers at the secondary level will be reduced by 65 full-time teachers. As a result, the class size maximum will increase by two. Anyone really believe that class sizes will increase by only 2? Middle School technique class will be eliminated, along with courses with less than 60 percent enrollment. Department chairs, LMC directors and dean positions will be reduced. What does "reduced" mean? That is not a finite number.
• Special education/preschool teachers will be reduced by 25 full-time positions. Are they talking special ed preschool teachers or special ed AND preschool teachers (separately)? As a result, the size of the preschool program will be reduced, and the specialized staff to student ratio in grades K-12 will increase.
• Central office staff will be reduced by 14.4 percent, or 13.5 full-time employees. Yep, get rid of the administrative workers and secretaries, often the only people really doing anything.
• Administrators will be cut by 6 percent, or 5.5 full-time employees. Who's that going to be? We'll never see it do a thing to the bottom-line.
• Administrators salary will be frozen WOW! and overtime will be eliminated for hourly employees. Substitute teacher's daily rate of pay will be reduced from $90 to $85.
Program reductions/efficiencies
According to the proposal, no program has been eliminated. However, the district is proposing several measures including:
• require field trips to be self-supporting;They should have been all along, IMO.
• reduce high school athletic team schedules by two to three contests; Yikes! Recognize that for many athletes the dual contests are their only chance to compete. Ususally it is only Varsity that competes in the invitationals. In the case of swimming there are 5 dual meets and 5 invitationals (2 of them are "in house" with WV hosting one and NV hosting one) - taking 2-3 away is a LOT! What parent wants to double their cost of athletic registration and then see their kid compete way less? Also, taking 2-3 contests away put the athletes in a way-less competitive postion for state. I think it is important for the athletes to get out of their own little geographical/conference area and see some other competition. Personally, I'd rather pay more for the option to compete the full schedule.
• reduce athletic and activity stipends by $300,000 for extra-curricular sponsors, coaches, etc.; How much does this translate to each coach?
• postpone the introduction of additional foreign languages at the middle school level;
• reduce the online learning budget.
Fee increases
Several fee increases will be instituted to save student programs from elimination.
"A lot of these we preserved by having a fee as opposed to a wholesale elimination of the program," Bradshaw said.
• Athletics/activities: middle school fee will double from $40 to $100, High school fee will double from $80 to $160. This will be a challenge for many families to cover the increased costs! I'm sad to think that it may force some athletes out of the program.
• Drivers' education fee increase from $200 to $350. I think that I read somewhere that it costs $600 for the driver's ed program so this amount seems fair and competitive with outside programs (Ed's, Excel, etc.). I'd expect to see less kids taking driver's ed through 204 since it will now cost almost the same to go outside.
• Technology fee increase from $30 to $40.
• New after school activity bus fee: $1 per ride. This seems more than fair. How many kids actually take the activity bus? I have no idea.
Expenditure reductions
• Expenditures will be delayed, including a slow-down in the technology replacement program by $500,000. Classroom computer replacement will be delayed an additional one to two years.
• Several operational efficiencies will be implemented, including eliminating building and grounds summer help, discontinue watering service and eliminating towel service for secondary gym class. These should have been done a long time ago. I could never figure out why we had so many grounds workers over the summer! During the summer, 10 hour/four day work weeks will be implemented where possible to save energy costs. Great idea. I hope it will work.
• Central office department budgets will be reduced by a total 10 percent, capital outlay expenditures will be cut in half and conference travel will be limited.
"Community members can view the budget proposal presentation in advance of Monday night's meeting on the district's Web site at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Budget," said Janet Buglio, director of communications for the district. "On Tuesday, the district will also post video from Monday night's presentation. The board of education welcomes community members to provide feedback online at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Budget."
The board will hear details of the plan at its meeting Monday, held at 7 p.m. at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora. A community budget meeting is also scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. April 5.
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Post by EagleDad on Mar 21, 2010 19:51:53 GMT -6
"During the summer, 10 hour/four day work weeks will be implemented where possible to save energy costs."
This saves almost nothing - They are siesta days during the summer - they should be furlough days, unpaid, if they are genuinely interested in real cost savings.
