More layoffs, principal appointments in District 204

Bilingual assistants, reading tutors, library assistants and secretaries were among the latest staffers laid off from Indian Prairie District 204 Monday night.

At the same time board members named three new principals and a district treasurer.

The layoffs amounted to the equivalent of 59 full-time, non-bargaining positions. Officials said 46 were routine — action the district takes each year to handle student enrollment fluctuations or positions funded by temporary grants.

But 13 of the positions, including seven library assistants and six secretaries, were due to budget cuts needed to fill an $8.6 million deficit next year. The funding gap largely was caused by expenditures the district has to make to implement sweeping state-mandated curriculum changes and to evaluate teachers and administrators partly on student achievement. Technology upgrades are a big part of those costs.

Board members lamented the layoffs.

“It’s hard to do,” board member Cathy Piehl said.

Board member Mark Rising said 80 people were affected by Monday night’s cuts. “I wanted to express our heartfelt, you know, that we have to let them go,” he said.

The district plans to hire back as many people as possible, but with state education funding under debate, officials are unsure how much money they will have to work with.

“I think it really is a stop and listen and wait,” Superintendent Kathy Birkett said of discussions in Springfield. She said the district has positioned itself well to adjust to state budget changes. Already District 204 has instituted other cost-cutting measures from laying off teachers to cutting back some high school sports programming to closing some schools in July to save energy costs. Board members Monday night also announced some new hires who will take their positions July 1:

타 Jason Stipp was named principal of Waubonsie Valley High School, coming from Monroe Middle School in Wheaton. He is replacing Kristine Marchiando, who is retiring.

타 Mary Howicz, student services coordinator at Cowlishaw Elementary School, will be the new principal at Brookdale Elementary School.

타 Tyrone Smith, currently an assistant principal at Neuqua Valley High School, was named principal at Brooks Elementary School. Their moves complete some shuffling of principals in the district. Earlier this year, board members approved the move of Brookdale’s principal, Brian LeCrone, to serve as principal of May Watts Elementary School, replacing Mike Raczak, who is retiring. Brooks principal, Dave Younce, will serve as principal of Fry Elementary School. Fry’s principal, Moira Arzich, will be returning to the classroom.

타 Jay Strang, assistant superintendent of curriculum, will become assistant superintendent of business, replacing the retiring Dave Holm.