Grayslake District 46 starts task force for budget gap

Grayslake Elementary District 46 launched an advisory financial task force Wednesday night that will aim to come up with ideas on how best to fill a $2.27 million budget gap projected for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Some of the ideas that surfaced during a brainstorming session included seeking concessions from the teachers union, reducing the number of days worked by nighttime cleaning crews and turning student lunches into a profitable venture.

Ideas for generating more cash or reducing costs that surfaced at Wednesday's gathering will be researched for potential by school officials.

"We need to think and be open and look at all suggestions," District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll told the group.

District 46 is in a financial predicament similar to other suburban school districts because of a flat consumer price index, or inflation rate.

Since 1991, Illinois law has limited many taxing bodies to a levy increase at the rate of inflation, or 5 percent, whichever is lower. This means that schools can't get as much cash if the inflation rate is flat.

District 46 has assembled an 18-member financial task force that includes employees, board members and parents. The advisory panel will meet one more time this month and twice in February before issuing recommendations on filling the $2.27 million budget gap looming for 2010-2011.

Elected school board members will receive the recommendations and will get the final say on the budget.

Some parents began publicly raising concerns about District 46's finances last spring after officials eliminated 29 jobs as part of an effort to fill a $2.8 million budget hole before the current academic year.