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 22, 2010 7:19:25 GMT -6
A look at District 204's budget cuts, fee hikes"District 204 students will be blessed to have educational opportunities far beyond what exists in many districts today." Yep, pull out the "we're better than most other districts" card. That always works.The following are some of the key points in the district's plan: • Interventionists will be reduced to .5 full-time employees in the four highest achieving schools. Let me get this right, because a child with special needs is in one of the four highest achieving schools, he gets less help? Seriously? How is this right? To me it sounds like "well we won't worry about those kids because they're in a good school and we can hide their performance!" I just don't think that is right. My special needs child has gotten unbelievable services in the elementary program and I would not want to see that taken away by reducing to .5 full-time employee just because we're in a "high achieving school". To me, this is discrimination and I'm going to do what I can to get this corrected.• Teachers at the secondary level will be reduced by 65 full-time teachers. As a result, the class size maximum will increase by two. Anyone really believe that class sizes will increase by only 2? Middle School technique class will be eliminated, along with courses with less than 60 percent enrollment. Department chairs, LMC directors and dean positions will be reduced. What does "reduced" mean? That is not a finite number.• Special education/preschool teachers will be reduced by 25 full-time positions. Are they talking special ed preschool teachers or special ed AND preschool teachers (separately)? As a result, the size of the preschool program will be reduced, and the specialized staff to student ratio in grades K-12 will increase. • Central office staff will be reduced by 14.4 percent, or 13.5 full-time employees. Ye p, get rid of the administrative workers and secretaries, often the only people really doing anything. • Administrators will be cut by 6 percent, or 5.5 full-time employees. Who's that going to be? We'll never see it do a thing to the bottom-line.• Administrators salary will be frozen WOW! and overtime will be eliminated for hourly employees. Substitute teacher's daily rate of pay will be reduced from $90 to $85. Program reductions/efficiencies According to the proposal, no program has been eliminated. However, the district is proposing several measures including: • require field trips to be self-supporting; They should have been all along, IMO.• reduce high school athletic team schedules by two to three contests; Yikes! Recognize that for many athletes the dual contests are their only chance to compete. Ususally it is only Varsity that competes in the invitationals. In the case of swimming there are 5 dual meets and 5 invitationals (2 of them are "in house" with WV hosting one and NV hosting one) - taking 2-3 away is a LOT! What parent wants to double their cost of athletic registration and then see their kid compete way less? Also, taking 2-3 contests away put the athletes in a way-less competitive postion for state. I think it is important for the athletes to get out of their own little geographical/conference area and see some other competition. Personally, I'd rather pay more for the option to compete the full schedule.• reduce athletic and activity stipends by $300,000 for extra-curricular sponsors, coaches, etc.; How much does this translate to each coach?• postpone the introduction of additional foreign languages at the middle school level; • reduce the online learning budget. Fee increases Several fee increases will be instituted to save student programs from elimination. "A lot of these we preserved by having a fee as opposed to a wholesale elimination of the program," Bradshaw said. • Athletics/activities: middle school fee will double from $40 to $100, High school fee will double from $80 to $160. This will be a challenge for many families to cover the increased costs! I'm sad to think that it may force some athletes out of the program.• Drivers' education fee increase from $200 to $350. I think that I read somewhere that it costs $600 for the driver's ed program so this amount seems fair and competitive with outside programs (Ed's, Excel, etc.). I'd expect to see less kids taking driver's ed through 204 since it will now cost almost the same to go outside.• Technology fee increase from $30 to $40. • New after school activity bus fee: $1 per ride. This seems more than fair. How many kids actually take the activity bus? I have no idea.Expenditure reductions • Expenditures will be delayed, including a slow-down in the technology replacement program by $500,000. Classroom computer replacement will be delayed an additional one to two years. • Several operational efficiencies will be implemented, including eliminating building and grounds summer help, discontinue watering service and eliminating towel service for secondary gym class. These should have been done a long time ago. I could never figure out why we had so many grounds workers over the summer! During the summer, 10 hour/four day work weeks will be implemented where possible to save energy costs. Great idea. I hope it will work.• Central office department budgets will be reduced by a total 10 percent, capital outlay expenditures will be cut in half and conference travel will be limited. "Community members can view the budget proposal presentation in advance of Monday night's meeting on the district's Web site at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Budget," said Janet Buglio, director of communications for the district. "On Tuesday, the district will also post video from Monday night's presentation. The board of education welcomes community members to provide feedback online at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Budget." The board will hear details of the plan at its meeting Monday, held at 7 p.m. at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora. A community budget meeting is also scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. April 5. Understand our SB acting much like our President here in redistribution of weatlh it seems ( they already have the back door deals down) -- same general concept was in the 'dashboard' system - once you got to middle ground, you were forgotten -- and they alkready have down the gentleman from Florida ( the judge impeached for bribery who still serves in Congress)- on the rules committee who quoted yesterday - we don't need any rules here we're trying to get things done ( think MVHS here) -- So 204 leadership is basically a miscrocosm of the Obama gang "• Interventionists will be reduced to .5 full-time employees in the four highest achieving schools.Let me get this right, because a child with special needs is in one of the four highest achieving schools, he gets less help? Seriously? How is this right? To me it sounds like "well we won't worry about those kids because they're in a good school and we can hide their performance!" I just don't think that is right. My special needs child has gotten unbelievable services in the elementary program and I would not want to see that taken away by reducing to .5 full-time employee just because we're in a "high achieving school". To me, this is discrimination and I'm going to do what I can to get this corrected. "
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Post by brant on Mar 22, 2010 8:04:57 GMT -6
That sucking sound you hear is the MV parasite draining the rest of the SD and driven by the evil empire; the SB. For me the cuts in the special education areas are particularly devestating. I have two special needs kids at WV and moved here for that very reason as did a number of families. I pray my kids graduate before it gets even worse.
