Dist. 158 hopefuls debate tight budget
Officials in Huntley Unit District 158 are already paring next year's budget to bring it in line with revenue projections that have been described as a "disaster."
Against this backdrop, school board candidates Mike Skala and Larry Snow debated how they would help create a leaner budget in a Daily Herald editorial board interview this week.
Skala said the district needs to look at ways it can save money across the board and said he opposed deficit spending.
"We need to look at all the ... costs that we can do something about," Skala said. "I don't want to pass a budget that isn't balanced."
Skala, a current board member and former board president, endorsed Superintendent John Burkey's plan to cut operations and maintenance and other areas before affecting classroom instruction.
"I don't want to touch classroom dollars," Skala said.
Snow pointed to the initiatives he has supported during his four years on the board and said they had saved enough money that the district would not have to resort to "drastic cuts" to balance its budget.
"My initiatives are already saving us millions," Snow said. "Because of them, we are not going to have to make the same cuts as other school districts."
Some suburban districts, including Elgin Area School District U-46 and Community Unit District 300, have announced layoffs to balance their budgets next year.
Snow cited his support for a conservative teacher's contract, the elimination of "wing leader" positions and the cost savings from going out to bid on custodial and copier contracts as examples of how he has saved the district money.
Skala said Snow deserved at least part of the credit for saving money on the copier and custodial contracts but said Snow should not get exclusive credit for eliminating wing leaders - positions that served as "steppingstones" for teachers before they assumed roles in administration.
"That initiative ... didn't work, and that's why the program was stopped," Skala said.
Both men are seeking the sole 2-year seat on the board. The race for four, 4-year seats is uncontested.