Sports safe amid District 300 budget cuts

Sports in Carpentersville-area schools would remain unscathed under recommendations unveiled to the Community Unit District 300 school board Monday night.

Instead, the district would seek $35,000 in savings from activities at the elementary, middle and high school levels - just 2 percent of the net cost of the activities: an estimated $1.74 million.

That falls well short of the district's original goal of cutting 10 percent across numerous areas of the district in order to evenly distribute the pain. In the case of activities, 10 percent amounts to about $175,000.

"We can only come up with $35,000 without eliminating programs and services," Superintendent Ken Arndt said. "We are not going to even come close to the target of $175,000."

Hampshire High School Principal Chuck Bumbales and Westfield Community School Principal Bill Doran made the recommendations Monday as the board works to slash $15 million from the district's 2010-11 budget.

The modest proposal is in line with Arndt's stated wish to preserve all sports and activities that are offered at other schools in the Fox Valley Conference.

In March, grappling with teacher layoffs that are expected to push class sizes - in some cases - above 40 students, board members asked the administration to find ways to save money on after-school activities.

The recommendations presented Monday:

• Make more efficient use of buses when students are transported to activities at other schools, an estimated savings of $10,000.

• Increase the use of activity buses, saving $15,000.

• Enforce a minimum of 20 students to maintain a club, saving $10,000.

• Negotiate with the district's teacher's unions over pay for employees who supervise after-school events at middle and high schools (no identified cost-savings).

The board will continue discussing the proposal later this month. Board members did not request additional savings.