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Post by doctorwho on Dec 15, 2011 13:17:14 GMT -6
Well the day is finally arriving and make sure the upcoming SB meetings aren't missed going forward. The first crying poor for a future referendum is upon us, in the season of giving. But NOT HERE ! People will be there super- at every turn.. to remind the others at the SB meetings, the press, the residents and anyone else that will isten exactly HOW we got into the financial mess we're in today. Blame the state- sure easy target, but not the real issue. Blame the economy ? Glad you brought it up because it will help defeat any ref also. I hope everyone is prepared to address a few facts that will roll out at these meetings in public comment 1/ How about an extra $3.8M / year for operating a high school you did not need ? 2/ How about $154M for such school on a $124M ref. Where did the rest of the money come from. Yes , people know. 3/ How about the multi million $ piece of land at BB that can't be sold and can't be built on - all in the name of a shell game to further con the 204 people and move the school to the hinterlands of the district 4/ How about the millions wasted away ( and how much not yet paid) to Brach Brody attorneys for that fiasco 5/ How about a study group to see where those 10,400 ( in 2009 no less) and by now almost 12,000 High school students area ? How about the facts around 9,000 students and less eventually given to you by one of your own SB members before we spent a dime - but ignored. Why ? For whom ? 6/ what about a reminder of the sum spent on a PR firm to separate the district by appearing to screw over Brookdale because it would win the votes needed to pass a previously failed ref ? 7 thru 25 familiar facts each and every meeting..oh no-- this time the actual cuts will have to me made and explained ( or others will) 12/15/11 email blast ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear District 204 Community, When I became superintendent three years ago, I shared with you that I would focus on student achievement, finances, and communication. I remain focused on those areas today. This fall, I was happy to share with you that student achievement is solid, with our students setting a record score on the ACT. We've also increased communication to you over the past three years, including creating transparency with on-demand videos available through www.204tv.org. We have faced our greatest challenges in the area of finance. The state's funding formula is designed so the more a district receives in property taxes, the less it receives in state funding. We receive less revenue from property taxes per pupil than some surrounding districts. Therefore, we rely on the state for 13.25 percent of our budget. Over the past several years, the budget turmoil in Springfield has negatively impacted our district. During that time, we've had to cut $30.4 million from our operating budget in order to maintain a balanced budget. We have tried to do so with minimal impact to our students. Unfortunately, when we look at next year's budget, we are facing familiar challenges. We are forecasted to have a $3.5 million deficit. When we add deferred projects that have been placed on hold for budget reasons over the past several years, including curriculum and technology needs, we are looking at an approximate $8.1 million deficit. In order to achieve a balanced budget next year we need to cut our budget once again. Last month we asked the community for suggestions on ways to save money. We have received more than 500 responses from our parents and staff. The Citizens Financial Advisory Committee is reviewing those suggestions. With each round of budget cuts over the past several years, we have tried to stay as far away from the classroom as possible. We are at the point where that is no longer possible. In January, administrators will present a list of possible reductions to the Board of Education. Our board will then have the very difficult decision of deciding how to balance the budget, keeping in mind what is best for our students. I want to remind you that you can watch budget videos from the Board of Education meetings at www.204tv.org. I will continue to bring you updates as we move forward in the budget process. Thank you for your continued support. Kathy Birkett Superintendent School District 204 www.ipsd.org780 Shoreline Drive Aurora, IL 60504 USA |
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Post by macrockett on Dec 15, 2011 15:36:56 GMT -6
