Round Three of Budget Discussions for District 205

Round three of Elmhurst Unit District 205’s budget evaluation process continued Monday evening as the board moved toward consensus on program reductions and enhancements for the 2011-12 school year.

The program review committees revised their recommendations to about $3.8 million in reductions and $857,000 in additions, bringing the net budget reduction closer to the target of $3 million. The board will make a final decision on all program changes at its next meeting March 8.

A few areas, such as a proposed tiered fee structure for interscholastic sports and the possible elimination of middle school guidance classes, need tweaking. But for the most part, many were pleased with the Elmhurst Educational Program Review Technique (EEPRT) as well as the board’s progress.

“I am thrilled by the board’s decision to add back a 5 percent reduction to music,” said Mike Pavlik, director of bands at York High School. “(This) has been a welcome opportunity for faculty and staff to come together to ask questions and address issues across the district. Just the process of planning has changed the mood and enhanced a sense of trust. I can’t imagine the remarkable difference this will make to the kids.”

Here’s how each of the 22 educational and six operational programs stack up going into the final round of budget discussions:

Drivers Education

Reduce summer hours, for total savings of $1,650.

Business/Finance

Reduce software training and support, and implement a surcharge for credit card transactions, for total savings of $88,915.

Transportation

Secure a new transportation carrier for the early childhood program. The district would no longer use the Cottage Hill bus company; students instead would ride larger First Student buses. This would not only improve service for these students, according to the committee, but result in a savings of $48,000. The committee also recommends eliminating early childhood field trips (12 per year), which would mean $187,151 in savings, or charging parents for transportation. Add a bus fee for band and athletics, which would total $57,750. Add before- and after-school activity bus fee for an increase of $40,000 or more.

Extracurricular Clubs/Activities

Cut number of clubs across all levels by 10 percent, for total savings of $29,504.

“Each school would need to determine which clubs to cut,” Superintendent Lynn Krizic said. “We would provide guidelines to schools, or perhaps recommend a club interest survey based on student need. There’s a lot of work going forward.”

Summer School

The board is still recommending an increase in summer school tuition of 7 percent, or $11. This, along with staffing revisions, would result in savings of $25,436.

Interscholastic Sports

Keep all current athletic programs. Implement a revised, tiered fee structure. Seek additional revenue sources through corporate sponsorships and increased community involvement.

Communication Services

Eliminate funding for the Elmhurst District 205 Foundation ($26,000) and reduce supplies and purchased services for a total savings of $48,792.

Health Services

Eliminate one health aide position, and summer and first-day exclusion work, including revenue for an outdoor education nurse, for total savings of $59,619.

Music

Reduce expenses by 5 percent across the board. A 5 percent reduction puts $89,850 back into the music and band budget. But most of it will be redistributed from the high school to the middle schools, York performing arts department chairman Bill Riddle said during public comments. 

“[The process] allowed us to take a close look at the music program throughout the district,” he said. “The difference in the reduction will allow us continue to offer current programs and meet critical needs of all music students in District 205.”

The committee recommended adding a fee for high school band and orchestra, similar to that at the middle schools, reducing full-time equivalent staff by 20 percent, and reducing supplies and equipment for a total savings of $179,850.

Administrative Services

The board added back savings of $259,441 by not cutting one middle school and one high school assistant principal. However, several jobs are still on the line: four full-time equivalent high school secretaries, at least one elementary secretary and possibly a middle school secretary, or roughly six support staff members.

Freshman Cohort

Restructure certified staffing needs in the classroom and reduce paid summer school transportation costs for savings of $62,138.

Unified Arts/Exploratory

Reduce some staff hours at the middle school level for a savings of $61,661.

Library Media Services

Keep reductions at $209,854 for audio-visual materials, software licenses and purchased services, while adding back some costs for library books and materials to continue to build library collections. Included would be a reduction in staff to be determined.

World Language

Reduce staff at all levels except elementary Spanish because it affects block scheduling.

Art

Reduce by .75 in time one full-time staff member and add a $26 fee at York High School instead of cutting all art supplies.

Buildings and Grounds

The board dismissed the evaluation committee’s recommendation to eliminate 11 maintenance and custodial staff positions because this area has been hit hard by previous budget reductions. Instead, administration recommends reductions in equipment purchases of $150,000.

Career Tech Education

Add a $25 lab fee for new revenue of $72,807. Reduce placements at Technology Center of DuPage to two instead of five. Total net savings $121,456.

Counseling Services

Cut expenses for supplies and materials. Eliminate middle school guidance classes, integrating curriculum into health studies. Board member Maria Hirsch strongly objected to this proposal. The board will continue the discussion as to how to use available resources to deliver instruction to students.

Physical Education

No reductions due to safety and compliance issues.

Technology

Restructure technology and reduce staff by one position, which is something not previously considered.

Class Size (revised)

Reduce staff by 14.8 full-time equivalent positions by raising class size.

“While new maximum class sizes were identified, class size averages districtwide would be less than the recommended maximum,” said Karen Sullivan, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

The estimated average class size for kindergarten through second grade would be 21.2; grades three through five, 23; grades six through eight, 25.2; and grades nine through 12, 26.8. The administration recommends additional support services would be needed for REACH, reading support and related services. Estimated cost savings: $1.1 million.

Related Services (reduction of new expenditure)

Hire one full-time school psychologist to support Response to Intervention teams. Added cost: $75,000.

Special Education

Restore the REEL program to full-day with an addition of .2 social worker and .2 classroom teacher at York in order to have a full continuum of special education services available at the high school. Added cost: $30,000.

Bilingual

No reductions at this time.

Reading Support

Add three new reading specialists at the middle school level and one at Fischer Elementary. New expenditure: $256,800.

Gifted and Advanced Placement

Hire the equivalent of 3.5 full-time teachers at elementary schools to further impact literacy and math instruction.  Added cost: $245,000.

Curriculum

Restore the director of research and assessment position. New expenditure: $149,666.

Early Childhood

Maintain current early childhood at-risk program (now funded through a grant). Added cost: $100,680.