Sean C. Morgan
The District 55 School Board chose to wait to discuss what might be restored based on the legislature’s recently approved budget for the 2003-05 biennium.
Under the budget, about $5.2 billion statewide, District 55 stands to gain about $700,000 more in state revenue than it anticipated. However, a referendum is underway to place an associated income tax increase before voters in February. The deadline for signatures is in December.
Administrators developed a restoration priority list, which was presented to the board Monday night.
Off the top, new revenues would be used to fund $140,000 in step increases for teachers and classified this year. That cost exists no matter what revenues are. The two groups started the year under status quo with no new contract, which means the old contract language remains in effect and includes step increases.
“Those are a given,” Supt. Larry Horton told the board. “The status quo you’re really going to have to pay that unless someone can negotiate it (with teachers and classified).”
He also reminded the board that it has $210,000 in an accrual, which it may want to eliminate. The accrual is an accounting trick that allows the district to accrue cash payments early without actually receiving the cash until the next fiscal year.
Administrators listed their top priority as bringing back teachers at the elementary level where appropriate this year and again next year where appropriate. The district had cut 5.33 elementary teachers, $215,000, in the 2003-04 budget.
Second priority was the restoration two years from now of the administrator, $93,000, cut this year. They listed restoration of secretary time at the same priority level.
Other priorities in the list included junior high sports, .94 full-time equivalent aids, high school sports, custodial time, supplies, alternative education, pool operations, superintendent travel, the superintendent’s salary, textbooks and talented and gifted assistant time.
The list represented $502,800 in total cuts.
Director Milt Moran suggest waiting to see what the petition does in December.
“I’d hate to spend it before we get it,” Moran said. “I’d hate to spend it early … because the legislature once again didn’t do their job. I think we need to be really careful. We’ve got a year going. Let’s roll along and see what voters do.”
“I think we need to be cautious,” Director Dave VanDerlip said. “I’d rather end the year fat rather than short $700,000.”
VanDerlip suggested going out to the community and staff to find out how they would like to spend additional revenues.
If the initiative makes the ballot, then the wait will be for February.
“It’s kind of a lousy way to run a school district,” Director Diane Gerson said.
“No, it’s kind of a lousy way to run a state school system,” Supt. Horton said.
While waiting, the district will need to spend money on step increases, Supt. Horton said. It will also continue negotiations with its teachers and classified.
The district will also spend some money on additional assistant time in larger classrooms where enrollment is up. Chairman Don Hopkins told Supt. Horton that would be prudent.