Kaneland explores cost-cutting measures

Higher fees for sports and clubs may be one way to save some of those activities, speakers suggested during a Kaneland school district budget forum Monday night.

More than 150 people showed up to ask questions, offer suggestions and express concern about proposed cuts to classes and extracurricular activities for Kaneland schools.

One of them was Kaneland High School junior Dylan Draper, who stands to lose three of his favorites - Model U.N., chess club and Scholastic Bowl - as faculty positions are eliminated. Chess improved his math skills, from Ds his freshman year to As now, he said. And because he wants to be a politician, "Model U.N. is one of the only things that will help me after high school that Kaneland offers," he said.

The school board is looking to avoid a projected $2.6 million operating budget deficit for the 2010-11 fiscal year, and wants input from the community on what are "the 'least of the painful' decisions," Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Jeff Schuler said.

One parent asked why extracurriculars are on the chopping block, since students are charged a participation fee. Specific costs and revenues for each activity will be released later this week, but the district estimates they cost nearly $1 million more than the fees take in. In some cases, breaking even would require quadrupling fees, Schuler said. No sports would be entirely cut, but head coaches could get rid of lower-level teams.

Some suggested using volunteer coaches and sponsors, which the administration is exploring.

Many speakers described the positive effect extracurriculars have on students, including as an incentive to improve poor grades so they are eligible to participate. One worried their children's college admission chances will suffer if they can't show participation in after-school activities.

"There's no doubt the cuts will have an impact, and the person is absolutely correct in their statement. We don't disagree," high school Principal Greg Fantozzi said.

The board will discuss the budget at meetings at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, and Monday, Feb. 22, at the high school library, then vote on the cuts Monday, March 8, so it can give adequate notice to any teachers being laid off.

Over the past several months, the board has discussed reductions including eliminating fifth-grade band and the outdoor education trips. It may cut some assistant high school sports coaches, eliminate some clubs, and cut back interscholastic sports at the middle school. Pay freezes for support staff and administrators, holding off on textbook purchases, not hiring as many teachers and more have been discussed.

The proposals are available on the district's Web site, kaneland.org, and comments also are being accepted there. The fiscal year starts June 30, and the final budget must be adopted by Sept. 30.

Dozens of people in the audience were both Kaneland teachers and district residents. Earlier in the day, the Kaneland Education Association announced members had refused a request from the district to give up the pay raise they are scheduled to get next year.

District parents both defended and criticized that decision, but union President Linda Zulkowski defended it at the regular school board meeting before the forum. Teachers didn't approach the district during good financial times to ask for contracts to be reopened to get more money, and so the district should stick to its commitments in this lean time, she said.

"The recovery of our economy depends on the stability of wages," Zulkowski said.