District 203 superintendent calls for shake-up in Springfield

Realizing the potential for a nearly $9 million decline in state funding next year, Naperville Unit District 203 Superintendent Mark Mitrovich is calling on the community to shake up Springfield.

"The state has gotten itself into this position over a series of years and it is just now coming home to roost because we now have the dubious distinction of being the most indebted state in the nation," he said. "The reality of it is that it's a very ugly picture. It's an ugly picture that isn't going to change."

In a passionate plea to lawmakers, he asked that they revisit the constitution to learn their funding responsibilities. He asked parents and residents to become aware of how the legislative leadership controls what money comes out of Springfield.

"It isn't until the community steps up and begins to let them know that they're not going to put up with it anymore that they begin to pay attention," Mitrovich said. "I learned a long time ago that there's no fury like three moms on a crusade at a board meeting. That same level of fury has to be directed at the people who really call the shots in the state."

The state is about $4.3 million in arrears to the district and a decrease in funding could mean a $8.7 million hit to the District 203 budget next year.

But Mitrovich said the district will do everything possible to avoid eliminating teachers' jobs, including trimming programs, delaying planned expenditures and working to become more energy efficient.

"If you think you're going to be in a situation where you are going to face significant decline in your funding, you have to look where 80 percent of your funding goes and it's people," he said. "We will look at every other thing we can look at before looking at people because people are what makes it happen in this district for kids."

The next 30 to 60 days, Mitrovich said, will be crucial to determining how drastic of measures the district will need to take to remain aboveboard.