Dist. 87 lists more cuts if tax hike request fails

By Kathryn Grondin Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2004


Glenbard High School District 87 has been doing its homework for a tax increase request it will bring to voters in November or next spring.

The district unveiled its latest round of proposed cuts that could come in the 2005-06 school year. Superintendent Timothy Hyland outlined the recommended cuts and fee increases, intended to offset a projected deficit of nearly $5.9 million, as an option if an impending tax increase request fails.

The board still has to decide on a question and when to pursue it. A decision could come as early as Thursday during a 6:30 p.m. forum at Glenbard South High School.

"Our goal has remained to have a balanced budged for the 2005-06 fiscal year," school board President David Brown said. "We're either going to have to make significant cuts or get more revenue. Those are the choices we are faced with."

Hyland has recommended the following options:

• Reduce course offerings from seven periods a day to six spanning the same timeframe, which would prompt the termination of about 38 faculty members. The staff reduction would translate into $2.4 million in savings.

• Reduce administrative personnel for a savings of $500,000.

• Reduce the co-curricular program to save $1.4 million.

• Eliminate out-of-state travel for staff development, except in rare cases, to save $150,000.

• Increase the driver's education fee by $100 to a total of $300 for 2005-06, which would generate another $200,000.

• Increase parking fees at each school from $60 to $160, to generate $40,000.

• Purchase fewer supplies at all buildings, to save $600,000.

• Reduce contracted services for custodial, maintenance and grounds services to $480,000.

• Delay computer purchases for a savings of about $100,000.

"His recommendation was everything on the list, and it's not limited to that," district spokeswoman Margaret Mannion said.

The proposal is just the latest in the district's efforts in recent years to eliminate a $5 million-plus deficit.

Past cuts enacted since January 2002 have included reductions in overtime, supplies, travel and equipment purchases, as well as the elimination of 24 teachers and some administrators. Custodial and maintenance work has also been contracted out.

"We've tried to keep the cuts as far away of the students as possible," Brown said. "Our number one goal is to give the best possible education for each of our students. We don't want to spend any more than we need to, but we want to spend what we need to."

The latest proposal also comes two months after a new two-year teacher contract that includes pay raises tied to inflation. However, Brown said, the pact also calls for teachers to kick in a larger portion of their health coverage costs.

Former board member Tom Voltaggio, who thinks dollars need to be stretched, questions the plan.

"It's one possible approach to balance a budget," he said. "I could conceive of several ways to achieve the savings they're proposing without affecting kids in the classroom. There's a lot of expense that has been built into their system that doesn't need to be there."