Deficit grows in District 300

Although the state still owes Community Unit District 300 millions of dollars for the previous school year and the deficit widens, district officials say they are not ready to take a dire view on the budget.

Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Crates told board members this week the district will end the 2010-2011 school year $6.3 million in the red. That’s assuming the state makes payments totaling $4.8 million in categorical payments for items such as transportation, bilingual and early childhood education.

“We have not made the assumption that the check is not coming,” Crates said. “They have told us the check will come before December 31.”

The late payments also mean the district will begin the current school year about $500,000 in the hole. Despite drastic cuts and money in the bank, Crates said the district was unable to balance the budget.

The district approved about $6.1 million in budget cuts for the 2011-2012 year, which was about $1.2 million short of its target.

Cuts included the elimination of the student dean positions at Jacobs and Dundee-Crown high schools, a night custodian, two middle school media specialists and three counselors.

High school and middle school electives were also trimmed, as were 13.5 paraprofessional positions.

“We tried to get to $8.3 million, but we didn’t quite make it,” Crates said.

The district had also aimed for $9.3 million in reductions for the 2010-2011 school year but managed only $8.1 million.

Rising insurance costs and salary increases for some employees nudged the district’s deficit from $15,000 to about $500,000 in the current school year, Crates said.