Waterbury parents wonder about $1.6 million in cuts

With approximately $1.6 million in cuts planned for Keeneyville Elementary District 20, about 50 parents gathered Tuesday at Waterbury School in Roselle to ask how this will affect their children.

Waterbury Principal Beth Carow and District 20 board of education member Scott Williams told parents delays and cuts in state funding are forcing the district to lay off teachers and staff, and hire contractors for services like speech therapy and social work.

"We are having the same problems as every other district," said Williams. "The state of Illinois is not specifically looking at District 20 ... but state funding is the majority of the problems that we have. In some other districts the socioeconomic level is so high, like the North Shore, they don't (rely) on a low-income grant."

Currently, the state government is already 180 days behind in paying funds due for this school year. And the district has made cuts since 2008, including freezing administrator's pay. Superintendent Carol Auer said the 2010-11 school year does not look brighter for Waterbury, Greenbrook Elementary and Spring Wood Middle schools.

"This situation will not end soon," Auer said in a letter on the district's Web site. "There is little indication from the General Assembly or the senior leadership in Springfield that they have any real idea of how to realistically solve this situation."

Parents' questions targeted topics such as whether a tax increase could help the district or, if not, whether they could contribute directly to the school to save jobs and services. They also questioned some board decisions, such as enacting administrative pay cuts but not laying off more higher-ups.

While welcoming comments, Williams also scolded the crowd for waiting too long to give input and not attending board meetings.

"I hate to say this, but shame on you guys because you don't come to the meetings," he said. "We've been talking about it since the start of the year. You elected us and you guys need to keep coming to meetings and pointing us in the right direction. This is your district."

Ultimately, however, Auer said there are no ideal solutions. District officials have been responsible with the budget and trying to preserve a savings reserve, she said.

"We have not enjoyed our jobs this year," she said. "We have looked at what is bad for children and tried to prevent as much of that as possible."

To keep parents in the loop and involved with the budgeting process, district officials are utilizing their Web site. Parents and district residents can submit budget suggestions by e-mailing communitysuggestions@esd20.org. The site, esd20.org, also details the 2010-11 school year draft budget presented at the Feb. 25 board of education meeting. Finally, it instructs community members on how to write a proper letter to their government representatives on the budget woes, and lists contact information for state Rep. Paul Froehlich and Rep. Fred Crespo, of the 56th and 44th House District respectively, and state Sen. John Millner of the 28th senate district.

The next board of education meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 25.