Well the day is finally arriving and make sure the upcoming SB meetings aren't missed going forward. The first crying poor for a future referendum is upon us, in the season of giving. But NOT HERE ! People will be there super- at every turn.. to remind the others at the SB meetings, the press, the residents and anyone else that will isten exactly HOW we got into the financial mess we're in today. Blame the state- sure easy target, but not the real issue. Blame the economy ? Glad you brought it up because it will help defeat any ref also. I hope everyone is prepared to address a few facts that will roll out at these meetings in public comment 1/ How about an extra $3.8M / year for operating a high school you did not need ? 2/ How about $154M for such school on a $124M ref. Where did the rest of the money come from. Yes , people know. 3/ How about the multi million $ piece of land at BB that can't be sold and can't be built on - all in the name of a shell game to further con the 204 people and move the school to the hinterlands of the district 4/ How about the millions wasted away ( and how much not yet paid) to Brach Brody attorneys for that fiasco 5/ How about a study group to see where those 10,400 ( in 2009 no less) and by now almost 12,000 High school students area ? How about the facts around 9,000 students and less eventually given to you by one of your own SB members before we spent a dime - but ignored. Why ? For whom ? 6/ what about a reminder of the sum spent on a PR firm to separate the district by appearing to screw over Brookdale because it would win the votes needed to pass a previously failed ref ? 7 thru 25 familiar facts each and every meeting..oh no-- this time the actual cuts will have to me made and explained ( or others will) 12/15/11 email blast ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear District 204 Community, When I became superintendent three years ago, I shared with you that I would focus on student achievement, finances, and communication. I remain focused on those areas today. This fall, I was happy to share with you that student achievement is solid, with our students setting a record score on the ACT. We've also increased communication to you over the past three years, including creating transparency with on-demand videos available through www.204tv.org. We have faced our greatest challenges in the area of finance. The state's funding formula is designed so the more a district receives in property taxes, the less it receives in state funding. We receive less revenue from property taxes per pupil than some surrounding districts. Therefore, we rely on the state for 13.25 percent of our budget. Over the past several years, the budget turmoil in Springfield has negatively impacted our district. During that time, we've had to cut $30.4 million from our operating budget in order to maintain a balanced budget. We have tried to do so with minimal impact to our students. Unfortunately, when we look at next year's budget, we are facing familiar challenges. We are forecasted to have a $3.5 million deficit. When we add deferred projects that have been placed on hold for budget reasons over the past several years, including curriculum and technology needs, we are looking at an approximate $8.1 million deficit. In order to achieve a balanced budget next year we need to cut our budget once again. Last month we asked the community for suggestions on ways to save money. We have received more than 500 responses from our parents and staff. The Citizens Financial Advisory Committee is reviewing those suggestions. With each round of budget cuts over the past several years, we have tried to stay as far away from the classroom as possible. We are at the point where that is no longer possible. In January, administrators will present a list of possible reductions to the Board of Education. Our board will then have the very difficult decision of deciding how to balance the budget, keeping in mind what is best for our students. I want to remind you that you can watch budget videos from the Board of Education meetings at www.204tv.org. I will continue to bring you updates as we move forward in the budget process. Thank you for your continued support. Kathy Birkett Superintendent School District 204 www.ipsd.org780 Shoreline Drive Aurora, IL 60504 USA I was there Monday night Doc. I shared with them how disingenuous that 25% lower cost per student was, that we are NOT growing, that the State is standing on the corner of Lasalle and Monroe panning for money and I reminded the educators to pressure their union reps to get on the legislature to fund those pensions (how I don't know). I gave Birkett and Bradshaw a break on the third HS though. Soon I will send a copy of the long and winding road to them as a reminder... Bradshaw, the spin doctor, now has three strikes: First "allocated funds, second that recent admin raise where he used a contorted explanation which I don't think is true but I don't have the data yet, and third, the "25% less" number. Talk about disingenuous! |
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Post by southsidesignmaker on Dec 16, 2011 11:01:46 GMT -6
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Post by macrockett on Dec 16, 2011 11:52:23 GMT -6
More like tick tick tick SSSM.
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Post by lurker on Dec 16, 2011 17:53:45 GMT -6
"Our board will then have the very difficult decision of deciding how to balance the budget, keeping in mind what is best for our students."
Why does Kathy feel the board needs to balance the budget? Isn't the administration (Kathy?) supposed to balance the budget?
