District 12 officials weigh options for fixing finances

First, I'd like to thank the nearly 300 parents and residents of Roselle Elementary District 12 who attended the board of education meeting on Oct. 14.

This administration and school board have an unwavering commitment to openness and transparency and to creating an environment that encourages residents to voice their opinions, ideas and concerns based on actual facts. We believe people can't be well-informed if they're not informed well, and that is the key to finding purposeful solutions.

District 12 schools face some very difficult financial challenges and hard choices that must be made if we are to continue to meet our primary responsibility - providing the best education possible for each of our 700 students - while remaining fiscally accountable to those who have to pick up the tab.

As I have said before, we are very proud of our record in meeting both these objectives.

Someone once said that, "the problem with government spending is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." Many school districts and governmental entities never seem to grasp that basic concept. At District 12, we have never lost sight of it.

For more than 20 years, we have established a solid record of doing more with less - spending money wisely and cutting costs, doing all we can to tighten our belt while paying assiduous attention to maintaining the highest level of classroom instruction and learning.

Now, however, as I shared with those attending the meeting, we have reached a financial situation that demands we do something we haven't done in more than 20 years: consider asking taxpayers for help.

Like most families forced to apply stagnant incomes to spiraling costs for utilities, insurance, home maintenance and other necessary expenses, our school district too faces ever-increasing costs with fewer and fewer school aid dollars coming from Springfield.

District 12 faces an $800,000 deficit - one that will only grow if we as a community fail to meet the responsibility each of us has to our children.

But I want every resident to know and understand that this shortfall can, in large part, be traced directly back to Springfield failing to meet its constitutional obligation to fund education while, at the same time, forcing more and more costly regulations upon local school districts without a single dime to pay for them.

I'm not "passing the buck" because we simply have no bucks to pass. I'm merely stating the hard facts.

If Springfield's actions ever match its words about our children and education, it would be reflected in our schools. Sadly, this is not the case. So it falls to the residents of each community to recognize that our children's future - and our nation's future - ultimately rests on whether or not we are willing to make education the priority it should be.

In addition, the future of local property values is also directly tied to local school quality.

Most people, when seeking to buy a home, investigate the condition and level of excellence of local schools prior to making a final decision to purchase. The simple fact is good schools and quality education translate into higher property values.

It comes down to this: Given our financial situation, what are our options in continuing to provide a quality education for each of our 700 children?

1. Continue to cut back responsibly wherever possible.

2. Borrow.

3. Provide additional dollars through passage of a property tax increase - something we haven't asked homeowners for in more than 20 years.

4. Merge with another school district.

5. Accept bureaucratic and political take-over of our local schools.

The first option is a given. It is what we have been doing nearly every year and will continue to do.

Borrowing more is not really an option because it merely kicks the can down the road. All we would be doing is creating greater debt and rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

If the only viable option is to go put a tax referendum on the ballot and voters reject an increase, merger or state take-over become the only alternatives.

Consolidation with another school district is highly unlikely. First, we would need to find a district willing to take us on; then we would need voter approval to make the consolidation a possibility.

Finally, if a tax increase were voted down and consolidation not a viable option, Roselle would face state take-over of our local schools. Do any of us really want Springfield bureaucrats deciding how, when and where our children will be educated?

Those are the choices we face.

The administration and school board are working closely with our financial advisers to fully assess the depth of the problem and review the options available. From there we will offer a sound, responsible solution for consideration by every resident of our community.

Once we determine a recommended pathway, we will report back to parents and residents and again seek their opinions in another public meeting.

Our objective always will be public engagement in an open and transparent environment that encourages direct conversation and an exchange of ideas based in facts.

After all, we all share the same goal - what's best for our children.

• Melissa Kaczkowski is superintendent of Roselle Elementary District 12. Her column appears monthly in Neighbor during the school year.