Solving Dist. 300 budget problem

Even with federal stimulus money, Community Unit District 300 projects it could be in the hole next year.

In an endorsement interview with the Daily Herald this month, six candidates for the District 300 school board debated the best way to avoid that scenario.

So far, the district has announced it will lay off 32 nontenured, first-year employees at the end of this school year.

An additional 39 teachers will not return next year for performance reasons - but the district expects to refill those positions, according to board President Joe Stevens.

In the endorsement session, some candidates said the moves already made have put the district in a good financial position.

"I think what we're doing is pretty on budget," said board Vice President Karen Roeckner, who is seeking re-election.

Board candidate Dorota Jordan said she supported the recent downsizing, although she herself is a teacher.

"Cutting programs is not the answer," Jordan said. "I think it was a very good move."

Incumbents Ann Miller and Roeckner said the district should use processes that are already in place to cut ineffective programs and keep the district in the black.

"We have to have a balanced budget," Miller said.

Challenger Rob Lee said he would improve on those processes by consolidating purchases and implementing financial impact statements that would estimate the five-year cost of any new program.

"This requires - us asking long-term questions as well," Lee said.

Roeckner and challenger Tracey Perez suggested the district would need to seek cooperation from the unions in adjusting teacher salaries to the constrained budget.

"We need to try to hold the line on teacher salaries as much as possible," Perez said.

Dave Alessio, a board candidate and former board member, called for fiscal restraint and long-term planning.

"It's important to stay within the budget," Alessio said. "You have to be looking several years out to make sure you maintain the financial health of the district."

300: Budget must be balanced, all say