Dist. 23 chief: Grade level centers could save $500K a year
Prospect Heights Elementary District 23 could save up to $500,000 a year and plug a budget deficit at least that large if it reorganizes its primary students into grade level centers, according to the superintendent.
In a presentation to school board members and parents on Wednesday, Superintendent Greg Guarrine laid out a preliminary proposal that would reconfigure the district's three elementary schools into grade level centers, which would separate students by grade, not geography.
In one proposed reorganization plan, Ross School would house all kindergarten and first grade students; Sullivan School would have second and third grades; and Eisenhower School would hold fourth and fifth grades as well as prekindergarten.
Guarrine said that option, one of five presented, would best utilize space.
MacArthur Middle School wouldn't be affected under the plan.
The greatest savings would be personnel. Guarrine said the district expects to maintain teacher staffing levels, but seven ancillary staff positions would be cut. Reductions are proposed in ESL (two staff members to one), bilingual (two to one), learning behavior specialists (five to four), speech (four to three), reading (six to four), and gifted (two to one).
Staffing levels among social workers and special education/early childhood education would probably remain the same, he said.
Students roughly in the same grade who take part in programs could be clustered together under school reconfiguration, said Assistant Superintendent Deb Wilson.
Added Guarrine: “I wouldn't go from six to four (in reading) unless I believed we could still provide excellent reading services to children.
The district estimates that approximately 70 students who currently walk to their neighborhood school would have to be bused if grade level centers are adopted. Guarrine said the district would have to add at least one bus, but most likely two or three, if the plan were adopted.
The grade level center plan is one way to cut costs, Guarrine said, as the district faces a deficit between $500,000 and $800,000. Due to state money not yet received, the district will have to borrow to pay its bills in the short term.
Guarrine warned that the district might have to cut programs like music or art, or increase class sizes, if the plan is rejected.
“The only way to whittle the deficit further is to look at programs, Guarrine said. “We're already as lean as we can be.
The board also could ask voters to consider a property tax increase in the spring.
Earlier this year in nearby River Trails Elementary District 26, the school board abandoned the idea to convert its two neighborhood elementary schools into grade level centers after the proposal created a firestorm among some parents.
Meanwhile, District 23 school board President Martha Olsen said a town-hall meeting on grade level centers could be held by November or December.
Guarrine is expected to discuss the curriculum, educational and social/emotional aspects of grade level centers at future board meetings, which are held monthly.
Board members hope to make a final decision by January.
A copy of Guarrine's presentation is expected to be posted on district's website at d23.org.