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Post by doctorwho on Dec 16, 2011 23:34:58 GMT -6
Well the day is finally arriving and make sure the upcoming SB meetings aren't missed going forward. The first crying poor for a future referendum is upon us, in the season of giving. But NOT HERE ! People will be there super- at every turn.. to remind the others at the SB meetings, the press, the residents and anyone else that will isten exactly HOW we got into the financial mess we're in today. Blame the state- sure easy target, but not the real issue. Blame the economy ? Glad you brought it up because it will help defeat any ref also. I hope everyone is prepared to address a few facts that will roll out at these meetings in public comment 1/ How about an extra $3.8M / year for operating a high school you did not need ? 2/ How about $154M for such school on a $124M ref. Where did the rest of the money come from. Yes , people know. 3/ How about the multi million $ piece of land at BB that can't be sold and can't be built on - all in the name of a shell game to further con the 204 people and move the school to the hinterlands of the district 4/ How about the millions wasted away ( and how much not yet paid) to Brach Brody attorneys for that fiasco 5/ How about a study group to see where those 10,400 ( in 2009 no less) and by now almost 12,000 High school students area ? How about the facts around 9,000 students and less eventually given to you by one of your own SB members before we spent a dime - but ignored. Why ? For whom ? 6/ what about a reminder of the sum spent on a PR firm to separate the district by appearing to screw over Brookdale because it would win the votes needed to pass a previously failed ref ? 7 thru 25 familiar facts each and every meeting..oh no-- this time the actual cuts will have to me made and explained ( or others will) 12/15/11 email blast ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear District 204 Community, When I became superintendent three years ago, I shared with you that I would focus on student achievement, finances, and communication. I remain focused on those areas today. This fall, I was happy to share with you that student achievement is solid, with our students setting a record score on the ACT. We've also increased communication to you over the past three years, including creating transparency with on-demand videos available through www.204tv.org. We have faced our greatest challenges in the area of finance. The state's funding formula is designed so the more a district receives in property taxes, the less it receives in state funding. We receive less revenue from property taxes per pupil than some surrounding districts. Therefore, we rely on the state for 13.25 percent of our budget. Over the past several years, the budget turmoil in Springfield has negatively impacted our district. During that time, we've had to cut $30.4 million from our operating budget in order to maintain a balanced budget. We have tried to do so with minimal impact to our students. Unfortunately, when we look at next year's budget, we are facing familiar challenges. We are forecasted to have a $3.5 million deficit. When we add deferred projects that have been placed on hold for budget reasons over the past several years, including curriculum and technology needs, we are looking at an approximate $8.1 million deficit. In order to achieve a balanced budget next year we need to cut our budget once again. Last month we asked the community for suggestions on ways to save money. We have received more than 500 responses from our parents and staff. The Citizens Financial Advisory Committee is reviewing those suggestions. With each round of budget cuts over the past several years, we have tried to stay as far away from the classroom as possible. We are at the point where that is no longer possible. In January, administrators will present a list of possible reductions to the Board of Education. Our board will then have the very difficult decision of deciding how to balance the budget, keeping in mind what is best for our students. I want to remind you that you can watch budget videos from the Board of Education meetings at www.204tv.org. I will continue to bring you updates as we move forward in the budget process. Thank you for your continued support. Kathy Birkett Superintendent School District 204 www.ipsd.org780 Shoreline Drive Aurora, IL 60504 USA I was there Monday night Doc. I shared with them how disingenuous that 25% lower cost per student was, that we are NOT growing, that the State is standing on the corner of Lasalle and Monroe panning for money and I reminded the educators to pressure their union reps to get on the legislature to fund those pensions (how I don't know). I gave Birkett and Bradshaw a break on the third HS though. Soon I will send a copy of the long and winding road to them as a reminder... Bradshaw, the spin doctor, now has three strikes: First "allocated funds, second that recent admin raise where he used a contorted explanation which I don't think is true but I don't have the data yet, and third, the "25% less" number. Talk about disingenuous! Yep- the 25% joins the hall of shame of disengenuous quotes from 204 that they feel repeated often enough and without a lot of context, become reality. |
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Post by doctorwho on Dec 16, 2011 23:36:17 GMT -6
"Our board will then have the very difficult decision of deciding how to balance the budget, keeping in mind what is best for our students." Why does Kathy feel the board needs to balance the budget? Isn't the administration (Kathy?) supposed to balance the budget? not in the land of the blank checkbook. The admin asks for more and the SB spins and spins until they can deliver it. |
