Grayslake schools trimming costs here, there, everywhere

A wide range of money-saving ideas are under consideration as Grayslake Elementary District 46 looks to prevent a projected $2.3 million budget deficit for the next academic year.

District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll walked school board members through the tentative proposals for the 2009-10 budget Monday night. She said discussions on potential staff cuts will occur with board members in a future closed-door session.

"These are really tough decisions we are all making," Correll said, "and we don't want to hurt students."

Correll said student program reductions are not under consideration right now.

Room temperatures already have been lowered to 70 degrees in an effort to save money, said Correll. There's a freeze on color printing, a reduction in custodial overtime and cuts in the number of district-owned wireless telephones.

Under the proposal outlined Monday night, District 46 would attempt to conserve slightly more than $1 million in areas apart from personnel. The suggestions include:

• Spreading out life-safety work over three years, conserving $500,000.

• Going paperless for board newsletters and PTO communiques, saving $10,000.

• Enacting 15 percent reductions in school building budgets, conserving $52,367.

Board members credited Correll for already pursuing cost-saving measures that includes having an outside janitorial service clean buildings three nights a week instead of five. The power to computer labs is now shut off at 4 p.m. every day.