School Board Finalizes $2 Million In Potential Budget Cuts

The Barrington School Board Tuesday wrestled with $2,092,000 impending reductions to achieve a balanced budget for the 2011-2012 school year.

The final vote on the cuts will be cast at the March 15 school board meeting, and the public is invited to attend an open forum this coming Tuesday to weigh in on the issue.

Among the positions on the chopping block are an associate principal and administrative assistant position at Barrington High School.

“It never feels good doing this, but Associate Principal Scott Kasik is moving on to a different district and his administrative assistant is retiring, so this was a less difficult cut to make,” said Dr. Tom Leonard, superintendant.

What was challenging about the decision is the fact that the move would add to the work load of other administrators and support staff, as the responsibilities of both positions would be dispersed.

“I think it’s important for the community to know that these individuals will be taking on more responsibility and not receiving pay increases; it speaks well to their dedication,” said Jeff Church, school board member.

The elimination of both positions equals to a net savings of $174,424 for the district.   

Another cost cutting measure proposed by the administration is to no longer provide air conditioning in the elementary schools during summer break, which would produce $34,000 in savings.

In the past, the district has cooled  entire elementary school buildings, even though just two individuals work there full time in the summer. 

The principal and a ‘tech person’ are the only employees who work a normal work week in the buildings during the break.

“Air conditioning would be provided in the principal’s office and in the conference area for the tech person to utilize, but fans would be run to ventilate the rest of the buildings,” said Leonard.

Leonard did acknowledge that many teachers do come in during summer to get a head start on preparing their classrooms, but in the end the cut remained on the list for consideration.

Administration is also considering similar moves in the high school and middle schools, in areas that are not utilized throughout the summer months.

On the proposed draft of cutbacks the board combed through, a savings of $108,000 was projected relating to bussing. 

But when the board delved further, they were forced to take into account the skyrocketing price of gas, which the school district has to pay for.

“With gas prices going up as they are lately, we are concerned; for every 25 cents per gallon for diesel, it costs the district another $50,000,” said Leonard.

So the projected $108,000 was whittled down to a savings of $25,000 to account for rising fuel prices.

Another $30,000 could be slashed from the budget by eliminating the Prairie Campus library assistant, who also does work for Station Campus. 

The individual who holds the position has many responsibilities, including accounting for books checked out online for both schools, and going into classrooms to discuss internet safety, online bullying and other technology issues.

Despite an appeal from the Station campus co-principal, the cut remained on the final list to be decided on.

School board member Penny Kazmier suggested the principal reach out to interested parents who may be interested in volunteering at the schools to help carry the load.

One potential reduction that was saved from the cutting process was Prairie English Strategies, an intervention program designed to support students struggling with reading and English.   

In the end, the board decided to take the program off of the list of likely reductions.

“This has been a very painful process, we consider ourselves advocates for our community and we have tried to explore all different options,” said Brian Battle, school board president.

“We are hoping that we are making these cuts strategic enough so they are not unevenly affecting any one program or any one group of kids,” Battle added.

Battle also pointed out that the board reached out to the union to explore ways to alleviate the financial strain on the district.

“We asked the Barrington Education Association to renegotiate the final year of their contract that expires in 2012, but at this time they are unwilling to do so,” said Battle.

“We are still open to talking with them,” said Battle.

Other board members discussed the difficulties they have experienced in proposing and support budget cuts.

“We’ve been trying to balance all of these decisions; how they affect everyone involved,” said Jeff Church, school board member.

“Operating expenses continue to go up faster than the money we bring in; if we let them continue to go up and don’t address them, next year we will have twice the problem,” said Church.

“There is the reality of providing an education and this is the other reality we have to grapple with,” said Tim Hull, school board member.

The final list of all proposed budget cuts can be viewed on the Barrington 220 website by Friday March 4.

The open public forum on the potential cuts will be held on Tuesday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m., tentatively at Barrington Middle School Station Campus in the cafeteria.

For additional information, visit www.barrington220.org.