District 205 School Board Will Hammer Out Budget Cuts Tuesday

Elmhurst Unit District 205 School Board will take on the difficult task of cutting the fiscal year 2013 budget at a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the district administration building, 162 S. York St.

The public meeting will be preceded by a closed session at  6 p.m. to discuss probable or imminent litigation, employment of an employee and collective negotiations. The Elmhurst Teachers Union is scheduled to vote on a with the district on Tuesday, hoping to end an

The regular meeting will begin with public comment. Members of the community are welcome to speak for up to three minutes on any topic.

The only business item on the agenda will be a budget discussion. Board members will provide direction to the administration for cutting $1.2 million. This is the third consecutive year of budget cuts in the district, and board members have said cuts for 2013 will more .

"We're starting to get into music, world language and art," board member Chris Blum said March 20. "These are community discussions. There's nothing left that's not going to really hurt."

The board also is looking at reductions in librarian and teacher positions, among other things.

The board must determine any layoffs by April 10, Superintendent David Pruneau said last month.

"Certified staff must be (reduced) by that date," he said. "After that, we can't add to that list."