Dist. 15’s irresponsibility coming back to bite

At the Jan. 12 District 15 school board meeting the board and the superintendent discussed possible spending cuts that will be necessary to avoid projected deficit spending of $3.7 million this year and $5.4 million next year.

During the board’s discussion only board member Tim Millar evidenced a firm grasp on the reason for the projected shortfalls, and the only responsible solution: employee pay and benefits were irresponsibly increased in 2009 at a rate that was ten times that of the CPI, to which the district’s revenue is tied, and therefore employee pay must be reduced.

It is because the board majority in 2009 agreed to give the teachers, bus drivers and other District 15 employees pay and benefit increases that grossly exceeded revenues, that the district finds itself in a financial bind. The only logical, responsible way out is to reopen the teacher and bus driver contracts and renegotiate now. Waiting until the contracts expire in 2012 and 2013 respectively will only compound the problem.

Sadly, implementing a one-year pay freeze back in 2009 would have avoided this problem. During the 2009 school board election, all of the candidates claimed that they would support a pay freeze in order to help the District maintain a balanced budget. Some of them lied. Now the children of D15 will have to pay the price for the arrogance and mendacity of the District 15 school board majority, led by Gerald Chapman.

Mary E. Vanek

Palatine