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Post by doctorwho on Dec 20, 2011 9:26:57 GMT -6
"Our board will then have the very difficult decision of deciding how to balance the budget, keeping in mind what is best for our students." Why does Kathy feel the board needs to balance the budget? Isn't the administration (Kathy?) supposed to balance the budget? Funny thing is that some school board members have been asking for 9 months for numbers and nothing has been given to them. Some school board members asked what contingency plans administration had for cuts and none were given. Some school board members (Mark Rising during his election) saw this coming but they (administration) didn’t want to admit their fault for not properly planning (and the numbers are even worse than Rising predicted). But, “the board will have to make some tough choices”. Choices which administration still hasn’t given the school board and isn’t until January. What a blame game they are putting on the board for the budget and also for the (now being negotiated) teachers contract. Oh yes, did you forget that was going on as well ? Sadly, the public is finally beginning to see the spin. The admin would rather blame the school board than themselves. Asking the public for ideas for cuts? Yeah right!!! For Dave Holm and his 2 person citizens financial advisory committee. If the school board has to make these tough decisions why don’t they have a committee and get to see these ideas? Why? Because the administration gets to protect what they want to protect and give the school board THEIR ideas for cuts, but they turn around to blame the school board so their hands are clean.....but in reality their hands are the most dirty for getting us into this mess!!! By the way, someone like our SB president ( since he controls 4 votes many time) could be part of the solution but instead appears to be a major part of the problem with the administration!!! Rasmus, Piehl and Price, they appear very weak financially and it is scary because they seem to depend on Curt for direction. No one should control that much of the vote- but in 204 it seems to be legacy. |
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Post by macrockett on Dec 20, 2011 10:11:14 GMT -6
"Our board will then have the very difficult decision of deciding how to balance the budget, keeping in mind what is best for our students." Why does Kathy feel the board needs to balance the budget? Isn't the administration (Kathy?) supposed to balance the budget? Funny thing is that some school board members have been asking for 9 months for numbers and nothing has been given to them. Some school board members asked what contingency plans administration had for cuts and none were given. Some school board members (Mark Rising during his election) saw this coming but they (administration) didn’t want to admit their fault for not properly planning (and the numbers are even worse than Rising predicted). But, “the board will have to make some tough choices”. Choices which administration still hasn’t given the school board and isn’t until January. What a blame game they are putting on the board for the budget and also for the (now being negotiated) teachers contract. Oh yes, did you forget that was going on as well ? Sadly, the public is finally beginning to see the spin. The admin would rather blame the school board than themselves. Asking the public for ideas for cuts? Yeah right!!! For Dave Holm and his 2 person citizens financial advisory committee. If the school board has to make these tough decisions why don’t they have a committee and get to see these ideas? Why? Because the administration gets to protect what they want to protect and give the school board THEIR ideas for cuts, but they turn around to blame the school board so their hands are clean.....but in reality their hands are the most dirty for getting us into this mess!!! By the way, someone like our SB president ( since he controls 4 votes many time) could be part of the solution but instead appears to be a major part of the problem with the administration!!! Rasmus, Piehl and Price, they appear very weak financially and it is scary because they seem to depend on Curt for direction. No one should control that much of the vote- but in 204 it seems to be legacy. Sorry, but I have to take the other side of this, in part. The problem, imo, is squarely our Board and the people who continue to vote for a majority who have no sense of finances (or just simply ignores them (Curt the spin doctor)). It is simply a lack of leadership. School finances are not rocket science. The biggest pieces are educators and administrators and their salaries and benefits. Then you have a war between the Board giving raises that are unsustainable v a structural budget constraint called the tax cap. We continue to gives raises which exceed inflation. This has happened all over the country at every level of government. While the private sector has seen 0, yes 0 real wage gains over the last decade, yes decade (go to the census report September or so 2010) the public sector has seen real gains of approximately 35%. Have there been any productivity gains in the public sector? Research that yourself. In the private sector? Do the same. How have we fared in education? Over that same decade Pisa scores of kids in the U.S. have continued to fall vis a vis kids in other developed countries. The U.S. is near the bottom in both science and math. Yet we continue down the same path. We build schools we don't need; we add administrators who don't educate our children; we pay $80k and up for 10 or so educators who teach drivers ed; we have excess capacity that serves no useful purpose, upon which we pay maintenance and energy costs; we continue with an antiquated system of education where people are payed for the years of service rather than the quality of that service; we value the services of each and every vocation the same, whereas our future will depend heavily upon math and science if we hope to maintain any kind of competitive edge.... Until we get enough leaders on our Board, there will be no change. |
