Post by EagleDad on Apr 5, 2012 17:44:28 GMT -6
www.dailyherald.com/article/20120405/news/704039548/
More than 160 full- and part-time staff members are being laid off in Indian Prairie District 204, the result of continuing budget cutbacks.
In taking the action this week, school board members said they anticipate hiring back at least 80 full-time staff members to fill positions left open through retirements and attrition. Earlier this year, district officials announced plans to cut 55 certified positions, including teachers, 55 non-bargaining jobs like clerical and support staff and four administrative posts. But, the final numbers could go up or down as the district continues to work on its budget and waits to see how much state funding it will receive.
While the certified and administrative staff cuts were addressed Monday, non-bargaining job cuts will be discussed at future board meetings. Board members Monday agreed to restructure the district’s administration to create a new chief academic officer post and to promote two directors to assistant superintendent positions, while eliminating other positions. Those moves will pare $100,000 from the administration’s budget.
The layoffs reflect a 7.6 percent reduction in “certified” staff, those with certification to teach in Illinois. They include all part-time certified employees and full-time certified staff hired after Jan. 1, or the equivalent of 52-full-time positions. Another 110 full-time workers, comprising 92 first-year staff members and 18 of those in their second and third years with the district, also were let go. The district has 3,127 employees, and 2,136 of them are certified.
The layoffs and restructuring were needed to help plug an $8.6 million deficit, officials said.
“I personally don’t take this lightly and it’s not an easy time to be on the board when we have to let people go,” board member Dawn DeSart said.
The deficit is largely caused by costs to implement state-mandated curriculum changes, and to evaluate principals and teachers on student achievement. Significant technology upgrades are needed along with training as implementation of the new curriculum begins in the next school year with testing of all children in Illinois during the 2014-2015 school year.
The latest cuts follow $30 million in reductions made to the district’s budget during the past three years, including the elimination of 145 teaching positions.
“Even though tonight’s decision is not a welcome one, it is one that must be made,” said Val Dranias, teachers association president, who commended the district for “the open, transparent and collaborative way these decisions were reached and reported to the association.”
Board members said they appreciated the understanding of district employees. “We also recognize that the teachers who are staying and the ones that we bring back are going to be working harder than ever because there are positions being cut,” board member Cathy Piehl said.
The district also is cutting the hours of library media center assistants from full- to part-time, which will save $400,000. District officials will be meeting in upcoming weeks to see if there are other cuts that could be made to save the assistants’ jobs. Board member Mark Rising said he worries teachers will have to pick up the slack caused by those changes.
Superintendent Kathy Birkett noted the sensitivity of making administrative promotions at the same time as cutting other positions.
“Administration, the hiring of administration, anything that reeks of looking like additional administration, obviously is not popular at this time,” she said. “For that reason, I want to be sure I’m clarifying with all of you, we are not adding administrators.”
The board agreed to create the new position of chief academic officer, who will serve as second-in-command to the superintendent and combine the previous positions of assistant superintendent of curriculum and deputy superintendent. Kathy Duncan, currently holding that post in neighboring Naperville District 203, will assume that job in District 204, where she previously worked for 14 years.
Also promoted were district administrators Kathy Pease and Stan Gorbatkin. Pease, an executive director of elementary schools, will become assistant superintendent of elementary. Her previous position will not be filled to save money. Gorbatkin, director of technology services, was named assistant superintendent of technology services.
The changes are effective July 1. Duncan will be paid $175,000, including pension contributions. The other two jobs pay $140,800 also including pension contributions.
More than 160 full- and part-time staff members are being laid off in Indian Prairie District 204, the result of continuing budget cutbacks.
In taking the action this week, school board members said they anticipate hiring back at least 80 full-time staff members to fill positions left open through retirements and attrition. Earlier this year, district officials announced plans to cut 55 certified positions, including teachers, 55 non-bargaining jobs like clerical and support staff and four administrative posts. But, the final numbers could go up or down as the district continues to work on its budget and waits to see how much state funding it will receive.
While the certified and administrative staff cuts were addressed Monday, non-bargaining job cuts will be discussed at future board meetings. Board members Monday agreed to restructure the district’s administration to create a new chief academic officer post and to promote two directors to assistant superintendent positions, while eliminating other positions. Those moves will pare $100,000 from the administration’s budget.
The layoffs reflect a 7.6 percent reduction in “certified” staff, those with certification to teach in Illinois. They include all part-time certified employees and full-time certified staff hired after Jan. 1, or the equivalent of 52-full-time positions. Another 110 full-time workers, comprising 92 first-year staff members and 18 of those in their second and third years with the district, also were let go. The district has 3,127 employees, and 2,136 of them are certified.
The layoffs and restructuring were needed to help plug an $8.6 million deficit, officials said.
“I personally don’t take this lightly and it’s not an easy time to be on the board when we have to let people go,” board member Dawn DeSart said.
The deficit is largely caused by costs to implement state-mandated curriculum changes, and to evaluate principals and teachers on student achievement. Significant technology upgrades are needed along with training as implementation of the new curriculum begins in the next school year with testing of all children in Illinois during the 2014-2015 school year.
The latest cuts follow $30 million in reductions made to the district’s budget during the past three years, including the elimination of 145 teaching positions.
“Even though tonight’s decision is not a welcome one, it is one that must be made,” said Val Dranias, teachers association president, who commended the district for “the open, transparent and collaborative way these decisions were reached and reported to the association.”
Board members said they appreciated the understanding of district employees. “We also recognize that the teachers who are staying and the ones that we bring back are going to be working harder than ever because there are positions being cut,” board member Cathy Piehl said.
The district also is cutting the hours of library media center assistants from full- to part-time, which will save $400,000. District officials will be meeting in upcoming weeks to see if there are other cuts that could be made to save the assistants’ jobs. Board member Mark Rising said he worries teachers will have to pick up the slack caused by those changes.
Superintendent Kathy Birkett noted the sensitivity of making administrative promotions at the same time as cutting other positions.
“Administration, the hiring of administration, anything that reeks of looking like additional administration, obviously is not popular at this time,” she said. “For that reason, I want to be sure I’m clarifying with all of you, we are not adding administrators.”
The board agreed to create the new position of chief academic officer, who will serve as second-in-command to the superintendent and combine the previous positions of assistant superintendent of curriculum and deputy superintendent. Kathy Duncan, currently holding that post in neighboring Naperville District 203, will assume that job in District 204, where she previously worked for 14 years.
Also promoted were district administrators Kathy Pease and Stan Gorbatkin. Pease, an executive director of elementary schools, will become assistant superintendent of elementary. Her previous position will not be filled to save money. Gorbatkin, director of technology services, was named assistant superintendent of technology services.
The changes are effective July 1. Duncan will be paid $175,000, including pension contributions. The other two jobs pay $140,800 also including pension contributions.