Grayslake D46 looks at cost-savings consultant

Grayslake Elementary District 46’s board president says he’s been looking into whether there are potential benefits in hiring a company specializing in reducing administrative expenses.

Ray Millington said he recently met with representatives from Chicago-based National Cost Reduction Corp. National Cost Reduction works with businesses and nonprofit organizations.

National Cost Reduction seeks savings in areas such as telecommunications, office supplies, utilities, medical benefits and waste disposal. The company’s area of expertise doesn’t include cutting labor costs.

Millington told District 46 board members at a meeting this week the company doesn’t charge upfront fees. Instead, National Cost Reduction receives 50 percent of documented savings after an audit at each quarter of an initial 12-month agreement.

“They get a percentage of the savings in the first year,” Millington said. “And then if there’s substantial savings after that, that (money) still belongs to us.”

District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll told board members National Cost Reduction works across the Chicago area.

“I think it’s just worth looking at. We don’t have to make any decisions,” Correll said.

Leonard Levey heads National Cost Reduction. He’s a former president and chief executive officer of a Chicago furrier.