Probable cuts unveiled at U-46 budget forum

For the first time Thursday, Elgin Area School District U-46 parents and taxpayers got the chance to see what will likely be on next year's "cut list."

Whether the district ultimately moves to cut $25 million or $40 million from its 2010-11 budget, it won't be pretty.

Class size increases, firing hundreds of teachers, cutting employee pay and increasing benefit contributions are all very real possibilities.

More than 100 individuals turned out to South Elgin High School for the first of four budget forums. After hearing about the district's financial situation, attendees learned how they could cast anonymous, computerized votes on what should be cut to achieve one of two totals.

This vote follows an earlier one by members of the district's Budget Advisory Task Force, a group formed this fall after U-46 predicted a $53.5 million deficit by the end of the school year.

While $4.9 million in reductions have already been made this year, the district is still $48.6 million in the red.

"One of the reasons we decided to have these forums was to share the pain - educating the community to see we have a tight budget and these are difficult decisions," Superintendent Jose Torres told the crowd.

The 48 cost-cutting options voters could select from were divided into several categories-administrative costs, salaries and benefits, operations, school staffing, and other staffing. Together, they total $50 million. If U-46 makes $40 million in cuts, that leaves only $10 million in wiggle room.

Ron Ally, chief financial and operations officer for U-46, had originally announced that $40 million of next year's budget must be cut. But after getting "push back" from various groups that a 10 percent cut was too aggressive, Ally conceded to allow voters to also identify $25 million in cuts. The district's budget is roughly $400 million.

"The goal in my mind is still $40 million," he said.

With legislators downstate now exploring the idea of reducing general state aid next year, U-46 could potentially have to cut even more from its budget.

In March, Ally said, U-46 plans to let more staffers go than needed to protect itself.

Elementary schools are currently preparing for student-teacher ratios of 27:1 in kindergarten through third grades, and 33:1 for fourth through sixth grades, a year after moving to lower class sizes.

"We can always hire teachers back," he said.

Class size increases and teacher pay cuts would ultimately have to be negotiated with the Elgin Teachers Association. Additional forums are scheduled for 5 p.m. today at the Elgin High School library, 1200 Maroon Drive; at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Larkin High School, 1475 Larkin Ave., Elgin; and 6 p.m. Thursday, Bartlett High School, 701 Schick Road, Bartlett. Ally will make a Feb. 22 recommendation to the school board.