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Post by doctorwho on Dec 20, 2011 17:07:23 GMT -6
Funny thing is that some school board members have been asking for 9 months for numbers and nothing has been given to them. Some school board members asked what contingency plans administration had for cuts and none were given. Some school board members (Mark Rising during his election) saw this coming but they (administration) didn’t want to admit their fault for not properly planning (and the numbers are even worse than Rising predicted). But, “the board will have to make some tough choices”. Choices which administration still hasn’t given the school board and isn’t until January. What a blame game they are putting on the board for the budget and also for the (now being negotiated) teachers contract. Oh yes, did you forget that was going on as well ? Sadly, the public is finally beginning to see the spin. The admin would rather blame the school board than themselves. Asking the public for ideas for cuts? Yeah right!!! For Dave Holm and his 2 person citizens financial advisory committee. If the school board has to make these tough decisions why don’t they have a committee and get to see these ideas? Why? Because the administration gets to protect what they want to protect and give the school board THEIR ideas for cuts, but they turn around to blame the school board so their hands are clean.....but in reality their hands are the most dirty for getting us into this mess!!! By the way, someone like our SB president ( since he controls 4 votes many time) could be part of the solution but instead appears to be a major part of the problem with the administration!!! Rasmus, Piehl and Price, they appear very weak financially and it is scary because they seem to depend on Curt for direction. No one should control that much of the vote- but in 204 it seems to be legacy. Sorry, but I have to take the other side of this, in part. The problem, imo, is squarely our Board and the people who continue to vote for a majority who have no sense of finances (or just simply ignores them (Curt the spin doctor)). It is simply a lack of leadership. School finances are not rocket science. The biggest pieces are educators and administrators and their salaries and benefits. Then you have a war between the Board giving raises that are unsustainable v a structural budget constraint called the tax cap. We continue to gives raises which exceed inflation. This has happened all over the country at every level of government. While the private sector has seen 0, yes 0 real wage gains over the last decade, yes decade (go to the census report September or so 2010) the public sector has seen real gains of approximately 35%. Have there been any productivity gains in the public sector? Research that yourself. In the private sector? Do the same. How have we fared in education? Over that same decade Pisa scores of kids in the U.S. have continued to fall vis a vis kids in other developed countries. The U.S. is near the bottom in both science and math. Yet we continue down the same path. We build schools we don't need; we add administrators who don't educate our children; we pay $80k and up for 10 or so educators who teach drivers ed; we have excess capacity that serves no useful purpose, upon which we pay maintenance and energy costs; we continue with an antiquated system of education where people are payed for the years of service rather than the quality of that service; we value the services of each and every vocation the same, whereas our future will depend heavily upon math and science if we hope to maintain any kind of competitive edge.... Until we get enough leaders on our Board, there will be no change. Oh, I don't think we are on opposite sides as well. "Until we get enough leaders on our Board, there will be no change." agreed 100% the influence of the admin on 'certain' members of our SB is what I was trying to get at-- not to excuse the drunken sailor spending by our SB..as well as private agendas. I don't want to underestimate the cohesiveness of the inner cirlce of admin and SB, including our finance guy. We could not have driven this far into the ditch without them having one like mind. |
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Post by macrockett on Feb 3, 2012 7:03:40 GMT -6
