Woodland looks to community for financial ideas

Ideas from all sectors of the community are being sought in Woodland Elementary District's effort to fill a $3.2 million budget hole projected for the 2010-11 academic year.

Gurnee-based Woodland District 50 is forming a financial advisory community task force that'll come up with the budget recommendations. The group will meet for the first time at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the district's headquarters at 1105 N. Hunt Club Road.

Woodland officials say they hope to have about 50 task force members. School board President Lawrence Gregorash said considering about 75 percent of district residents don't have children in the system, an effort must be made to get more than parents and local educators on the advisory panel.

Gregorash, who doesn't have grade-school-age children, stressed his point after reviewing a list of applicants during a special District 50 board meeting Thursday night.

"Let's go out and send the fox and the hounds and find some more (applicants)," he said.

In addition to budget cuts, community task force members will be encouraged to provide suggestions on potential revenue sources for Woodland. District 50's seven elected board members will make the final decision on the 2010-11 budget.

District 50 went through a similar exercise in 2006, when 80 members of an advisory financial review committee identified new revenue streams and budget cuts in an effort to improve cash flow by about $2.2 million.

Board members ultimately approved many committee suggestions, such as eliminating three administrative positions to save $266,350. They also agreed to hike hot-lunch costs by 25 cents to 50 cents, generating an extra $175,000 or so annually.

Superintendent Joy Swoboda said automated telephone messages with news about the committee have been sent to residents, as well as promotion in local media and on Woodland's Web site in the effort to solicit volunteers.

However, Gregorash said the district should consider doing more to reach residents. For example, he said, the need for task force volunteers could be promoted on a message board outside a Woodland school on Gages Lake Road in unincorporated Lake County.

Gregorash and Associate Superintendent Robert Leonard will co-chair the group. Leonard is expected to provide an overview of District 50's finances at the first session Sept. 21.

Plans call for the task force to meet seven times before making recommendations to the District 50 board Dec. 17.