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Post by Arch on Mar 22, 2010 8:47:07 GMT -6
The Special Needs Aid to student ratio has been getting worse for a few years now... unbeknownst to most. This just accelerates it further. What it has appeared to me has been the notion of: Let's get the funding per kid (which is how it's done), but bulk them together to commit less resources to them (Profit). It's legal, but certainly was not what was intended by the funding in the first place.
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Post by friend on Mar 22, 2010 12:49:49 GMT -6
Is all day kindergarten going to be cut? If not, why not? What is the SB reason for keeping this relatively new program in place? While I think it is a worthwhile program, it is one that should have been cut. Everybody <kids, teachers, parents, your wallet, etc.> is losing out in some way over all of these budget cuts.
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 22, 2010 13:34:29 GMT -6
Is all day kindergarten going to be cut? If not, why not? What is the SB reason for keeping this relatively new program in place? While I think it is a worthwhile program, it is one that should have been cut. Everybody <kids, teachers, parents, your wallet, etc.> is losing out in some way over all of these budget cuts. it appears not - and that is $7M / year. I guess they are waiting for the state to be full of money again so that they can cash in ? sigh I'm hearing they'll announce about a $300K cut in coaching stipends ( out of approx $6M they spend each year) - and somehow that is going to close $12M gap ! Come tonite and watch the great Houdini pull this one off
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Post by gekfromthefarnorth on Mar 22, 2010 14:47:11 GMT -6
Is all day kindergarten going to be cut? If not, why not? What is the SB reason for keeping this relatively new program in place? While I think it is a worthwhile program, it is one that should have been cut. Everybody <kids, teachers, parents, your wallet, etc.> is losing out in some way over all of these budget cuts. it appears not - and that is $7M / year. I guess they are waiting for the state to be full of money again so that they can cash in ? sigh I'm hearing they'll announce about a $300K cut in coaching stipends ( out of approx $6M they spend each year) - and somehow that is going to close $12M gap ! Come tonite and watch the great Houdini pull this one off I would point out that my understanding is that the state cuts are formula reductions and if sd204 has NO ADK they probably would get even fewer state funds. (Just a thought)
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 22, 2010 14:54:13 GMT -6
it appears not - and that is $7M / year. I guess they are waiting for the state to be full of money again so that they can cash in ? sigh I'm hearing they'll announce about a $300K cut in coaching stipends ( out of approx $6M they spend each year) - and somehow that is going to close $12M gap ! Come tonite and watch the great Houdini pull this one off I would point out that my understanding is that the state cuts are formula reductions and if sd204 has NO ADK they probably would get even fewer state funds. (Just a thought) That is likely right - however someone needs to show the math that we are better off with a severely underfunded $7M a year program over reduced funding per student ( at K level only ?) - If we get more per student but it's a net loss- we cannot afford net losses at this point in time.
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Post by gekfromthefarnorth on Mar 22, 2010 14:58:40 GMT -6
I would point out that my understanding is that the state cuts are formula reductions and if sd204 has NO ADK they probably would get even fewer state funds. (Just a thought) That is likely right - however someone needs to show the math that we are better off with a severely underfunded $7M a year program over reduced funding per student ( at K level only ?) - If we get more per student but it's a net loss- we cannot afford net losses at this point in time. Perhaps the parents using the service could pony up for the difference??
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 22, 2010 15:45:09 GMT -6
That is likely right - however someone needs to show the math that we are better off with a severely underfunded $7M a year program over reduced funding per student ( at K level only ?) - If we get more per student but it's a net loss- we cannot afford net losses at this point in time. Perhaps the parents using the service could pony up for the difference?? since we already know that will be true for athletics- I sure don't see anything wrong with that.
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Post by friend on Mar 22, 2010 18:16:11 GMT -6
Perhaps the parents using the service could pony up for the difference?? since we already know that will be true for athletics- I sure don't see anything wrong with that. I totally agree with that. Everyone is being ask to step up in one or another to dig further into their wallets whether it is athletic fees, increased drivers ed fees, other school fees, etc. So IMHO, paying for part of all day kindergarten should not be ruled out. Regarding special education. I wonder how the SB is going to help parents maintain IEP standards when there are so many cuts going on.
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Post by Arch on Mar 22, 2010 19:30:21 GMT -6
I'm sure we'll be schooled on what is 'legal' again real soon
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