Dist. 300 considers more cuts

When the Community Unit District 300 school board votes on $6.4 million in budget reductions this month, it might not be the final word on next year's budget.

District 300 administration presented additional proposals Monday that could save the district more than $1 million in transportation costs.

The proposals would reduce or eliminate transportation for the preschool program, the dual-language program, parochial students and high school students who take classes at Elgin Community College.

While Superintendent Ken Arndt is not recommending the board adopt any of the newly proposed measures on Feb. 22 as they have not been completely vetted and discussed, the district may enact some of the cuts as early as next year, officials said Monday.

Arndt acknowledged some of the transportation cuts, if enacted, would have a significant effect on certain programs, but he said the district, already waiting for $6 million in state payments, may be facing an additional $18 million in delayed funding next year.

"It is Draconian," Arndt said. "It is something that nobody wants to see. It will absolutely decimate certain programs if they don't have transportation."

But board members said that given a worsening budget outlook for next year, they have to consider the additional reductions.

"I think it would be a mistake not to investigate it," board President Joe Stevens said. Specifically addressing the transportation of students to ECC, he said: "It's hard to justify spending $4,300 per student. That's problematic to me."