Warren hoping state has funds for it

Warren Township High School won't need to make $800,000 in program reductions for the 2008-09 academic year if additional funding results from the new state budget, officials said.

Feedback from legislators has indicated Gurnee-based Warren District 121 might be in line for an extra $700,000 to $800,000 in general state aid, which would allow it to maintain existing programs, spokeswoman Carolyn Waller said. She said there also could be $50,000 in state cash that would go toward Warren's special-education employees.

But Waller and other District 121 officials stress their enthusiasm is tempered because the budget has yet to be signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. State representatives and senators approved the budget last week.

Warren board President John Anderson said the possibility of more state funding means there won't be a need to discuss $800,000 in budget cuts as originally planned Tuesday.

"At this point we're just going to table the discussion until we know for sure," Anderson said. "We don't want to send a lot of people scurrying and worrying until we have that problem."

Warren has been tightening its financial belt after voters rejected a proposed 26-cent tax rate increase in April that would have gone toward operations. Residents also were against paying for an expansion of the Almond Road campus for juniors and seniors.

In May, Warren announced a host of cost-cutting measures for the academic year that began Thursday. The moves included delaying about $500,000 in building repairs and saving $200,000 through larger class sizes.

District 121 Superintendent Phil Sobocinski said about $1.6 million has been trimmed from the school system's deficit over the past three years.

Sobocinski said the education funding component of the state budget document is lengthy and complex, requiring weeks of study. He hopes the state will provide enough money to Warren to avoid $800,000 in program reductions for the 2008-09 academic year.

"The district remains cautiously optimistic it will receive additional state revenue to fund existing programs," he said.

Officials said budget reductions likely would be explored for the 2009-10 school year, even if the extra state money arrives.

District 121's boundaries include all or parts of Gurnee, Wadsworth, Waukegan, Park City, Old Mill Creek, Grayslake and Beach Park. It also included unincorporated areas known as Gages Lake, Druce Lake, Grandwood Park, Millburn and Wildwood.