This article is dated, but doesn't seem to have made it in here. It was passed to me by a concerned citizen. We are slipping in here... And by the way, there is that figure again, now 26%, about how efficient D204 is in spending money. I hope I sufficiently informed everyone on what a ruse that number is. I can manipulate data with the best of them and that 26% is pure BS. Just look at the participants in the DuPage region and look at enrollment, administration and certified staff. If you can't figure it out, I opined on it elsewhere in here ipsd204.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=news&action=display&thread=3682and, in the alternative, I am not hard to find if it still puzzles you. I am being kind when I use the term BS to describe their use of this data as if it were apples to apples. triblocal.com/aurora/2012/01/25/budget-deficits-in-near-future-in-sd-204/Budget deficits in near future for School District 204 By Jack McCarthy Special to the Tribune Jan. 25 at 12:24 p.m. Print Email Preliminary forecasts see deficits in the near future for Indian Prairie District 204. A snapshot of the district’s fiscal prospects presented on Monday to the District 204 board forecasts initial deficits as high as $8.7 million during fiscal years 2013 through 2015. But David Holm, assistant superintendent, business, expects administrators will ultimately present balanced budgets for each year. “It is our intention (to make) reductions that will be equal or be greater than that amount to accomplish a balanced budget,” he said. “We’ve cut over $30 million in the past three years. It’s something we’ve done in the past and it’s our intention to do it once again.” The current Fiscal Year 2012 budget call for a positive balance of $138,456. That changes in 2013, when preliminary estimates call for a $8.5 million shortfall on projected expenditures of $297 million. The projected deficit drops to $8 million in 2014, then rebounds to $8.7 million for the 2015 fiscal year. Contributing factors include flat or declining state aid, limits on property tax growth and general economic malaise. Holm said that’s not likely to change much in the foreseeable future. “We thought by now we’d see the end of these hard economic times,” he said. “Although there are some positive economic signs, we know that the state of Illinois’ issues are still in front of us and we’re looking at a few more tough years going forward economically.” Holm said planning is already under way for the 2013 budget and that administrators will find ways to trim an operation that is already running lean. “We spend less per student than any of the unit district in DuPage County — about 26 percent — we’re very economical in that respect,” he said. “We also have fewer administrators per pupil than any other district in DuPage County.” |
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Post by doctorwho on Feb 3, 2012 9:35:11 GMT -6
This article is dated, but doesn't seem to have made it in here. It was passed to me by a concerned citizen. We are slipping in here... And by the way, there is that figure again, now 26%, about how efficient D204 is in spending money. I hope I sufficiently informed everyone on what a ruse that number is. I can manipulate data with the best of them and that 26% is pure BS. Just look at the participants in the DuPage region and look at enrollment, administration and certified staff. If you can't figure it out, I opined on it elsewhere in here ipsd204.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=news&action=display&thread=3682and, in the alternative, I am not hard to find if it still puzzles you. I am being kind when I use the term BS to describe their use of this data as if it were apples to apples. triblocal.com/aurora/2012/01/25/budget-deficits-in-near-future-in-sd-204/Budget deficits in near future for School District 204 By Jack McCarthy Special to the Tribune Jan. 25 at 12:24 p.m. Print Email Preliminary forecasts see deficits in the near future for Indian Prairie District 204. A snapshot of the district’s fiscal prospects presented on Monday to the District 204 board forecasts initial deficits as high as $8.7 million during fiscal years 2013 through 2015. But David Holm, assistant superintendent, business, expects administrators will ultimately present balanced budgets for each year. “It is our intention (to make) reductions that will be equal or be greater than that amount to accomplish a balanced budget,” he said. “We’ve cut over $30 million in the past three years. It’s something we’ve done in the past and it’s our intention to do it once again.” The current Fiscal Year 2012 budget call for a positive balance of $138,456. That changes in 2013, when preliminary estimates call for a $8.5 million shortfall on projected expenditures of $297 million. The projected deficit drops to $8 million in 2014, then rebounds to $8.7 million for the 2015 fiscal year. Contributing factors include flat or declining state aid, limits on property tax growth and general economic malaise. Holm said that’s not likely to change much in the foreseeable future. “We thought by now we’d see the end of these hard economic times,” he said. “Although there are some positive economic signs, we know that the state of Illinois’ issues are still in front of us and we’re looking at a few more tough years going forward economically.” Holm said planning is already under way for the 2013 budget and that administrators will find ways to trim an operation that is already running lean. “We spend less per student than any of the unit district in DuPage County — about 26 percent — we’re very economical in that respect,” he said. “We also have fewer administrators per pupil than any other district in DuPage County.” Doesn't appear to have made it to the Naperville paper local...I agree Mac- enough with the 26% bull crap from this admin. We know how that is calculated - They're going to have to spin a lot better than that to convince people to approve more money from them - after they whizzed away $155 M on an unneeded high school. So 204 Admin- start closing buildings and consolidating bus routes etc.-- you've made this debacle, now you can solve it. The truth finally hitting you in the face since no one would listen before- and the open checkbook you abused from your constituents is now empty. Even better yet, why not start with actually telling the truth to people here... Funny how assistant architect Dave Holm will be gone when this all hits the fan |
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