Elmhurst District 205 School Board will Look at Program Rankings Tonight; Cuts Coming Soon

Elmhurst Unit District 205 Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. today, Feb. 8, to discuss the recommendations submitted by 22 Educational Program Review committees. The committees, , were charged last year with determining the value of 28 educational and operational programs throughout the district relative to their costs.

These evaluations will be the basis of for the 2011-12 school year. Last year, the district cut $2.8 million from the budget.

The board will announce next year's cuts on March 8. Assistant Superintendent for Finance Pat Masterton said Jan. 26 that $4.5 million in cuts is needed for the district to be in good financial shape, with $3 million cash on hand in 2012.

The committees, comprised of District 205 staff, provided program data that was then evaluated and ranked by a separate committee comprised of administrators, parents and community members.

The rankings that will be shared tonight will include the following categories of education and operations:

• Administrative Services
• Art
• Bilingual/English as a Second Language
• Buildings and Grounds
• Career Technical Education
• Class Size
• Clubs and Activities
• Cohort
• Communications
• Counseling
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Driver's Education
• Early Childhood
• Finance
• Gifted
• Health Services
• Interscholastic Sports
• Library
• Music
• Physical Education
• Reading Support
• Related Services
• Special Education
• Summer School
• Technology
• Transportation
• Unified Arts
• World Language

Full reports from each committee are available on the district’s Web site. 

Before moving into the discussion, the board will allow visitors three minutes each for public comment.

Also tonight, the board will finalize the high school graduation date and honor Illinois Music Educators Association All-State selectees.

The district administration offices are located at 162 S. York St.