Dist. 300 approves removal of bus aides

Staff cuts continued in Community Unit District 300 Monday as the school board voted to eliminate aides on most preschool buses.

The move is expected to save $450,000 of a preschool budget the state cut by about $412,000 last week.

The decision was not without controversy. Two bus aides and a parent spoke out against the cuts, saying they would jeopardize student safety.

"If the bus driver is worried about problems with children - they're not fulfilling their duties as a driver," said Glen Fortune, a bus aide from Huntley. "You need to think more about the safety of the children than the money you're saving."

Superintendent Ken Arndt stressed that aides will remain on routes that bus students with severe disabilities.

"No child will be placed in danger," Arndt said. "If a child has (a special need) that requires an aide, an aide will be provided on that bus."

Still, board members questioned whether they would be preventing the district from providing aides when needed.

"It harnesses you with not being able to put an aide on a bus," Chris Stanton said. "If it needs it, let the management decide it needs it."

The board voted to allow management the discretion to provide an aide, even if a bus route does not have a student with acute special needs.

"We're going to allow management to do what management needs to do," board Secretary Anne Miller said before the 6-1 vote. Even with the change, Stanton was the sole dissenting vote.

Cuts: Board votes to allow management to decide whether to provide aide